Funding rules altered to boost NI integrated schools

NEW rules for integrated education in Northern Ireland will require schools to have a minimum of 10 per cent of their pupils from the minority community if they want funding.

The requirements are part of a policy document presented yesterday by the North's Education Minister, Mr Michael Ancram, to assist the development of integrated education.

Previously, a school was required to have just 5 per cent of its pupils from the minority community in its first year. It was expected to have a 30:70 ratio within five years. From now on, schools will have a decade to achieve this level.

There are 32 integrated schools in Northern Ireland catering for 6,000 pupils. Part of the difficulty with integrated education is the cost of setting up new schools and Mr Ancram said he is satisfied the new arrangements will increase the number of integrated schools from existing institutions.

Six Protestants schools are seeking "integrated" status and Mr Ancram is expected to make a decision later this month.

However, the Minister is anxious that schools are genuinely interested in integration and not merely using it as a means to get more funding, which is why there is a 10 per cent minimum minority requirement.

"I hope these new arrangements will encourage all parties with interest in integrated education to work in partnership to expand it in a way which is more responsive' to the wishes of the parents, makes better use of existing education facilities and is more cost effective," Mr Ancram said.

The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education has given a broad welcome to the document. The council's chief executive, Mr Michael Wardlow, said the council was happy that the new framework "will not dilute the established principles of integrated education".

He added: "A 10 per cent intake and a process of integration over 10 years is much more realistic to facilitate genuine integration for governors, parents and pupils."