Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Integrated education

Meaning of “integrated education”

1.—(1) “ Integrated education” means the education together, in an integrated school, of—

(a) those of different cultures and religious beliefs and of none, including reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children or young persons;

(b) those who are experiencing socio-economic deprivation and those who are not; and

(c) those of different abilities.

(2) An “integrated school” is a school which—

(a) intentionally supports, protects and advances an ethos of diversity, respect and understanding between those of different cultures and religious beliefs and of none, between those of different socio-economic backgrounds and between those of different abilities, and

(b) has acquired—

(i) grant-maintained integrated status, or

(ii) controlled integrated status

under the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply for the purposes of—

(a) this Act;

(b) the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989;

(c) section 2(3A) of the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (inserted by section 4 of this Act);

(d) the Shared Education (Northern Ireland) Act 2016; and

(e) any other provision of Northern Ireland legislation (unless it contains a different definition).

Purpose of integrated education

2.  The purpose of integrated education is—

(a) to deliver educational benefits to children and young persons;

(b) to promote awareness and appreciation of human rights;

(c) to promote equality of opportunity;

(d) to promote good relations; and

(e) to promote respect for identity, diversity and community cohesion.

Advisory body

3.  In exercising any functions relating to integrated education the Department of Education must consult with—

(a) any body appearing to the Department of Education to have as an objective the encouragement or promotion of integrated education, and if required

(b) any other body the Department of Education considers appropriate.