Bangor principal 'sad and disappointed' after school's bid for integrated status rejected

A Bangor school principal has told UTV of her sadness and disappointment after the Education Minister refused her school's bid to become integrated.

Rathmore Primary was one of two schools in the city which had proposals to change status turned down.

Paul Givan has defended his decision saying neither school had a reasonable number of Catholic pupils.

Julie Hardy, Principal of Rathmore Primary School said: “We were celebrating our 50th birthday as a school, so we had big celebrations and part of that was also reflecting the past 50 years, celebrating that and then looking ahead to see how could we better reflect what our community makeup was. "

That aspiration has been brought to a halt by the Education Minister. 

“I'm sad today because I am in school and I am looking at the children in the corridors, I am looking at staff, listening to what they are saying, and there is a definite hushed kind of atmosphere in the school,” Ms Hardy continued. 

Paul Givan’s rationale was that only 2- 3% of Rathmore’s school population is from a Catholic background and integrated status hinges on having a reasonable balance between Catholic and Protestant pupils.

Julie said: “I had hoped we were past head counting children and families in our schools in Northern Ireland.

"I had hoped that the Integrated Act of 2022 had kind of shown that, but I understand that he has his reasons, he goes back to headcount. 

“I suppose for us in this area, representing this community, it is not the whole picture… 

“... I know that within my nursery school, I have children who will come here for a year and then decide that they do want to go to a maintained Catholic school because they do want that education for their children and Rathmore does not currently provide that.”

Bangor Academy also attracted the backing of its parent to change to integrated but was left disappointed by the Minister's refusal.

Explaining how he came to the decision, Paul Givan said: "The schools put forward a case for change. 

"My own officials concluded that there was not a reasonable number in terms of the mix that would be needed to be an integrated school.

"They also concluded there was not likely to be a reasonable number either, and that can be for different reasons because there are neighboring schools that are attractive to particular types of communities. 

"That was the view that my officials had made and then I have to look at the legal framework. 

"It cannot just be upon sentiment and what people necessarily want in that respect. 

"I have to then apply the policies and the law and the law says there must be a reasonable number."

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