Paul Givan facing legal challenge over rejection of integrated schools proposals

DUP minister Paul Givan’s decision to reject bids to become integrated by two north Down schools is facing a legal challenge.

The education minister said in January that plans by Bangor Academy and Rathmore Primary School to become integrated should not proceed.

Mr Givan’s department has been sent pre-action letters outlining legal challenges to the minister’s decisions in both cases, according to the BBC.

The department has confirmed receipt of the letters and said it would be inappropriate to comment.

Bangor Academy, which with almost 1,900 pupils is the north’s largest school, held a ballot on the proposal to classify as integrated, which saw close to 80% of parents and guardians support the change.

Rathmore Primary received similar backing from parents for their plans, with about 82% of parents who voted agreeing with the move to become integrated.

According to documents published by Mr Givan’s department, officials had recommended that both schools be allowed to transform to become integrated but the minister decided not to approve that recommendation.

In rejecting the bids, Mr Givan said there was not enough evidence that there would be enough Catholic pupils at each school for it to provide integrated education.

He cited legislation which said that there should be “reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children” in integrated schools.

But he faced some criticism for his decisions and they are now being legally challenged.

When contacted by the BBC, the schools issued a joint statement.

“Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Rathmore Primary School are aware and supportive of potential legal challenges to the minister of education’s recent decisions to deny integrated status to both schools,” they said.

“In the absence of an appeals process, the board of governors of both schools feel that in reaching his decisions the minister has left parents no other recourse and therefore understand and support those initiating such action.”