The Alliance Party has called on the Education Minister, Paul Givan, to urgently set out rationale for turning down two North Down schools' proposals to transform to integrated status, despite overwhelming parental support from both.

Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Rathmore Primary School both separately balloted parents of pupils at the schools, with almost 80% supporting Bangor Academy's proposal and over 82% backing Rathmore's. Despite this, the schools have now been informed the proposals have been rejected.

Alliance MLA Connie Egan said the Minister had effectively blocked integrated education across North Down.

"These are not only exceptionally disappointing decisions by the Education Minster but deeply concerning ones," said Ms Egan.

"The Minister needs to set out his rationale for effectively blocking integrated education across North Down. It is difficult to think of one, given the overwhelming public support for the moves among parents of pupils and also the wider local community.

"This move will cause hurt right across North Down, with 79.4 per cent of parents at Bangor Academy and 82.3 per cent of parents at Rathmore now feeling as if their views have now been ignored. I will be submitting an urgent question to the Minister to seek immediate clarification around this matter."

"This news has come as a complete shock," added fellow North Down MLA Mr Muir.

"However, Alliance will continue to support not only these two schools but all those who wish to transform to integrated status. Every parent deserves access to integrated education for their child and it is crucial more is done to facilitate that."

Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, Chair of the Assembly's Education Committee, said he was baffled by the decisions.

"Parents have spoken clearly and unambiguously on this, so it is baffling to see the decisions reached by the Minister.

"My colleague Kellie Armstrong's Integrated Education Act in the last Assembly mandate clearly outlined the Department of Education's duty to encourage, facilitate and support integrated education. These decisions are entirely contrary to that.

"I will be seeking answers from him in the Assembly as a matter of urgency, as those who overwhelmingly voted to transform to integrated status will no doubt be asking serious questions about the Minister's judgement."