Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA has criticised the Department of Education's Position Paper on Integrated Education, published on 1 September, arguing it underscores what she describes as the Education Minister's disregard for his legal obligation to encourage and facilitate integrated education.

Her comments follow the Minister's refusal of bids from four schools, including Downshire Primary School in Hillsborough, to begin the process of transforming to integrated status. Ms Guy said: "Despite today's claims that he supports integrated education, time and again the Minster's actions demonstrate the complete opposite. We share the profound disappointment of the schools who were blocked from starting the transformation process.

"At its heart, integrated education is about creating an ethos of welcoming, respect, friendship and open-mindedness, bringing together children from all different backgrounds to learn together, with buy-in from parents and the wider school community. Why any Education Minister wouldn't do all he could to support that vision is baffling.

"The Minister talks a big game about 'supporting' integrated education, but we have yet to see him tiptoe, never mind walk the walk, when it comes to actually helping schools achieve integrated status. Alliance will continue advocating for every school that wants to embark on that transformation journey."