Criteria for the approval of a new integrated school

Viability

To qualify for public funding, all new schools have to satisfy a number of statutory and other requirements.  Most of these are mandatory and any request for funding cannot be met unless these are satisfied. The viability criteria include:

Minimum pupil intake figures:

• a 15-pupil intake in year 1 for new primary schools in Belfast and Londonderry;
• a 12-pupil intake in year 1 in primary schools elsewhere; and
• a 50-pupil intake in year 8 for secondary schools

Religious balance

A new integrated school must attract 30% of its pupils from the minority community in the area where the school is situated.

Existing schools, transforming to integrated status, must demonstrate the ability to achieve a minimum of 10% of their 1st year intake drawn from the minority tradition (Protestant or Roman Catholic) within the school’s enrolment and the potential to achieve a minimum of 30% in the longer term

Other Criteria

Curriculum – there is a specific statutory requirement under the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989 that in order to qualify for grant-aid a school must teach the Northern Ireland School Curriculum.

School Management – the school must have a scheme of management under Article 123 of the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989 and a Board of Governors constituted under Article 11 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986. (Excluding 11(6), which was repealed by a subsequent Order).

Teachers – teachers must be properly qualified under Article 70(1) of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 (as amended by Article 42 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1993) and observe days of operation under the Teachers’ Regulations.

Other requirements include:

• Open Enrolment (Part III of Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1997 (the school could not charge fees).
• Assessment of Performance at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
• Accommodation for pupils must meet laid down standards (normally inspected by the Department).
• Satisfactory record keeping and publication of information.

It must however be noted that new schools that fulfil these criteria will not necessarily be automatically eligible for grant-aid from the Department. Interested parties should approach the Department for further advice and information.

Capital Grant

New schools are not normally eligible for capital grant from the Department until they have been established for a period of at least 2-3 years.