Parents at Carrickfergus Central Primary School have voted overwhelmingly in support of integrated status.
A ballot organised by the school’s principal and board showed 86% support for integration through the process known as ‘transformation.’
The vote was run by the Electoral Reform Services last month.
Ian Baxter, Chairman of the Board of Governors and Principal, Nuala Hall, said they were delighted at the results of the parental ballot.
Mrs Hall said the support they received from parents, staff and the community has been very encouraging.
“Carrickfergus Central Primary has always had an intake of pupils from all Christian denominations, other faiths as well as no faith and as such has been naturally integrated. We now have an opportunity to formalise this arrangement through Transformation to Controlled Integrated Status,” she added.
Roisin Marshall, CEO of Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), said she was not surprised by the results.
“We know there is an appetite for integrated education among parents in Northern Ireland and this ballot underlines that in no uncertain terms. We look forward to supporting Carrickfergus Central as the school community explores the process of transformation and works together to further develop and strengthen its welcoming and inclusive ethos,” she said.
Tina Merron, CEO of the Integrated Education Fund, said the next steps on the school’s journey will be enriching and exciting.
“Parents have been consulted and made their preference clear, echoing the evidence from successive opinion polls over many years. In the face of this overwhelming evidence, isn’t it time that planning authorities were more active in growing integrated education to meet this demand?” she said.
The two organisations will support Carrickfergus Central PS as it progresses towards a Development Proposal to become integrated.
Parents around NI can express their support for their own school to become officially integrated on the Integrate My School platform: www.integratemyschool.com.