AQW 21516/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 29/01/2025
Answered On Date: 18/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 20412/22-27, to detail (i) the six localities in Ards and North Down where there is demand for post-primary integrated education in excess of supply; and (ii) whether Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College is situated in any of these localities.

Answer:

The Section 10 report published in April 2024 sets out the six localities identified as having evidence of demand for post-primary integrated education in excess of supply. These were six localities, not as suggested by the question in Ards and North Down, but six localities across Northern Ireland. They are Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Ards and North Down, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim, and Newry and Mourne.

The member will be aware of what constitutes integrated education as per Section 1(1) of the Integrated Education Act 2022.

For the absence of any doubt I can confirm that Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College is located in Ards and North Down.

Further information can be found at the following link;

https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/education/IEA%202022%20Section%2010%20Report.PDF