AQW 29142/22-27


Mr Timothy Gaston
Traditional Unionist Voice
North Antrim


Tabled Date: 23/06/2025
Answered On Date: 30/06/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of newcomer children in the (i) controlled; (ii) maintained; (iii) integrated; and (iv) Irish-medium sector, broken down by (a) local council area; (b) primary school; and (c) post-primary school.


Answer:
School Census information in the tables below shows the number of newcomer children broken down by Local Government District (school location) and the requested management and school types. This information relates to census day, 11 October 2024.
Primary and Preparatory Schools – 2024/25
Local Government District
Primary and Prep
Controlled
Maintained
Integrated
IM
Total
Antrim and Newtownabbey
406
457
156
*
1,020
Ards and North Down
308
157
60
-
525
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
1,414
1,065
249
-
2,728
Belfast
2,008
1,939
247
*
4,196
Causeway Coast and Glens
229
193
30
0
452
Derry City and Strabane
210
255
29
0
494
Fermanagh and Omagh
248
372
87
0
707
Lisburn and Castlereagh
562
200
139
-
901
Mid and East Antrim
574
261
64
-
899
Mid Ulster
627
1,626
90
9
2,352
Newry, Mourne and Down
259
894
27
#
1,188
Total
6,845
7,419
1,178
20
15,462
Post Primary Schools – 2024/25
Local Government District
Post-Primary
Controlled
Maintained
Integrated
IM
Total
Antrim and Newtownabbey
30
30
132
0
192
Ards and North Down
75
41
6
-
122
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
462
494
85
-
1,041
Belfast
206
372
82
0
660
Causeway Coast and Glens
34
46
9
0
89
Derry City and Strabane
50
43
29
0
122
Fermanagh and Omagh
138
126
83
0
347
Lisburn and Castlereagh
183
27
37
-
247
Mid and East Antrim
67
206
20
-
293
Mid Ulster
122
693
187
0
1,002
Newry, Mourne and Down
120
183
52
0
355
Total
1,487
2,261
722
0
4,470
Source: NI school census
* denotes fewer than 5 pupils suppressed due to sensitive nature and potential identification of individual pupils
# denotes figure more than or equal to 5 counter suppressed due to potential identification of individual pupils
Notes:
1. Data is based on pupils enrolled on Census day i.e. The Friday of the first full week in October (In 2024/25 this was the 11 October 2024)
2. Figures are based on school location (LGD 2014)
3. Integrated includes controlled integrated and grant maintained integrated.
4. Irish Medium (IM) includes all IM school. IM is not a distinct management type; IM schools may fall under various management types, including Other Maintained, Catholic Maintained, and Controlled.
5. Maintained includes any non-IM Other maintained schools.
6. Figures include primary (including preschool age pupils enrolled in Specialist Provision in Mainstream, nursery classes, reception and year 1 - 7 classes) and post primary schools.
7. A newcomer pupil is one who has enrolled in a school but who does not have the satisfactory language skills to participate fully in the school curriculum, and the wider environment, and does not have a language in common with the teacher, whether that is English or Irish. This has previously been referred to as English an Additional Language. It does not refer to indigenous pupils who choose to attend an Irish medium school.