The Department of Education in Northern Ireland has published revised guidance titled Transforming Together - Understanding the Pathway to Integrated Education. This document replaces the 2017 guidance Integration Works and incorporates the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which imposes a statutory duty on the Department to encourage, facilitate and support integrated education.

Education Minister Paul Givan announced the guidance during a visit to Hazelwood Integrated College. He stated that integrated education forms a key element of a sustainable and high-quality education system in Northern Ireland. The guidance outlines principles underpinning the statutory definition of integrated education and details key stages of the transformation pathway.

Integrated education involves educating together pupils of different cultures and religious beliefs, including those of none, with reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Catholic children, as well as pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds and abilities. Schools seeking transformation must demonstrate at least 10 percent of first-year intake from the minority tradition in the school's area. Over a ten-year period, transformed schools must work towards 30 percent representation from the minority community.

The Board of Governors must reflect balanced representation from Protestant, Catholic and other/none communities. If 20 percent of parents petition or write to governors requesting exploration of integrated status, a ballot must be held. A majority vote in favour requires the school to submit a development proposal to the Department.

Schools must adopt an inclusive ethos with pluralistic approaches to subjects such as History and Religious Education. The framework aligns with Minister Givan's Vision 2030 for a sustainable education system and promotes collaboration with the Education Authority to reduce administrative burdens.

Currently, about 7 percent of pupils attend integrated schools, with more than 30 schools having transformed in recent years. The guidance is available on the Department of Education website.