This is a guest blog written by the Council of Integrated Education Northern Ireland (NICIE). NICIE is a Core Member of the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
Integrated schools did not exist in Northern Ireland until 1981, when the first Integrated College opened in a small scout hut with twenty-eight students, who were escorted through the doors by police guards. Protests outside, along with a crowd of TV crews and press, marked this historic change in the landscape of education in Northern Ireland. This small school was established thanks to the courage and imagination of a group of parents who wanted something different for their children than the divided system that was available to them. They were tired of the religious and political division, violence, and civil unrest. Catholic and Protestant children sat side by side like never before in this small space in Belfast when the Troubles were at their height—quite inspirational, really. Their mission was to educate children from the two main divided religious backgrounds together, fostering peace and reconciliation. This same school, known as Lagan College, is now a hugely successful, oversubscribed institution, as are many of the post-primary and primary schools that opened following its example. By 1987, there were seven newly established Integrated schools.
The Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) was established in 1987 and aims to coordinate efforts to develop Integrated Education, enabling children and young people to learn together for a more shared society. We support the development of new Integrated schools and schools that wish to transform to become Integrated. We work with school leaders and teachers to implement the vision and ethos of Integrated Education throughout the school. NICIE has created a specific ethos and mission, which are faithful to the origins of Integrated Education and ensure schools provide an environment, curriculum, and overall experience that foster peace and reconciliation, good relations, respect for diversity, and inclusion that suits the educational environment. NICIE developed a "Statement of Principles" for schools, which is a key document providing guidance on ethos by adhering to the four principles of equality, respect for faith and values, parental involvement, and social responsibility when writing school policy, planning, and practices. The Integrated school demonstrates its distinctiveness and vision through a commitment to these principles. The ethos and guiding principles of Integrated schools have shown clear benefits for peace and reconciliation in our communities, for student empowerment and success, for the promotion of democracy, for parental contributions, for social equality and equity, and for educational innovation.
NICIE’s four principles and their work supporting schools have promoted a different focus for the learning environment, atmosphere, and methods. In Integrated schools, the focus is on every individual student who makes up the school community, ensuring they are included, treated equally and fairly, involved in school life, and foster both a sense of belonging and independence. Furthermore, the education of the whole child is of utmost importance, and the provision of a holistic education is prioritised. The physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual development of students creates healthy relationships, student cohesion, equality, happiness, and success. The ethos is built upon Christian-based values that are essential to the spiritual life of the students, the school, and its surrounding community. Students at Integrated schools are proud to belong to this sector and are positive about the impact it has on their lives.
Many schools adopt NICIE’s Excellence in Integrated Education Award, which provides a self-evaluative framework that helps weave the ethos and underpinning principles into lessons, activities, policies, and plans. NICIE has also developed resources and training for teachers to support this, such as the Anti-Bias Approach, the teaching of sensitive and controversial issues, and peer mediation. The aim in schools is for students to change attitudes and behaviours to pave the way for personal and community peace. All cultures, religions, abilities, and backgrounds are treated with respect and catered for. Multiple viewpoints, genres, styles, and interests foster a school culture where students feel valued and considered. Open dialogue, reflection, and discussions about sensitive topics give students the chance to become confident in addressing contentious issues in an appropriate and peaceful way. Understanding and respecting that everyone has a right to their opinion and response to issues linked to identity, religion, and politics—topics that are emotive and personal—is key to living harmoniously in a diverse setting such as an Integrated school. Implementing reflective practices such as journaling or group discussions to share thoughts, feelings, and beliefs is a positive process that promotes confidence and respects the individual’s voice and identity. Students are taught to be tolerant and curious about different people, faiths, abilities, and lives before forming opinions. If they are given opportunities to understand the human mind, behaviours, and emotions—and how we are similar and different depending on our background and experiences—they can form better, positive, and respectful relationships with others and learn not to stick to safe, familiar groupings, which helps develop social confidence for their future. Hopefully, they can recreate peaceful communities based on the experiences they had in their Integrated school.
There are other programmes that complement and expand the implementation of NICIE’s key priorities into effective practices in Integrated schools. Integrated schools intentionally seek out opportunities that develop cross-community partnerships, collaboration, and connections. Integrated schools are encouraged to collaborate with local organisations, cultural groups, and community leaders to enhance resources and support for Integrated Education. Programmes that develop community relations, activism, topical debate, responsibility for the climate and a sustainable future, choice, and agency are common. Methodologies that foster leadership, critical thinking, a growth mindset, differentiated work, emotional, spiritual, and psychological development align with the vision for Integrated Education.
The next chapter for Integrated Education is very exciting as the sector grows from strength to strength, and the recent Integrated Education Act of 2022 outlines The Department of Education’s commitment to promote, support, and facilitate Integrated Education. More schools and communities are choosing to become Integrated to build an education that combats fear, prejudice, and injustice, which will sustain peace and progress in Northern Ireland. NICIE has a large community of enthusiasts, including its experienced Board of Directors, the leaders, teachers, and staff in schools, and other educational organisations, who have enabled the sector to grow. Today, NICIE is working hard to be at the forefront of educational change. It sees the need more than ever to challenge prejudice in all its forms and the ongoing threats to peace, democracy, and prosperity. We embrace the challenges and developments to come and are committed to playing an integral part in shaping the new era of education in Northern Ireland.
Guest blog: by Council of Integrated Education Northern Ireland (NICIE)