Fort Hill College not reaching targets for integration

The Northern Ireland Assembly was told that Fort Hill College, Priory College in Holywood and Bangor Central Primary hadn't met their targets. Thirty percent of pupils at integrated schools are expected to be the minority religion of the area. The figures show they have fallen well short over a period of 10 years. They were collated in response to an Assembly question from Ulster Unionist MLA Sam Gardiner.

All the schools transformed to integrated status from being controlled, when they mainly taught Protestant children. Less than 8% of the pupils at Fort Hill are Catholic, at Priory College the number is less than 11% and at Bangor Primary it is slightly more than 13%.

But the principal of Fort Hill, Mrs Marian Getty, said integration is a "process not an event".

She pointed out that schools which have transformed have a history and are "on a different journey" to those which first opened as integrated.

Speaking about the figures Mrs Getty said: "The balance between Protestants and other faiths continues to shift and reflects the changing profile not only of the school but of society.

"I am very passionate about integration and I feel we have moved forward."

The Principal explained the school is open to everyone: "All faiths and those with none are in this school. My job is to develop the mutual respect and tolerance of others regardless of their background. "

Mrs Getty also pointed out that the last inspection report viewed the school's integration progress positively. She added: "With Fort Hill Primary now an integrated school this shows the uniqueness of Fort Hill Integrated campus within Northern Ireland."

A spokeswoman for Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education said the way the balance is counted may be out of date because more people are now choosing to be considered as "other" rather than Catholic or Protestant.