Parliamentary under secretary of state Fleur Anderson visited Fort Hill Integrated College in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, alongside education secretary, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP.
The visit followed the recent announcement of £730,000 towards additional funding for schools in Northern Ireland, offering support as they work towards integrated status.
The minister and education secretary also met with key stakeholders in the integrated education sector, such as the Integrated Education Fund and Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education.
As recipients of UK funding to support their work with schools, parents and the wider public, these stakeholders raise awareness and support schools through the process of becoming integrated.
Following the visit, minister Anderson said:
“This was a fantastic visit and I was honoured to show the Education Secretary the positive impacts of integrated education in supporting reconciliation and promoting a culture of tolerance in society.
“The UK government is wholly committed to supporting more schools in Northern Ireland to become integrated schools as an essential aspect of the reconciliation process in Northern Ireland.”
A new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that the number of school pupils with EHCPs has risen by 180,000 or 71% between 2018 and 2024.