The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the Education Minister’s refusal to approve proposals for Rathmore Primary School and Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College to transform to integrated status. Responding to the judgment, Northern Ireland Humanists said the ruling highlighted significant flaws in the integrated education system. The case concerned proposals by both schools to become integrated, following parental ballots in which large majorities supported transformation. At Rathmore Primary School, 82.3% of voting parents backed the proposal, while at Bangor Academy, 79.4% voted in favour. Both proposals were supported by the Education Authority, and departmental officials had recommended approval. Despite this, the Minister refused both applications in January 2025, concluding that the schools did not meet, and were unlikely to meet, the statutory requirement to provide ‘reasonable numbers’ of both Protestant and Catholic pupils. Although parents challenged this decision in court, the Minister’s decision was supported by the judge. This was then taken to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal. The Court concluded that the Minister’s decisions were rational and …