Brandon Lewis: we must end school segregation in Northern Ireland

Ricky Massey, headteacher at Glengormley High School, has been waiting nine months for approval to change his school into an integrated institution. Photograph: Paul McErlane/The Guardian

Ministers are to launch a campaign of “nudging and cajoling” to combat religious segregation in education in Northern Ireland, after figures revealed just 7% of schools officially offered integrated education.

The Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, said he wanted to see an acceleration in the number of schools opting for integrated status, believing it was an important part of the post-conflict journey of healing.