Education Minister has laid the fifth report on
Advancing Shared Education to the Northern Ireland Assembly,
covering the period April 2024 to March 2026.
The report outlines progress in delivering and supporting Shared
Education over the reporting period across a range of education
and sectoral bodies.
said: “I welcome the continued
progress that has been made during this reporting period. Shared
Education is continuing to make a real difference, providing
opportunities for children and young people from different
religious, cultural and socio‑economic backgrounds to learn
together. In 2024/25, over 650 schools and pre‑school settings
across Northern Ireland were involved in Shared Education
partnerships, enabling 60,000 children and young people to
participate in shared learning experiences.”
Highlighting the significance of new investment, the Minister
added: “The commencement of PEACEPLUS in 2024, including the
PEACEPLUS ASPIRE project and new youth‑focused initiatives,
marked a significant step forward in expanding the reach of
Shared Education. This supports my Department's mainstreaming
agenda, which seeks to normalise sharing and allow all children
and young people to enjoy shared learning opportunities
throughout their education. I am also encouraged by continued
progress on Shared Education Campuses, which represent a powerful
and visible commitment to a shared future.”
Reflecting on the wider impact of Shared Education, Paul,Givan
said: “The evidence in this report demonstrates that Shared
Education is delivering educational benefits, promoting equality
of opportunity, fostering good relations, and supporting
community cohesion. These outcomes are more important than ever
as we continue to build a more inclusive and cohesive society.
While challenges remain, continued collaboration across the
education system and in our communities will ensure our children
and young people can learn, grow, and thrive together.”
The 2026 Report is available on the DE website at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/advancing-shared-education-report-northern-ireland-assembly-may-2026
Notes to editors:
1. Shared Education involves the sustained provision of
opportunities for children and young people from different
communities, as well as social and economic backgrounds to learn
together.
2. The Shared Education (Northern Ireland) Act
2016 (www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2016/20/contents) provides
a consistent definition of Shared Education as “the education
together of—
(a) those of different religious belief, including reasonable
numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children or young
persons; and
(b) those who are experiencing socio-economic deprivation and
those who are not,which is secured by the working together and
co-operation of two or more relevant providers.”
3. Under the Act, the Department of Education has a duty to
“encourage, facilitate and promote” Shared Education and also is
required to lay a Report to the Northern Ireland Assembly on a
biennial basis which must detail the extent to which the
Department, the Education Authority, and other bodies impacted by
the Act, have complied with their respective duties and powers,
the level of participation in Shared Education and the extent to
which there has been any increase or decrease, and the extent to
which the purpose of Shared Education has been achieved.
4. The purpose of Shared Education is defined as to deliver
educational benefits to children and young persons, promote the
efficient and effective use of resources, promote equality of
opportunity; and promote good relations, respect for identity,
diversity and community cohesion. The Report highlights a range
of evaluative evidence which point to the continued positive
impact of Shared Education.
5. According to the most recent data available (as of June 2025),
over 650 pre-school settings and primary, post primary and
special schools across Northern Ireland are involved in Shared
Education structures representing 46% of all such educational
settings and around 17% of the total pupil population.
