The landmark decision now compels the North’s Department of Education to encourage and support the integrated sector, campaigners say.
Mr Justice Treacy delivered a ruling on the approach taken by the Department to a proposed increase in pupil numbers at Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh.
The Department initially refused the proposal to increase numbers from 580 to 750 pupils, but later said it would reconsider.
This meant the court could not consider whether the decision was unlawful, but Mr Justice Treacy said there was still a matter of public interest in how such decisions would be taken in the future. In his judgement, he reminded minister John O’Dowd that he had a statutory duty to “encourage and facilitate the development of integrated education”.
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