A CO Antrim high school will become the first post-primary school to move to integrated status in more than 10 years.
In one of her final decisions before the end of the current Assembly mandate, education minister Michelle McIlveen has approved Glengormley High School to transform to integrated.
The move will be effective from the start of the next academic year.
It will be the first post-primary school to move to integrated status since Parkhall Integrated College in 2009.
Principal Ricky Massey said they had "been on this journey since early 2019 - engaging with pupils, parents, staff and the wider community".
"The consultation evidenced a high demand for integrated education within our community and thankfully this will now been offered," he said.
"Becoming integrated is not about taking anything away from our community, but adding something amazing to it."
He added: "We are so excited about this new chapter in our history which will ensure that our school is intentionally invitational to the whole of our diverse local community".
Roisin Marshall of the NI Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) said it was "an exciting day for integrated education and for families and young people in the greater Glengormley area".
"This is the first post-primary school that has transformed to integrated status in over 10 years and Glengormley High School is a very welcome addition to the existing 20 integrated colleges," she said.
Tina Merron of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) said: "The minister’s decision to approve this development proposal has only added to the momentum behind the integrated movement, which has had a very strong year, despite the pressures of the pandemic".
