A CO Down school where fewer than 50 children are Catholic is to bid for integrated status.
Bangor Academy, the largest school in Northern Ireland, said it will ballot parents and guardians of its pupils on the proposal.
In a letter, school principal Matthew Pitts said becoming integrated would be "an affirmation of our current ethos and values".
The aim for new integrated schools, and those schools wishing to transform to integrated status, has been to attract at least 30 per cent of pupils from the minority tradition within the school’s enrolment.
According to the Department of Education, figures reveal that Catholic pupils make up slightly more than two per cent of the total enrolment at Bangor Academy.
In 2020/21, of the 1,803 pupils enrolled at the school, there were 1,110 listed as Protestant, 48 Catholic and 645 'other'.
Pupils that are recorded as not belonging to either of the two main traditions are classed as ‘other’ and are not included in the consideration of religious balance.
While legislation refers only to reasonable numbers of Catholics and Protestants, the department recognises, however, that this can present challenges for individual schools, including the demographics of the local area, and the increasing number of pupils designating as ‘other’ or ‘no religion’.
As a consequence, the department states it does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to what defines a reasonable number of Catholic and Protestant pupils with each proposal "considered on its own merits".
In his letter, Mr Pitts said the decision to move towards becoming integrated "was taken following many discussions over the past few months".
"All parents and guardians will take part in a ballot to make the decision as to the future direction of our school," he wrote.
"This is ultimately your decision and I need you all to be involved in our journey.
"The board of governors feel this is an affirmation of our current ethos and values rather than a transformation into a different school."
Information and discussion sessions are due to be held with parents before a vote on the proposed transformation, which will be held via a postal ballot between May 6 and June 6.
Alliance education spokesperson Connie Egan the move by Bangor Academy would be a "resounding vote of confidence for integrated education".
"I agree wholeheartedly with the school principal that it would be an affirmation of Bangor Academy's current ethos and values and I encourage all parents and guardians to engage with the ballot," she said.
"Alliance has always championed integrated education and in the last Assembly mandate, worked hard to introduce the Integrated Education Act.
"The demand for integrated education far outstrips the current provision and if one of Northern Ireland’s largest schools was to transform to integrated status, it would be a resounding vote of confident for the sector."
