Bernadette C. Hayes, Ian McAllister and Lizanne Dowds
ARK Update 42
Since its foundation in 1921, Northern Ireland has had two separate, religiously based, educational systems . The state (‘controlled’) system is mainly attended by Protestants, with a number of voluntar y grammar schools also attended predominantly by Protestants. Catholics attend schools which are all grant maintained (as opposed to state controlled); although also state financed, these are operated by the Catholic Church administered through the Council of Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).