On 30 March 2023, Professor Joanne Hughes gave a keynote address at the 2023 Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference, which was held at Stranmillis University College, Belfast. The keynote was entitled, ‘Delivering social cohesion through education in Northern Ireland: concepts and contradictions’. Based on research work undertaken by Hughes and Loader, it highlighted academic selection and the grammar system in NI as incompatible with social inclusion and the promotion of intergroup relations through schools.