14 December 2007
Plans to abolish academic selection for secondary schools have been announced by Northern Ireland Education Minister Caitriona Ruane.
From 2009, schools would be required to select their intakes on the basis of locality and family connections — such as a sibling already attending. However, a coalition representing many grammar schools is considering developing its own academic test to determine selection. The minister said that if schools went ahead with this they faced the loss of state funds.
A new selection age would be established at 14, determining where children studied for academic and vocational exams. Consideration is continuing on whether secondary schooling would be split between 11–14 and 14–19 schools, or whether children will be given the opportunity to swap schools at age 14.
Announcing her plans to the Assembly, Ruane said: 'The reformed post-primary system I am outlining will have to take account of the full reform agenda, including the phasing in of the revised curriculum; the entitlement framework, which expands the range of subjects; the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority and the development of area-based planning.'
The proposals are backed by the minister's party, Sinn Féin, but opposed by the Democratic Unionists and Ulster Unionists, which have vowed to block them.
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