NI Primary Schools Free To Prepare Pupils For Transfer Test

Primary schools in Northern Ireland are now free to prepare pupils for unregulated transfer tests.

Education Minister Peter Weir reversed his decision which means schools can now support their pupils by supplying support materials and carry out preparation for tests during core teaching hours.

Minister Weir said it removes any perceived threat to primary schools involved in supporting children through the process of transfer.

He said: "This is a significant change to an area where no progress or agreement had been made for a significant period of time.

"Grammar schools can, by setting demanding standards and offering rich educational opportunities, secure impressive outcomes for those who will derive the greatest benefit from them.

"This in no way diminishes the excellent work being carried out in our non-selective post primary schools. Those who did not attend Grammar schools have likewise gone on to make a very significant contribution to the social and economic life of our country."

However, SDLP Education Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA said the decision by Minister Weir to unilaterally reinstate transfer test coaching in schools is "damaging".

He said: "The Education Minister claims to seek consensus but by unilaterally re-imposing state sponsorship for an outdated method of transfer, he is replicating the failure of successive Sinn Féin Ministers to find accord

"Our first priority must be ensuring that our children receive the highest quality education, regardless of who they are or where they're from. The truth of the matter is that today's announcement means that many children will lose the benefit of a broad and rich education in their formative years in favour of high pressure exam coaching and endless mock tests.

"Reinstating a misguided hierarchy of learning is a mistake. The Minister's blind fixation with Grammar schools as the highest aspiration that children and parents should have is not only damaging, it fundamentally degrades and undermines the first class education available in non-selective schools."

(CD)