Ruane Legal Threat Contention

A threat to grammar schools planning to set their own transfer entrance exam has been slammed as a "declaration of war".

Ulster Unionist Education Spokesman Basil McCrea said yesterday that NI Education Minister Caitriona Ruane was "declaring war" on schools across Northern Ireland.

"Minister Ruane's explicit threat against those post-primaries intent on using an entrance test is all the more disgraceful because it has been her incompetence and inaction that has led to this state of affairs," he said.

Caitriona Ruane insisted yesterday that no 'plan B' exists if the combined Assembly unionist parties do not back down from their strong opposition to her proposal to phase out academic selection from Northern Ireland's schools.

Despite the fact that parents and teachers continue to face confusion and there now seems to be a real possibility of a chaotic, even unregulated education system, the NI Department of Education indicated that the only proposal currently being considered by the Education Minister is her own contentious plan.

The news comes following a heated question time in the Assembly on Monday when Ms Ruane announced she would "take action" against schools who move their teaching away from the official curriculum to help pupils prepare for entrance exams being set by 30 grammar schools.

A spokesman for the Department said yesterday that it has the power "to direct a board of governors in order to prevent the unreasonable exercise of its functions".

However, Sir Ken Bloomfield, Chair of the Association for Quality Education (which represents the 30 grammars planning to set their own test) said the Minister's threat was "incomprehensible".

"There will be no need to disrupt or change the curriculum in primary schools to prepare children for our tests," Sir Ken Bloomfield has said.

Now, the Minister "is seeking a legislative framework for her proposals" having warned that failure to reach agreement on future arrangements will result in "no regulations" governing post-primary school admissions.

Children currently in P6 still do not know how they will transfer to post-primary schools after the last 11-plus tests are sat by P7 pupils this November.

See: 'Small Minority' Blocking Change, Insists Ruane

(BMcC)