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Churches bid to end exam deadlock Churches propose transfer at 14
(about 5 hours later)
It is understood the four main churches in Northern Ireland are to attempt to help end the 11-plus stalemate. The four main churches in Northern Ireland have announced a plan to help end the 11-plus stalemate.
The Church of Ireland, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches have joined together to try to find agreement in the long-running dispute.The Church of Ireland, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches have joined together to try to find agreement in the long-running dispute.
They are expected to hold a joint press conference later to give their backing to transfer at 14 instead of 11 years. They said pupil transfer at 14 instead of 11 years was a "workable proposal" and "worthy of detailed consideration".
The move could herald a softening of Sinn Fein's opposition to academic selection. This is the final year of that transfer test and the first of the last two exams will take place on Friday.
The four churches will hold a press conference on the exam The 11-plus exam is a selection test for children in primary seven and determines which type of school they transfer to.
The churches' main focus will be on changing the age of major choices to 14, which is a policy favoured by the minister, Caitriona Ruane, and some members of the grammar schools' association, the governing bodies association. The churchmen said primary school children were becoming "agitated and distressed" as they picked up on adult confusion about what would happen when the 11-plus ends.
However, a large number of voluntary, controlled and Catholic grammar schools are planning to run independent tests at 11. "It is clear that there are strong yet unreconciled convictions about the best system of education for the future," the churchmen said in a statement.
There is a possibility that Sinn Fein politicians might agree to a form of academic selection as long as it is informal and happens at 14. "Each viewpoint seems to cancel out the other and, in the absence of consensus we risk heading to an abyss of unregulated arrangements."
The statement includes a plea to politicians to find the best way forward for all children.
"We ask our politicians and others, to stand back from established positions and to create the space necessary so that, through dialogue between those with different outlooks, the best way forward may be found for all children," they said.
A large number of voluntary, controlled and Catholic grammar schools are planning to run independent tests at 11.
It is believed the Department of Education is preparing to reveal new guidelines for oversubscribed schools.It is believed the Department of Education is preparing to reveal new guidelines for oversubscribed schools.
As well as family, community and geographical criteria, it is considering telling schools to accept a quota of children entitled to free school meals.As well as family, community and geographical criteria, it is considering telling schools to accept a quota of children entitled to free school meals.
The department also has a plan to protect the grammar school chances of children in rural areas.The department also has a plan to protect the grammar school chances of children in rural areas.