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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ruane reveals transfer guidelines | Ruane reveals transfer guidelines |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Education Minister CaitrÃona Ruane has issued guidelines on the transfer of pupils from primary schools from 2010. | Education Minister CaitrÃona Ruane has issued guidelines on the transfer of pupils from primary schools from 2010. |
| Last week, she failed to get the Executive to approve a phasing out of academic selection. | Last week, she failed to get the Executive to approve a phasing out of academic selection. |
| Her new guidelines tell schools they should not use academic selection and list criteria which oversubscribed schools should use to choose pupils. | Her new guidelines tell schools they should not use academic selection and list criteria which oversubscribed schools should use to choose pupils. |
| However, it is understood the guidelines are advisory rather than legally enforceable. | However, it is understood the guidelines are advisory rather than legally enforceable. |
| That means schools must take the guidelines into account but they are free to decide not to use them. | That means schools must take the guidelines into account but they are free to decide not to use them. |
| Ms Ruane told the assembly: "The time to act has arrived. | Ms Ruane told the assembly: "The time to act has arrived. |
| In the absence of political agreement I have a duty to act and let parents, children and teachers know how Transfer 2010 will operate CaitrÃona Ruane | In the absence of political agreement I have a duty to act and let parents, children and teachers know how Transfer 2010 will operate CaitrÃona Ruane |
| "Over the past 16 months I have reflected long and hard on the wide range of views put to me. | "Over the past 16 months I have reflected long and hard on the wide range of views put to me. |
| "On two occasions, the Executive has refused to discuss my proposals for new transfer arrangements. | "On two occasions, the Executive has refused to discuss my proposals for new transfer arrangements. |
| "Proposals which are based on a position of compromise and are attempts to introduce equality into an outdated education system. | "Proposals which are based on a position of compromise and are attempts to introduce equality into an outdated education system. |
| "In the absence of political agreement, I have a duty to act and let parents, children and teachers know how Transfer 2010 will operate." | "In the absence of political agreement, I have a duty to act and let parents, children and teachers know how Transfer 2010 will operate." |
| Ms Ruane said she wants schools, as a top priority, to select a proportion of pupils who are entitled to free school meals. | Ms Ruane said she wants schools, as a top priority, to select a proportion of pupils who are entitled to free school meals. |
| Traditionally, grammar schools have a low number of pupils in that category. | Traditionally, grammar schools have a low number of pupils in that category. |
| The list of criteria is similar to that already being used by secondary and primary schools namely attendance at a feeder primary school, living in the parish or in a catchment area, being the eldest child or having a brother or sister at the school. | The list of criteria is similar to that already being used by secondary and primary schools namely attendance at a feeder primary school, living in the parish or in a catchment area, being the eldest child or having a brother or sister at the school. |
| The minister said she would withdraw orders that the exams body should produce a new test for selection. | The minister said she would withdraw orders that the exams body should produce a new test for selection. |
| She said she hoped grammar schools would choose to stop academic selection. Many grammar schools have said they will run their own admission tests. | She said she hoped grammar schools would choose to stop academic selection. Many grammar schools have said they will run their own admission tests. |
| Unionist MLAs have challenged the minister on the legal advice she received before issuing the guidelines. | Unionist MLAs have challenged the minister on the legal advice she received before issuing the guidelines. |
| SDLP education spokesman Dominic Bradley said Ms Ruane's guidelines would do "little or nothing" to help parents, pupils or teachers. | |
| "There is nothing new in what the minister told the assembly. All she has done is reiterated the current transfer system for non-selective schools," he said. | |
| "They will do nothing to help avoid the totally unregulated system which will simply fill the vacuum she has left." |