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Working group on primary transfer Schools must avoid test 'chaos'
(about 16 hours later)
The Commission for Catholic Education is to set up a working group to examine the transfer of children from primary schools. A transfer policy for primary school pupils in the Catholic sector can still be found, the Commission for Catholic Education chairman has said.
Catholic bishops have said they are disappointed that politicians have failed to agree on how to replace the 11-plus. Bishop Donal McKeown said the absence of an official replacement for the 11 plus had created "chaos".
The commission wants to move away from academic selection at 11 towards a "more just and modern process". The commission has set up a working group to examine the issue.
The working group is expected to report back within five weeks. "We are pushing a move towards a situation where academic selection is not the dominant factor at 11 years of age," said Bishop McKeown.
On Monday, Education Minister Caitríona Ruane issued guidelines on the transfer of pupils from primary schools from 2010.On Monday, Education Minister Caitríona Ruane 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.
A number of catholic schools have said they will set their own selection tests if there is no agreed replacement for the 11 plus.
"It is a question of how will they use that test," said Bishop McKeown.
"Will it be for the full complement (of pupils), will they limit the complement on the basis of objective criteria?
"I think there are ways in which we can manage this."
Bishop McKeown said the commission's working group, which is expected to report back within five weeks, was "looking for ways to hold the catholic sector together".
"So the concerns of the grammars are addressed, and the terrible sense of neglect and abandonment on the part of the maintained, non-selective schools is also taken into account," he said.