Catholics to reveal transfer plan

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The Catholic Commission on Education is to reveal its plans for the transfer of this year's primary six pupils later.

Some Catholic grammar schools have said they will set entrance exams, if there is no official academic selection.

However, the Catholic hierarchy and Catholic secondary schools are opposed to that.

Two months ago the church set up a working group to consider the problem, which has said it will reveal its proposals on Monday.

Last minute talks with Education Minister Caitriona Ruane apparently failed to convince her to run an official test, even for two more years.

The church is trying to keep the support of catholic parents who want their children to go to a grammar school and who could choose to leave the sector and apply for non-denominational grammar schools instead.

The commission is making a statement by its choice of venue for the announcement.

It will be at a County Armagh high school which is all ability and which has been praised for its good exam results and record of sending many pupils to university.

The final 11-plus was held in Northern Ireland schools last November, and the way in which children currently in primary six will transfer to second-level education remains unclear.

Many Catholic grammar schools have announced they will set independent tests, while more than 30 state schools say they will continue to use academic selection.