Warning over 11-plus legal action

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6326009.stm

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Primary school principals in NI have been given guidance on how to fill in forms for pupils taking the 11-plus because of fears of legal action.

The move follows a case where a family from the Belfast area sued a school for alleged negligence.

The transfer form lists the choices for post-primary schools.

The family had asked for some special circumstances to be detailed, but this was not done and the child was not offered a place at a grammar school.

More than five years later the family sued and a settlement was made last summer of more than £6,000.

The case has prompted all of Northern Ireland's education boards to write to head teachers about it.

Dr Desmond Hamilton of the National Association of Head Teachers said parents should always tell the school if they think special circumstances apply.

He said: "The onus is on the parents to read the criteria quite clearly so they understand the criteria beforehand and many of them don't - they wait until they come for interview."

11-plus results are due to be delivered across Northern Ireland on Saturday.