Not much could be resolved in a meeting which lasted just over an hour — but it was an important starting point.

Putting school transfer back on top of the education agenda and announcing that weekly meetings will be held in a bid to resolve the current logjam can only be a good thing.

It is understood that the participants even surprised themselves by the amount of common ground in their thinking. “These should be the building blocks for some kind of agreement,” one said afterwards.

The attendees were warned to keep the discussions private, but we know that other issues discussed during the closed meeting included support for local area solutions and the pressure they all feel from the public to get the situation resolved.

There was also broad support for a government-supported test to be put in place next year as a temporary measure until agreement is reached on a long-term way forward.

However, even if these four parties do come up with a consensus plan, will Sinn Fein listen?

Party education spokesman John O'Dowd appeared anything but conciliatory in his public statements yesterday. His party feels there is no need to change department policy. Transfer 2010 is in place and it is up to the grammar schools and their supporters to stop using academic selection.

Many feel that the party is praying for a shambolic transfer process this year for schools involved with the new tests — including possible legal challenges. If so, this is a dangerous game to be playing when children's educational futures are at stake.

What harm can there really be in sitting down with fellow MLAs to try and see if further chaos and confusion can be avoided? Even if this results in weekly rows — it's better than Sinn Fein not being involved in the discussions at all.