A leading education expert is available to answer readers’ questions on the new school transfer system.

Professor Tony Gallagher, head of the School of Education at Queen’s University, Belfast, will use his years of involvement with the high-profile debate on what should replace the 11-plus to provide answers to the questions you need answered.

Prof Gallagher joined Queen’s as a lecturer in education in 1992 and was later promoted to Professor of Education in 1999. In 2005 he was appointed Head of the School of Education.

His main research is in the role of education in divided societies and he also writes on issues related to equality and social inclusion. His current main work examines methods of school collaboration to raise standards and promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

With Alan Smith from the University of Ulster, he co-directed the research project into the effects of the selective system of secondary education which was published by the Department of Education in 2000 and subsequently was invited to act as an advisor to the Burns Post Primary Review Group.

He is regularly asked to speak to community and school groups and others on the issue of post-primary review and academic selection.

Email your questions to ktorney@belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

The first answers will be printed in the Belfast Telegraph and online on August 3rd.