As headmaster of one of a handful of non-Catholic grammar schools that has
chosen not to participate in the Association for Quality Education, it is
understandable, if regrettable, that his isolated position has prompted Neil
Morton of Portora Royal School to attack his colleagues (Belfast Telegraph,
May 12).
As a parent who, unlike Mr Morton, has attended AQE's meetings, I can assure
other parents that Mr Morton's attempt to create doubt about the
organisation's ability to provide and operate a mechanism for academic
selection, in keeping with the views of the people of Northern Ireland, are
without foundation.
While AQE has, for several years, advocated the use of computer adaptive
testing, which would offer a more child-friendly assessment than the
11-plus, considerable effort has been directed to the construction of a
Common Entrance Assessment which will be fit for the purpose.
The Common Entrance Assessment is a reality.
Stating his willingness to work with the Costello proposals, Mr Morton wrote
in 2004 that "... if I were headmaster of any other school my approach
might be very different". Those of us determined to put principles
above expediency, in the knowledge that our selective education system
offers the best outcomes for all our children, must tread a different path.
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