Bypassing Assembly approval is not the way to go

Opinion

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

By Kathryn Torney

It would be a smart move by Caitriona Ruane to introduce new schools admissions criteria in the form of 'guidance'.

No complicated legislative changes, no need to have the backing of the Assembly or Executive and she wouldn't even need to worry about officially banning academic selection forever from Northern Ireland.

The Sinn Fein briefing paper states the party would seek to "persuade" the majority of grammar schools to adhere to the department guidelines - which would of course not include academic selection as an option for schools.

This persuasion would include any school that refuses to fall into line being forced to pay for their own entrance tests and they would also have to fund any legal challenges arising from this - risks already stressed strongly and publicly by the Education Minister.

Added to this are a number of other factors - many introduced under Ms Ruane's leadership - which will helpfully encourage reluctant schools in favour of selection to "adopt a more pragmatic approach".

These include the decline in the school-aged population and the department's power to set admission and enrolment numbers at schools. Schools are funded on a per pupils basis so could grammar schools' intake be capped at such a low level that it may put their future in doubt?

From 2013 all schools must provide access to a minimum of 24 subjects at GCSE and 27 subjects at A-Level - this also may be difficult to do if your school has a reduced intake.

Currently, only seven grammar schools restrict their intake to pupils with 11-plus grades of A and B1 - the Ulster Unionists are suggesting that these schools may be the only ones to survive if grammars restrict their entry to the top students only, as has been suggested by the DUP.

At last - and not before time - a member of the Assembly's Executive has said enough is enough when it comes to the limited discussion about the issue at Executive level.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed in February that Caitriona Ruane turned down an Executive offer to set up a ministerial sub-group to look at school transfer.

It's hard to believe she was allowed to snub the offer of attempting to reach cross- party consensus.

The important people in all of this are the children in schools across Northern Ireland who will be transferring to post-primary schools under the new system.

They, their parents and teachers are anxiously awaiting detailed information on what will replace the 11-plus exam and how the issue of over-subscribed popular schools will be dealt with.

The options need to be discussed openly by the Executive, with all parties laying their cards on the table. Bypassing Assembly approval is not the way to go.

A solution is already long overdue but really must be found before the summer to give schools the opportunity to adapt to the changes - whatever they may be.