The Minister with responsibility for Education has confirmed that the last 11-plus tests will be held in Autumn 2008.

Confirming the scrapping of the 11-plus as part of an overhaul of post-primary education, following the publication of the Costello Report, the Minister, Jane Kennedy, said that many schools in Northern Ireland have a high reputation, but that the current transfer and post-primary arrangements have significant weaknesses.

She said: “The system works well for some but and there are also inequalities of access for many pupils. I think that is unfair – each child should have a clear entitlement to equal learning opportunities.”

She explained that the key concept of the new arrangements is an Entitlement Framework: “This new development will essentially be a passport to learning for each pupil. It will entitle them to access to a minimum number and range of courses, including for the first time, a choice of vocational courses, regardless of the school they attend or where they live.”

Also confirmed was that academic selection will end as a method of transfer, Ms Kennedy said: “This review has been ongoing for five years. Now is the time to end the uncertainty and move forward with new arrangements that will raise standards for all pupils. However, these changes must be managed properly and that is why the Working Group recommended that the final tests should be held in Autumn 2008. This means that pupils currently in P2 will be the last to sit the 11-plus.”

However, the Minister added that parents can opt now not to enter their children for the test and that grammar schools can opt not to use the test as part of their admissions arrangements. New transfer arrangements will be based on parental choice, informed by the Pupil Profile and better information about the options available.

Ms Kennedy said: “There has been a lot of speculation about imposing a single type of school system. I want to make clear that these new arrangements, far from being a ‘one size fits all’ actually allow all existing school types to continue to exist, so long as they meet the Entitlement Framework. It also opens up the possibility of new school types, such as specialist schools, which are able to respond to local needs, for example in ICT or leisure and tourism.”

The Minister concluded: “The new arrangements are exciting and challenging, but, most of all, they put pupils at the centre and provide them with more relevant knowledge and skills needed for life and work in the 21st Century.”

Copies of the Costello Report are being circulated to schools, FE colleges, the education partners, the churches, universities, training organizations, business representatives, community and voluntary groups, equality and human rights groups, local councils, libraries, political representatives and other interested parties.

A leaflet summarizing information about the future of the Transfer Tests and new post-primary arrangements is being sent to every household in Northern Ireland.

(KMcA)