AQW 1669/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 06/09/2011
Answered On Date: 15/09/2011
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for his assessment of whether children sitting several entrance exams for post-primary schools, including exams for the Catholic maintained and controlled sector (i) is in the best interests of the children; and (ii) is sustainable in the long-term.

Answer:

I do not believe that it is in the best educational interests of children to be sitting any entrance test that is referenced to a school’s admissions processes. Children should be able to access a first-rate education without the trauma and stress associated with sitting up to five test papers.

Our pupils should be academically challenged throughout their school career, but academic selection has been used to prevent young people from accessing schools. Instead I want to nurture the talents of all our young people and to ensure all schools provide a high standard of educational experience and build on pupils’ individual abilities.

I want to see, and I am working towards, an equal system across the board where we have area planning to cater for the educational needs of all pupils , where we can look at our schools in a sustainable way, and where we have a fair and level playing field for all our schools in terms of admissions processes.