AQW 9340/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 21/03/2024
Answered On Date: 28/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for his assessment of the impact of the process of academic selection and post-primary transfer on the mental health and well-being of children and young people.

Answer:

Post-primary schools set their own admissions criteria and decide whether or not to use academic selection as part of that process if they are over-subscribed.

The Education Authority operates the process that facilitates the transfer from primary to post-primary school of all pupils, with schools selecting children on the basis of their admissions criteria.

My Department has no role in the operation or funding of the transfer test which is organised by private providers.