Accusing politicians of “playing with children’s futures” regarding the transfer system, he said: “Parents are sending their children to school hoping we will know more about what is going to happen, but we can’t direct them at all because we don’t know. The politicians don’t know.”

‘Fluffed it’

The principal, preferring not to be named, said teachers are in a “dilemma” because while they are rolling out a new computerised testing method, known as InCAS, the 11 Plus hasn’t gone away.

“I honestly think the politicians have fluffed it so much,” he said.

“They should just say, ‘We’ll keep the 11 Plus for four or five years while we work out agreement, but we will not play with parents and children’s futures. I think it’s (the 11 Plus) child abuse; the 11 Plus is the only test you cannot repeat. That’s what I consider to be the abuse part. Decisions are made on the future based on a test that can’t be repeated.”

He said: “We’re just left to wonder, and I know parents are asking now about next year, for P5s and P6s, ‘What’s happening?’”

He added: “My advice is, ‘Listen to your politicians.”

‘Uncertainty’

One Limavady parent, who has one daughter sitting the 11 Plus this year, and another in P5, said what is most concerning is the uncertainty.

“We just don’t know,” she said. “No one can tell you anything about it. It’s just up in the air. It’s so unfair.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said: "The Minister brought her proposals to the Executive on 15 May detailing arrangements for a transition period which would lead to the removal of academic selection for transfer from primary to post primary, and is seeking a legislative basis, in consultation with Executive colleagues, to underpin these proposals."