Meeting with principals of schools in the Limavady and Dungiven area Minister Ruane talked about her plans to replace the transfer test, claiming the vast majority of educators in the North want change.

“We have a system where many of our young people are failing,” she told the Journal.

“Yes, there is academic success but I am not prepared to be a minister who presides over educational apartheid. I relish the changes and I never expected this to be easy.”

The minister is adamant that 11 is too young for a child to sit a test they can only do once in their life, and believes 14 is a better age to make important decisions and decide on “educational pathways”.

“These pathways will be based on informed decisions taken by the young people in conjunction with parents and teachers,” she said.

“This is the last 11 Plus, and there will not be any more contrary to what people who are anti-change are trying to present. For there to be a new 11 plus I would have to legislate for it and I am not going to legislate for that. I am thankful this is the last one and no longer will the primary school curriculum be distorted and will the pressure be on our children at such a young age.”

Selection

Several Catholic grammar schools, including Derry’s Lumen Christi College, are forging ahead with their own plans for selection which has met the ire of the minister.

“I have written to schools that they need to put the children’s interests at heart, and advised them of the legal perils if they go down the route of breakaway testing,” she said.

“I know they are very aware of that and I don’t think it’s in anyone interests that schools take that route. I hope that the schools who do will reconsider their position.”

However, Limavady Grammar School is holding firm. It is one of the 30 AQE schools that have prepared their own entrance tests and the body is set to meet next month.

“The law permits selection and we are holding firm to that,” said Dr. Sam McGuinness.

“Day after day I am approached by parents who are pleading with me to give them direction and the only direction I can give them is selection remains and you should sit the AQE if you want to. There’s no compulsion, but if you want to you can.”

But Roe valley Integrated Primary School principal, Anne Quinn disagrees.

She believes the minister is “spot on” in her thinking, and agrees that there is too much pressure on a child of 10 or 11 to sit the 11 Plus, and that it is not the best way to test a child.

The minister plans to meet with principals in Derry later this month.