The principal of Derry grammar school Lumen Christi College has said he expects hundreds of parents to attend information sessions on the school's planned entrance test being held tomorrow.
Earlier this year the school announced its intention to introduce its own ‘academic aptitude test’ in order to continue academic selection when the controversial 11 plus exam ends later this year.
Pat O’Doherty, the principal of Lumen Christi, sai
d tomorrow’s information sessions are designed to give parents, school children and teachers, more details about the school’s test.
“This is really for parents to give them a year’s notice of the type of test.
“The reason we are going for the aptitude test is that parents are being left in limbo.
“If there is a change in the law then we will go with that, but at this stage we need to give parents information,” he said.
Critics of Lumen Christi’s plans have claimed the school could face legal difficulties with its planned new test.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the school was aware of the “administrative and legal risks involved in attempting to set independent tests”.
“The Minister has started the process of establishing a legislative framework for her proposals in time for their operation in September 2010, when current P6 children transfer to post-primary schools,” the spokesperson added.
The full article contains 234 words and appears in Journal Friday DER Edition newspaper.
