St Columb’s and Thornhill not using transfer test for academic selection this year

In a joint statement, St Columb’s College and Thornhill College - the city’s two largest Catholic grammars - say they believe it is the ‘right decision’ to make.

The decision follows recent calls for the transfer test to be scrapped this year because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

Derry’s two other grammar schools, Lumen Christi College and Foyle College, have yet to comment on their plans for this year.

A number of other grammar schools in Northern Ireland say they will not be using the transfer test this year as part of its admission procedure.

In their statement, the Boards of Governors and principals at St Columb’s College and Thornhill College say they have ‘reflected carefully’ on the impact of the pandemic.

The two schools say the pandemic hsd caused ‘considerable disruption’ for Primary Six pupils who are due to sit the transfer test later this year.

They insist the decision not to use the transfer test for academic selection purposes is for ‘this year only’.