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DUP attacks Catholic school plans | |
(30 minutes later) | |
DUP leader Peter Robinson has accused the Catholic Church of being intent on denying its young people a grammar school education. | |
He was speaking as the Church outlined proposals to dramatically change the maintained sector's post-primary education. | |
Cardinal Sean Brady launched the first step in creating a network of all ability schools on Monday. | |
But Mr Robinson said many Catholic parents were completely against this. | |
"The Roman Catholic Church appears determined to deny young people the opportunity of a grammar school education," he said. | |
"I know many Roman Catholic parents vehemently oppose this position. They too understand the importance of successful academic schools in the development of our society here. | |
"I am determined to ensure that an academic option is available to those from all backgrounds who wish to pursue this path." | |
The first minister said that while he believed in grammar schools, he did not think that future transfer to post-primary education had to involve a traditional test. | |
He said the replacement of the 11-plus with involved multiple exams "hardly seemed to be an educational advancement" and that he favoured computer adaptive testing (CAT), which looks at a child's ability over a longer time period. | |
The CAT method has been discussed in the past by those in favour of selection. | |
We have been and will continue throughout this process to consult beyond the Catholic network of schools and explore new ways of sharing resources, facilities and personnel Cardinal Sean Brady | |
In CAT exams the questions become more or less difficult according to how well each batch of questions is answered. | |
Test scores over a number of years could then be used by post-primary schools to select pupils. | |
Launching the Catholic Church's proposals, Cardinal Sean Brady said Catholic schools would consult beyond their own sector to share resources. | |
The sweeping review of the maintained sector's post-primary education includes a central commitment to the ending of academic selection, but it also examines other ways of working. | |
"We have been and will continue throughout this process to consult beyond the Catholic network of schools," Cardinal Brady said. | |
"And explore new ways of sharing resources, facilities and personnel at local level to ensure that the best possible education for all children in our society is achieved." | "And explore new ways of sharing resources, facilities and personnel at local level to ensure that the best possible education for all children in our society is achieved." |
Cardinal Sean Brady made the plans public on Monday | |
Cardinal Brady said that he wanted politicians to move beyond "the narrow focus on academic selection and to engage in a wider, more inclusive discussion about how together we can provide the best possible system of education for every child in Northern Ireland". | Cardinal Brady said that he wanted politicians to move beyond "the narrow focus on academic selection and to engage in a wider, more inclusive discussion about how together we can provide the best possible system of education for every child in Northern Ireland". |
Some grammar schools are thought to be unwilling to accept the end of academic selection. | Some grammar schools are thought to be unwilling to accept the end of academic selection. |
Schools are now using unregulated entrance exams. The commission on Catholic education has already said that should not continue after 2012. | Schools are now using unregulated entrance exams. The commission on Catholic education has already said that should not continue after 2012. |
The commission is trying to tackle a reduction in the number of pupils, demands for a wider choice of subjects and the hierarchy's wish to end academic selection. | The commission is trying to tackle a reduction in the number of pupils, demands for a wider choice of subjects and the hierarchy's wish to end academic selection. |
Gerry Lundy who directed the post-primary review said: "What we are trying to do is to move away from this narrow focus on academic selection. | Gerry Lundy who directed the post-primary review said: "What we are trying to do is to move away from this narrow focus on academic selection. |
"To address that issue ... for the community and schools what the future is and what the shape of that future should be. | "To address that issue ... for the community and schools what the future is and what the shape of that future should be. |
"This is a consultation process. What we are asking people to do is to respond to the challenges set out in the consultation." | "This is a consultation process. What we are asking people to do is to respond to the challenges set out in the consultation." |
Over the next four weeks, the commission will reveal the options open to clusters of schools in 17 different areas across Northern Ireland. | Over the next four weeks, the commission will reveal the options open to clusters of schools in 17 different areas across Northern Ireland. |
Some areas will see new colleges for children aged 11 to 14 and 14 to 19 and there will be more amalgamations of groups of two and three schools. | Some areas will see new colleges for children aged 11 to 14 and 14 to 19 and there will be more amalgamations of groups of two and three schools. |
Some single sex schools could become co-educational and others may be federated, two or more schools governed by one body. | Some single sex schools could become co-educational and others may be federated, two or more schools governed by one body. |
It wants a network of all-ability schools, removing the need for academic selection. | It wants a network of all-ability schools, removing the need for academic selection. |
The plans are aimed at meeting government policy objectives, including sustainable schools and the entitlement framework, a scheme designed to give pupils increased subject choice. | The plans are aimed at meeting government policy objectives, including sustainable schools and the entitlement framework, a scheme designed to give pupils increased subject choice. |
Computer | Computer |
The review also aims to remove thousands of empty desks from the post-primary maintained sector. | The review also aims to remove thousands of empty desks from the post-primary maintained sector. |
Changes are expected to take place over the next decade rather than schools facing immediate upheaval. | Changes are expected to take place over the next decade rather than schools facing immediate upheaval. |
It would see schools run by different Catholic religious orders come together in future mergers or collaborations. | It would see schools run by different Catholic religious orders come together in future mergers or collaborations. |
The commission said that it will ask for feedback from schools and parents. | The commission said that it will ask for feedback from schools and parents. |
The principals of all grammar schools in Northern Ireland have been invited to a meeting on Monday night to see if they can agree on a single transfer test for this year. | The principals of all grammar schools in Northern Ireland have been invited to a meeting on Monday night to see if they can agree on a single transfer test for this year. |