BBC News
By Robbie Meredith
Published
image captionA switch to verbal reasoning tests would be a radical change but could work
Schools who use transfer tests run by the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC) are to consider radical change to the tests in the autumn.
A discussion paper from PPTC has asked schools to consider whether to use verbal reasoning tests to decide which pupils to admit in 2022.
Due to the pandemic disruption, they are being suggested as an option instead of tests in English and Maths.
But it will be up to individual schools and the PPTC steering group to decide.
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And the door has now been opened to allow children to sit the test in their own schools, though the minister said any arrangements would have to be across the board, with agreement from all stakeholders to prevent some pupils having the unfair advantage of taking the test in familiar surroundings.
Mr Weir said it was vital that AQE now engages with pupils, parents and other stakeholders to explain their approach to how the tests will be conducted.
The organisers of the tests would need to agree, he said, adding that prior to 2016 primary schools were not permitted to be used for the exams, but he had lifted that barrier five years ago.
Lumen Christi College in Derry has published its admissions criteria for new pupils to the school this year
List of criteria on how students will be admitted in September
Lumen Christi College in Derry.
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Lumen Christi College in Derry has released its admissions criteria for new pupils hoping to attend the school in September.
The school would usually admit new students through the transfer test process.
However, the test was cancelled this year because of the pandemic.
As a result, Year 8 pupils at Lumen Christi in September 2021 will be admitted according to the following criteria and sub-criteria in the order specified below:
BBC News
By Robbie Meredith
Published
image captionTransfer tests normally used by grammar schools have been cancelled this year
One of NI s most prominent grammar schools has said it will use primary school test scores to decide which pupils to admit in 2021.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution said it would adopt other academic criteria for admission to the school .
The tests run by the AQE and the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC) were cancelled in early 2021.
As a result, grammar schools - which are attended by about 45% of post-primary pupils in Northern Ireland - are drawing up new criteria for how they will select pupils in 2021.