Council urged to back end of ‘divisive and damaging’ transfer tests

Derry City and Strabane District Council is being urged urged to back end of "divisive and damaging" school transfer tests.

Cllr John McGowan (Sinn Féin) is bringing a motion on the issue to March's plenary Council meeting. 

Cllr McGowan said: “The latest cohort of children to transfer to post-primary will be finding out their school placements within a matter of weeks and we of course wish them all well.

“But what should be an exciting and happy time for children and their families is, for many, a time of stress, disappointment and uncertainty.

“Academic selection tests are the root cause of that unnecessary stress. Not only that, as we have seen from the latest research published by Queens University, academic selection only serves to perpetuate inequality, division and disadvantage in this society.

“That is not in anyone’s best interests and thankfully many schools have taken the decision to end the use of transfer tests. So as we look towards another school year, we would again appeal to those remaining schools still using academic selection to prioritise the best interests of our children and young people and make this year the last.”

Full text of motion: "This Council extends its best wishes to all the children of this Council area who will be receiving notification of their post-primary school placements in May but also recognises that academic selection continues to perpetuate inequality, division and disadvantage in this society and calls on those schools that continue to use transfer tests to desist in the best interests of our children and young people."