HUNDREDS of pupils from South Armagh received their long awaited 11-plus exam results on Saturday morning.

However, of the 15,000 pupils throughout Northern Ireland who sat the exam, only 6,000 pupils have gained the necessary grade A, which will guarantee them a place in a grammar school. For those who do decide to apply to a grammar school, Our Lady’s and the Abbey School in Newry remain popular choices.

This year will see the final transfer test take place but it is currently unclear what will replace the 11-plus system. Minister for Education, Catriona Ruane has so far failed to announce what will replace the current system. This uncertainty has annoyed parents’ organisations throughout the north.

Deputy Chairman of the Education Committee and Newry and Armagh Assembly Member, Dominic Bradley MLA has questioned Ruane’s proposals for reform at a special meeting of the Education Committee to discuss transfer arrangements.

He said: “Ruane’s proposals include the establishment of 11 to 14-year-olds schools and 14 to 19-year-olds schools. However, it is not realistic to propose that these schools can be established by 2010 or indeed shortly afterwards. Reorganisation within education will take a number of years and requires close co-operation across the sectors. This cannot be done within the proposed timeframe and will mean that the focus may remain on transfer at age 11-years-old rather than 14-years-old, as proposed by the Minister.

”I am also concerned that the Minister has left the door open for academic selection,” Mr Bradley continued. “With transfer at 14-years-old, the receiving schools will consider the previous educational experience and performance of applicants. That sounds to me very much like opening the door to academic selection.”