Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

took her long enough

grammar schools are panicking

this is the wrong decision which should be reconsidered on grounds its stupid

good to see a decision taken hopefully this will lead to more clarity

is ccms representing the views of teachers they can't accept this

Why all the fuss? Primary schools have been teaching children of all abilities for years.Have we been failing our most able pupils, teaching them alongside children who may not be as academically gifted as they are? Certainly not! Selection at 11 is unfair. unjust,and, it can be argued, downright immoral in that it passes judgement on children which can be extremely damaging to many.

The remodelling of schools has changed the performance and demands required off the education system. As much as this will scare a few systems into the wondering about the propects of change- are we truely considering that Every Child Matters and giving all children an opportunity to grow in hopefully a revised,logical, student-orientated system that is in favour of progression of the individual both culturally and academically.

how do you like those apples grammar schools?

I am grammar school educated and i have taught in a very successful grammar for twenty years. For the greater good of society I welcome this decision

sir ken your boys took hell of a beating

Since the 11 plus has been done away with I have noticed a distinct change in attitude in my Year 5/6 class,they have lost their work ethic as they now dont have the exam to work for.They are relaxing big time-not a great reaction from really bright children.

I am Secondary school educated, after failing the eleven plus. I agree with the person commenting on the immorality of sectioning children at eleven. After being educated in a Secondary school i am now a qualified teacher myself and actually tutoring children who sit the eleven plus. In addition to other comments i find it morally and socially repressible that children feel the pressures of this at eleven.

I am a trainning to become a teacher. My view is why are politicians choosing how children should be educated when they have not went through teacher trainning college and do not have a slight idea of education. I failed the 11 and believed that the Government wrote me off as a failure at 11. It is not good to segregat children. Children at Grammar schools recieve a better education because of money. There schools are allocated more money. Why were we not worthy of recieving the same.

I think it is wrong to fix something that is not broken. I do not understand why the 11 is being abolished...especially when they have not yet come up with a better solution!!!! It is a very foolish mistake. Children are going to have to under go some form of selection!!

I think this idea is wonderful and the sooner the better. Hopefully it is the beginning of the end of that mind set that those educated in grammer school are better educated and all round more able members of society. I hope the all children are nurtured and educationed in exciting innovate child centre learning environments and each child is encouraged to do there best without the pressure of 11 .

TOTALLY AGREE WITH 11 PLUS BEING DONE AWAY WITH WHAT DOES A CHILD KNOW AT 10 OT 11 ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRAMMER AND SECONDARY. MAYBE A EXAM WHEN THEY ARE AROUND 13 WHEN THEY THEMSELVES CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO BE CLASSED A FAILURE AT 10 OT 11 ON TNE BASIS OF TWO 45 MINUTE EXAMS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR AND WRONG. ANY CHILD WHO TRIED THE 11 PLUS HAS PUT IN A LOT OF WORK AND SHOULD NOT BE CLASSED A FAILURE. THEY DO IT TO GO TO A GOOD SCHOOL ON THE ADVISE OF THEIR PARENTS WHO HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE REALLY CABABLE OF. LET PARENTS HAVE A SAY ON WHAT THEY BELIVE THERI CHILD TO BE CAPABLE OF AND YOU WILL SEE PARENTS TAKING MORE INTEREST IN THIR CHILDS EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE EFFORT. THE 11 PLUS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR AND HAS DAMAGED MANY A YOUNG CHILD THEY LOSS THEIR COFIDENCE GIVE EVERY CHILD A FAIR CHANCE

When are people going to understand that it doesn't matter which school a child transfers to from primary school - they all teach EXACTLY the same 11 - 14 curriculum.The only point which needs to be clarified is :-Can a primary school chose NOT to transfer children at 11 and offer them the required curriculum until they are 14?

I consider the decision to end academic selection at 11 and to then replace it with fresh air quite frightening. I believe the minister has shown herself to be lacking in vision and leadership. What exactly is going to happen to this countries grammar schools? Will they become private schools who only select on the basis of ability to pay rather than academic ability regardless of parents financial status? Am I supposed to believe that this is a fairer system than the current academic selection at 11? Or will we end up with selection at 14? Leading to an increase in prep departments at grammar schools, were children will be selected on family members being past pupils and possibly on an interview and entrance exam/fee? Once again only opening the system to those who can afford it.If the minister is unable to answer the question of what to do then she should stand down and pass the portfolio to someone who is not afraid to face difficult questions and move the education system forward. We don't have to look very far to see how unequal you make the system when you implement a comprehensive/all abilities strategy. I think the statistic for entrance to Oxbridge from State schools in England compared to Public schools shows just how unfair the system will become. I for one would rather have an education system based on academic ability than ability to pay and I am disgusted by the actions of our education minister.

I am unsure whether scrapping of the 11 is good or bad because after reading the comments left here I feel that something needs to be done. It is obvious from the misuse and missing grammar, apparent in some of the comments, that an upheaval in the system which addresses education, striving to achieve higher standards is a necessity! Also, let’s not mention the written English of those here who are supposed to be teachers!

Remove the 11 , throw all the children into one building and then watch the school divide them up according to ability anyway.Only thing that will change is the uniform will be the same. Middleclass parents ruined the system with their incessant tutoring and pressure bur it doesn't make grammar school's immoral... Ruth Kelly told us comprehensives failed Britain so one wonders why we feel need to jump on this bandwagon. I worry that the Catholic Bishops who have had a sudden epiphany as to the immorality of selection haven't really experience non-grammar school teaching. Bishop Donal hasn't and let's face it St. Malachy's is a very different school to Corpus Christi as is St. Colman's Newry from St Patrick's, Keady Cardinal Brady.

what exactly will replace it is my concern not the minister

Well done katrina bravery and courage cannot be defeated keep going with what you are doing!!!!!!!!

The 11plus debate is dead the real debate is the future. Would the minister be attacked if she was a man or from another political party. If shes doing a wick job say that but dont criticse her.

THis is a social Justice issue regarding the 11plus. Are you seriously saying you renounce the teachings of Christ?

Your comments are all over the place. Miss Ruane has a difficult job which she is doing well regardless of what you may believe in your sloppy comments. To suggest youre sending your child to a protestant grammar underscores how little you know. THeir won't be any grammar schools!!!!!!!!!!

What will replace the Transfer Test is my concern and what knowledge the minister has or understanding of the Northern school system is also concerning . The structure of the system is fine , selection needs to be executed differently

When the transfer test goes, and Methody,BRA et al. go private with their common entrance exam, tell me then that there will be no grammar schools. I will pay (and many more with me)to provide my child with an academically focused education. All sacraments are taught in Primary school, protestant school with academic focus will be more than adequate.

Well said Una! We can all make typing errors but the literacy levels displayed here are truly frightening. Will the new schools address this?

WHY NOT HAVE CHILDREN JUST AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF EDUCATION IN THEIR AREA. ALL SECONDARY EDUCATION SHOULD BE THE SAME. JUST AS PRIMARY EDUCATION IS THE SAME. GIVE ALL SCHOOLS GOOD TEACHERS AND THE MEANS OF PROVIDING FOR ALL CHILDREN. THIS GRADING OF YOUNG CHILDREN IS SOUL DESTROYING FOR SO MANY OF THEM.

As a former principal of a school I would advocate the ending of selection. The time of self serving middle class waffle about good exam results is over!The economy requires a fresh approach.

Many moons ago Stewarts supermarket brought out Yellow pack foods. You may remember them same product different wrapping. For the parents I would suggest that its not the product which is wrong but the branding. Nothing makes me laugh like the pious middle class Catholics who attend mass on Sunday and worship a lord who advocated social justice and equality. Ah nothing suits their sense of morality better than their ill informed snobbery which is based on keeping the monkeys down.

If the church are so opposed to selection on grounds of social justice and the teachings of Christ, how can they justify having private Catholic Grammar Schools in England? I also think it should be remembered that the ending of the 11 plus had nothing to do with the current minister. It was proposed by M.McGuinness during his stint as education minister and then made law by direct rule ministers while our supposed politicians were huffing with each other. The current ministers job is to decide what to do next. Regardless of her decision CCMS has decided they will not have any grammar schools, so catholic parents who want grammar school educations for their children will have no choice but to send them to Methody/Inst/Bra/Belfast High/Campbell College etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. As I said before this will lead to even more Social Injustice as the schools will be so oversubscribed that they will hand pick the elite to attend their schools. I for one would rather my children attended a school with other academically gifted children who want to excel, than attend a school full of whining down trodden children who have been brainwashed by their parents into believing that the middle classes are evil and want to keep them in their place. It is time to take the chips of your shoulders, stop crying about social injustice and hold our government accountable for the terrible job they are doing.

Mr MCQuitty comments are misguided to say the least. Yes the Catholic church has alot of explaining to do in respect of its policies on education. But theyre in the business of god, jesus and religion so if they want to base theyre policies on social justice then so be it. I suspect that Mr McQuitty concept of social justice is either non existent or in serious need of overhaul. As the americans use to say 'its the economy you dummy' not his own personal self interest or that of his children. The NI economy cannot sustain a tier approach to education. If thats not obvious to you then i'm afraid youre in need of serious education.

Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on? We have no selection system, new curriculum, overburdened teachers, the ending of ELBS and CCMS, the lack of vision, leadership and direction is staggering. Surely there needs to be a new form of leadership on this matter before our education system becomes the waste product of an ignorant politcical system and politicians whos left experience and knowledge of education is terrible.

I'm so glad my children are adults now. I'd send them to the local Protestant Grammar otherwise. Catholic parents in East Down have done this for years!

Good luck and good riddance to those who threaten their cildren to state grammar schools. Just one point - what convinces them that these grammar schools will be able to withstand the impact of reduced pupil numbers, resultant changes in grades of intake, more comprehensive pupil profile. Or is it the retention of relative privilege that is the main motivation. Maybe the Minister should decide that 25% of the highest academic results should be the sole intake of the grammars. Isn't that what they are supposed to be about anyway - let them take the falling numbers, redundancies and so on. This debate is not about truly 'academic selection' or 'academic excellence' - it is about the self-appointed elite keeping out the perceived riff-raff.