Minister 'to scrap 11-plus exam'

An announcement on transfer tests is to be made

The education minister is expected to announce she intends scrapping the transfer test for P7 children from next year.

The announcement on the exam, commonly known as the 11-plus, is expected to be made on Tuesday.

The minister, Caitriona Ruane, is expected to make a wide ranging statement on the future of post-primary education in the assembly.

In recent months Ms Ruane has been dropping hints over the issue.

She believes 14 is a more logical age for children to make decisions about their future.

In her statement she is expected to confirm 14 as the key age.

The future of academic selection has been the most contentious topic in education in Northern Ireland since Martin McGuinness announced plans to scrap the 11 plus transfer test five years ago.

The DUP raised the matter in the negotiations which took place at St Andrews in Scotland and succeeded in staving off an outright ban on academic selection.