Exam body denies NI test planning

Schools are planning entrance exams to replace the 11-plus

The organisation some grammar schools have said they will use to provide entrance exams to replace the 11-plus has denied involvement in the tests.

Some Catholic grammar schools have been saying they would use exams set and marked by the National Foundation for Educational Research.

However, it has now stated it is not devising, monitoring or overseeing any such tests in Northern Ireland.

It now appears they may instead be adapted by a partner organisation.

GL Assessment has said it is in discussion with NI schools over the supply of assessments.

While it often works in partnership with NFER, they are separate organisations.

Originally the Catholic grammars were planning to set tests in verbal reasoning but recently changed to English and maths.

A group of non-Catholic grammar schools, who are members of the Association of Quality Education, are planning to use different entrance exams.