Pupils 'let down' by transfer row

The issue of the 11-plus has proved controversial

Some primary school principals from Londonderry have said politicians "let pupils and parents down" by failing to agree on a replacement for the 11-plus.

On Monday, the education minister issued guidelines on pupil transfer from 2010 after the Executive failed to approve phasing out academic selection.

But schools are not obliged to follow them, and most grammar schools plan to hold their own admissions tests.

Brendan Grant from Rosemount Primary School said it was a "huge setback".

"Surely our children are the most important thing we have?

"To think that the two parties at the top cannot agree is just mind-boggling," he said.

Nigel Dougherty, the principal of Ebrington Primary School, said parents felt "totally let down" by politicians.

"If they could see the anxious, worried looks on the faces of P6 parents then they would realise that they really need to get their act together," he said.