Q&A: Getting to grips with what the change means for school admissions

What changes are planned and what is proposed? Noel Baker has the answers. 

Q. So what changes are planned by the Minister for Education?

A. Under the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, which passed committee stage yesterday, schools which are not oversubscribed will have to accept all applicants. This means that religion will not be used in admissions to 80% of schools, and this is already the practice in most schools (including denominational schools). That means it is in the 20% of other schools that the issue of religion in the admissions process now needs to be addressed.