Children in the North get 11-plus results

Thousands of primary school children throughout the North have been receiving their 11-plus results today.

Around 6,000 of the more than 15,000 students who sat the exam will be awarded an A grade, guaranteeing them a place in a grammar school.

But children who received lower grades now face an anxious wait to find out if they got into the school of their choice.

The final school transfer test will take place later this year before being axed to make way for a new system.

But much to the annoyance of many parents of primary school children Education Minister Catriona Ruane has not yet made clear what will replace it.

During a fraught meeting between Ms Ruane and the Stormont Education Committee on Thursday, she gave a presentation on her plans for the shake-up.

The minister, who has advocated post-primary schools for children aged 11 to 14 and then 14 to 19, appeared to rule out academic selection at any stage including for children aged 14.

Instead she said the transfer procedure to post primary schools would be based on three criteria:

:: Family – whether children applying have siblings in the school there.

:: Community – involving named feeder primary and parish schools.

:: Geography – ensuring children were from a local parish and catchment area.