And then there were three:
Given that the Minister for Education and the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Committee has not, as yet, agreed the arrangements for Transfer to Post-Primary Schools in September 2010, the Board of Governors of St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, has decided that in the absence of any definitive and agreed plan and pending legislative clarity, the school will continue to admit boys to Year 8 on the basis of academic selection.
This decision has been taken in order that primary school principals and teachers, and the parents of present P6 pupils will be aware of the academic requirements for entry to this school in September 2010.
It looks like the Minister’s fillibustering tactic of talking out the opposition over the ending selective education may be slowly unravelling…
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty