In response to today’s story in the Belfast Telegraph, NICIE Chief Executive Officer, Roisin Marshall, said: “Integrated Schools are co-educational and all ability.  They aim to meet the needs and abilities of all pupils by providing a curriculum that is challenging and relevant to their aptitudes and interests.’

In Northern Ireland where children at age 10/11 can sit a transfer test, either GL or AQE, academic selection still exists and Grammar Schools select pupils on the basis of the results of these tests.  Two integrated post primary schools, Lagan, Belfast and Slemish, Ballymena have operated a grammar stream for 35% of their intake for many years using both the GL and AQE test results to select the children. For them this means that children across the full spectrum of ability can access an integrated education in these schools.

Recently four integrated schools including Strangford College, Integrated College Dungannon, North Coast College and Sperrin College have responded to parents who believe their children to be academically gifted, by providing access to a grammar stream. Access to these grammar streams is not reliant on any transfer test result but on any evidence a parent can produce on their child’s ability. These schools are simply responding to parental wishes for reassurance that their academically able child will be given an appropriate education to reach their full potential.

To date the other 14 integrated colleges do not have a grammar stream and have no plans to introduce one.  Integrated schools are characterised by their responsiveness to parents and learners, hence the differences in approach to meeting the unique needs of their learners.  All integrated schools are continually looking for and finding new ways to support their gifted and talented young people including the academically gifted.

ENDS