Vol. 427 No. 8
255 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if she will make a policy statement regarding entrance tests, examinations and interviews being used to select pupils by post-primary schools; and whether schools in receipt of State grants are given guidance as to the way in which the students are to be selected for entry.
The eligibility of pupils in general for entry to post-primary schools is governed by regulations, but my Department does not have statutory power of control over the admission of individual pupils to a particular post-primary school. The selection of pupils for admission, and the criteria used for this purpose, are decided by the school mangement authorities in each case.
I would deprecate the use of tests for the purpose of "creaming" pupils of higher ability. The Green Paper, "Education for a Changing World", envisages that State-aided post-primary schools will be required, as a condition of funding, to have an admissions policy that will not discriminate on the basis of means, educational level or social background and to provide a comprehensive system of education suitable for a wide ability range.
