IN conversations and interviews with Peter Weir, the often contentious topic of academic selection is typically raised.
During these chats, and long before the pandemic derailed tests, it was suggested to the minister that grammar schools held all the cards.
As society was shutting down, it was these schools that decided to press ahead with entrance exam plans and it was their decision - no-one else's - to call them off.
Similarly, it will be for the grammar schools to choose how they select their new Year 8s in the absence of assessment scores.
For all the noise being made about ensuring fairness and robustness, they need only "have regard" for department guidance on admissions criteria.
The last time they were meant to have regard for guidance - after the end of the state-sponsored 11-plus - schools waved a dismissive hand at it and breathed life into the unregulated tests that they continue to use.
There has been much speculation about the kinds of criteria schools might employ.
Parents are demanding to know yesterday what schools are planning, even though they'll all find out on February 2 and have more than a month to finalise transfer forms.
However, this guesswork is causing panic and leading to an altogether bizarre situation.
Some schools have been responding to desperate demands from anxious parents fuelled by theories, and hints by grammars, that they might, possibly, use primary school data.
They are not allowed to reopen for this purpose. The schools know this but they also know they likely will not be punished for it.
Grammar schools, meanwhile, have been receiving legal advice on these potential criteria.
The consensus among lawyers is using transfer test practice papers, teacher information and results from standardised tests cannot possibly result in fair and consistent outcomes.
They have warned that using an untested process will result in many appeals and legal challenges.
It is likely that many schools will not pursue these criteria. Bringing children back into primary classes, therefore, seems an unnecessary risk to take.
