Thousands of P7 pupils to find out outcome of post-primary application

P7 pupils are set to find out on Saturday which post-primary school they will transfer to in September.

Almost 24,000 children across the north will be told the outcome of their application for a Year 8 place via email.

The Education Authority (EA) has told parents that they will receive notification of their child’s placement in the morning, but they can also still log in to the EA’s post-primary admissions portal to view their original application alongside the outcome.

In an email issued earlier this week, the EA told parents: "Emails will be issued to almost 24,000 parents and consequently some parents will receive their email before others.

"It is intended that all parents should have received their notification by 1pm."

Any parents who applied via a paper application and did not supply an email address, will be notified by post.

Children received the results of transfer tests for entrance to grammar schools after sitting the GL Assessment and/or the AQE (Association of Quality Education) tests in February.

Around 8,400 pupils had sat the tests set by the AQE, while around 7,300 took the GL Assessment.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 children sat both tests when they were held in November and December last year.

Parents of all P7 children then applied for a post-primary school place on the EA online portal - the third year that post-primary applications have been processed in this way.

While the vast majority of children are likely to get placed at their first or second preference schools, there will be pupils who do not get their preferred place or, find themselves unplaced altogether ahead of September.

Over the past number of years, the number of families appealing against post-primary schools who did not offer children a Year 8 place has risen by more than 200 per cent.

Figures from the EA in 2021 show there were over 800 appeals.

Emily Paisley, a litigation lawyer from Eversheds Sutherland, said "for a number of children and worried parents, this weekend will begin a scramble to find a place at a local secondary school".

"For those who don’t get their preferred place or, worse still, find themselves unplaced altogether ahead of September, this can be a deeply stressful time.

"However, it’s important to remember that there are options available for families if you are challenging a school’s decision."

She said there are three options available if you are challenging a school’s decision - the school admissions appeal tribunal; the exceptional circumstances body; or a judicial review of the school’s criteria.

"As we move to a new single, post-primary transfer test system for Northern Ireland provided by the Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group from next year onwards, the hope is that these issues will be ironed out," she added.

"However, parents and children have avenues for recourse if they find themselves in this unfortunate position this weekend."

The EA's admissions helpdesk can be contacted on 028 9598 5595 or via email to postprimaryadmissions@eani.org.uk