AQE to hold one exam in February 'public health conditions permitting'

Post-primary school transfer tests due to take place in January in Northern Ireland have been cancelled with just days to go following a surge in coronavirus cases.

Thousands of pupils were due to sit the first in a series of selection exams for grammars on Saturday.

Classrooms are likely to shut until mid-February in an effort to stem the rising tide of infection.

Children's commissioner Koulla Yiasouma said: "A truly shameful day for education in Northern Ireland.

"We did not need to be in this situation.

"Proper contingency plans should have been put in place for transfer tests months ago, so schools, parents and children could have been better prepared for all eventualities.''

Private companies AQE and PPTC, which run the tests, made the announcement on Tuesday ahead of a meeting of Stormont's ministerial Executive.

However on Tuesday evening, AQE issued a fresh statement announcing plans to hold a single test on February 27, public health conditions permitting.

Phil Meredith, from South Belfast, said his daughter has been working hard for the assessments.

"All the hard work my daughter has been doing since the start of last year for this test is wasted,'' he said.

The board of AQE decided not to proceed with tests planned this Saturday, January 16 and January 23.

"The board will now be consulting with member schools and a further statement will be issued after that,'' it said.

PPTC has also announced that it "will not provide an entrance assessment for 2020-21''.

A Department of Education-set transfer test was previously abolished, with the last 11-plus paper sat in 2008.

First Minister Arlene Foster has indicated a period of remote online learning for schoolchildren will be extended amid soaring cases of infection.

The Stormont Executive is set to discuss further details of the proposal.

With 12,487 fresh diagnoses of Covid-19 over the last seven days, ministers are also expected to order people to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus and make it legally enforceable.

They have been in discussions with police following crowded scenes at coastal resorts over the festive period.

An additional 18 deaths with Covid-19 have been reported, the Department of Health said, while another 1,378 people have tested positive.

There are a total of 577 Covid-confirmed inpatients. The number of hospital beds occupied has increased to 542. The intensive care unit tally is 45.

Naomi McBurney, who runs the campaign Bring It Back To Primary, said parents are very divided over test cancellations.

"There are parents who are very concerned that if their child doesn't get the opportunity to sit the test, then they are going to be disadvantaged.

"For example, if they have an eldest child or only child, the main thing for them would be that the test was a more fair way for them to get access to a school that they want to go to,'' she said.

"It's quite frustrating for those opposed to the test because they are saying the country has had to sacrifice so much.''

A Co Down principal warned that closing schools is a "disaster'' for children.

Teachers should have been able to begin planning online lessons before Christmas, said Kevin Donaghy, from St Ronan's Primary School in Newry.

Mr Donaghy said: "My staff are completely devastated.''

Northern Ireland is set to receive #127 million from the Treasury for grants to support businesses forced to close during lockdown measures.

The country is in the midst of a six-week lockdown of non-essential retail.

Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton said: "Businesses in Belfast and right across our region now have to navigate a long, hard winter and our genuine fear is now that another sustained period of restrictions on businesses will do yet further damage to the economy and cause an avalanche of job losses.''