Marshalled list of amendments

Tuesday 3 January 2026

Item 4 - Order Paper 148/22-27 – Tuesday 3 February 2026

Motion: Ending Academic Selection

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the continued use of academic selection and transfer tests as a means of determining post-primary school transfer within our education system; recognises the extensive body of evidence from educational experts, including the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which highlights the negative impact of academic selection on children's well-being, educational outcomes, and social mobility; further notes that research consistently shows that transfer tests cause undue stress and anxiety for young people and disproportionately disadvantage those from lower-income and working-class backgrounds, deepening educational inequalities; affirms its commitment to an education system based on equality, inclusion, and the principle that all children, regardless of background or ability, should have the opportunity to reach their full potential in a supportive and non-selective environment; calls on the Minister of Education to take steps to phase out the use of academic selection and transfer tests in post-primary admissions and to develop and implement a fair, inclusive, and non-selective system of postprimary education that ensures equality of opportunity for all children; and further calls on the Minister to prioritise action to tackle educational underachievement and close the attainment gap, particularly for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment

Leave out all after ‘environment;’ and insert:

‘expresses concern that the Minister of Education’s programme of educational reform will be unsuccessful in addressing educational disadvantage without an end to academic selection; acknowledges the progress made in the Republic of Ireland in addressing educational disadvantage; calls on the Minister of Education to produce a time-bound plan to end academic selection and transfer tests in post-primary admissions and to develop and 2 implement a fair, inclusive and non-selective system of primary education that ensures equality of opportunity for all children; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister for Communities to deliver action to tackle educational underachievement and close the attainment gap, particularly for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.’

Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Mark Durkan