AQW 26143/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education to detail the rights that parents hold to challenge a school's published admissions criteria.

Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 28 April 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
28 April 2025
Answer due by
14 May 2025
Answered
30 April 20252 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

The setting of admissions criteria is solely a matter for the Boards of Governors (BoGs) of individual schools and my department has no power to set criteria. My department does, however, issue guidance on the transfer process, including on recommended admissions criteria, which BoGs must by law “have regard to”.

There is no route to challenge a school’s published admissions criteria, other than via Judicial Review.

Official sources