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.