FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS

Early day motion 495, tabled 27 January 2004 by David Burnside (UUP). Signed by 12 members.

That this House deplores the announcement by the Northern Ireland Office Minister of Education, that academic selection procedure between primary and secondary sectors is to end thereby ending the grammar school sector within Northern Ireland; notes that the Minister has disregarded the household survey, which by a sizeable majority favoured academic selection; believes that the destruction of the Northern Ireland grammar school sector is an act motivated by failed socialist ideology as exemplified by the poor performance of the English comprehensive system, which will seriously damage the very fine academic performance of the secondary sector in Northern Ireland, which is better than any other part of the United Kingdom; and calls on the Government to maintain the excellent grammar school system in Northern Ireland.

Signatures by party: Conservative 6, DUP 3, UUP 3.