Children in the North will sit the last 11-Plus examination in primary schools in autumn 2008, the British government announced today.
Northern Ireland Office Education Minister Jane Kennedy made the decision after receiving the latest report on the future of post- primary education in the six counties.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness initiated the review of post-primary education when he was the Education Minister at Stormont during devolution. He recommended the abolition of the 11-Plus before the collapse of the power-sharing executive in October 2002.
"Now is the time to end the uncertainty and move forward with new arrangements that will raise standards for all pupils," Ms Kennedy said.
"However, these changes must be managed properly and that is why the working group recommended that the final tests should be held in autumn 2008. This means that pupils currently in P2 will be the last to sit the 11-Plus.
"But we don't need to wait until 2008 for changes to begin to happen. Parents can opt immediately not to enter their children for the test. Grammar schools can opt not to use the test as part of their admission arrangements," she said.
Under the new arrangements proposed by the Costello Working Group and accepted by the minister, parents and pupils will from 2008 identify the post-primary schools they want to attend in their local area. Their decision will be informed by a "pupil profile" that assesses their child's skills, interests and aptitudes.