Schools' federation 'is not a precursor to abolishing 11-plus'
EDUCATION minister Robert Sillars is open-minded when it comes to the future of the 11-plus, he has said.
Speaking after his department announced it was to create a federation for all five States-owned secondary schools, the minister denied it was a precursor to removing the current selective system.
He said his board had committed to consulting on the 11-plus and a decision on its future would not be made until after that.
Deputy Sillars, pictured, added that the new federative model would work under either selective or comprehensive systems.
'This is something that we can put in place immediately and it is something that will bring benefits quickly,' he said.
'With the 11-plus, we will go out to consultation. This model doesn't get altered if we have 11-plus intact.'
