حقوقك في أيرلندا الشمالية

8. Education information
8.1 Who is responsible for education in Northern Ireland?
The government department responsible for the state education system is the Department
of Education (DENI), which in turn governs the Education Authority.
The Education Authority is responsible for schools and colleges in your area and can give
you information on them, and on how to enrol. A list of addresses is given at the end of this
chapter in Useful contacts.
8.2 What types of school education are there in Northern Ireland?
Children must receive an education from the age of four years (starting the September after
the child’s fourth birthday or, if the birthday is between 2 July and 31 August inclusive,
starting the following September) to 16 years. Most people stay in school until aged 16 to
18.
Almost all schools are publicly funded and are free to use, including those run by the
Catholic Council for Maintained Schools. There are a small number of private fee-paying
schools.
All children have a right to education. Parents are expected to cover costs for school
uniforms, trips, etc. A child may be eligible for free school meals.
8.2.1 The age range of schools is as follows
Nursery schools for ages three to five years – with limited places, it is important to
reserve a place as soon as you can. Nursery schools are free of charge, unlike crèches.
Primary schools – attended between the ages of 4/5 and 11 years.
Grammar and secondary schools – attended from age 11 to 16 years. Many students
continue to age 18, or transfer to further education colleges.
8.2.2 Transfer from Primary to Grammar or secondary schools
There is no state selection exam for pupils to move from primary to post-primary schools.
Some groups of schools have set up their own admission tests.
When offering places, some schools will take into account ‘special circumstances’ of an
individual pupil or make special provisions for children who have received more than half
their primary education outside Northern Ireland. Speak to your child’s teacher about what
this means for your child when he or she is in year six of primary school.
You can get more information from the Education Authority (see Useful contacts at the end
of this chapter).
8.2.3 Language
Most schools teach through the medium of English but there is a growing number of schools
teaching through the medium of Irish.
8.2.4 Sex/gender
Some schools operate on a single-sex basis, and others are gender mixed.
98