By Kathryn Torney EVERY child in this picture is among the thousands of primary six pupils in Northern Ireland caught up in the stalemate and confusion caused by what will replace the 11-plus.

By Sir Kenneth Bloomfield As Caitriona Ruane warns schools and parents against entrance exams, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, former Head of the Civil Service and now Chair of the Association for Quality Education (AQE), says there is nothing in law that can stop them READERS of Alice in Wonderland will recall Alice's wholly understandable reaction to the surreal events surrounding her.

By KATHRYN TORNEY EDUCATION Minister Caitriona Ruane has turned down a development proposal to allow for the establishment of an Irish-medium post- primary college, Colaiste Speirin, in Cookstown.

By KATHRYN TORNEY GRAMMAR school representatives have rejected a proposal from a number of their colleagues to scrap academic selection at 11 and replace it with selection at 14.

By Kathryn Torney The Common Entrance Assessment (CEA) will be used by the schools to determine their first year intake after the 11-plus test is scrapped later this year. An information pack has been sent out to all primary principals containing the expected timetable, and a guide for parents.