Transfer letters out this Tuesday

The letters will also provide parents with information on how to appeal an unsuccessful application. The letters will be delivered on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday as has been the case in recent years.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said, “The letters will detail at which school a child has been successful in securing a place. For the majority of children, this will be their first choice school.

“For those parents who believe their child’s application to a particular school was unfairly rejected, the letter will provide information on how to lodge an appeal. It will also explain how to apply to the Exceptional Circumstances Body where parents consider there to be compelling reasons that require their child to attend a specific school.

“The letters will also issue on a week day this year in a break from tradition. This is in response to problems encountered last year when delays in postal deliveries resulted in some parents not receiving this important information on the due date. As the due date fell on a Bank Holiday weekend it meant that there were three days when parents were unable to contact an official within their Education and Library Board or primary school to seek advice.

“This was considered unacceptable and the Department asked the Education and Library Boards to refine the timetable for Transfer 2012 so that a similar problem could be averted. Hence the change to a weekday issue of these letters which was communicated to all primary schools on 16 November 2011. The date for issue of the letters was also included in the transfer booklets issued to parents in January.

“The Department will assess the impact of this change after the conclusion of the transfer procedure and will liaise with Education and Library Boards to consider whether any further changes need to be introduced for Transfer 2013.”