Exceptional Circumstances Body operational

The new Exceptional Circumstances Body, which will consider individual and exceptional cases for admission to specific post-primary schools, is now operational.

Speaking about the Exceptional Circumstances Body (ECB), the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane said: “The Exceptional Circumstances Body provides a mechanism that has never existed in our education system before. It will be able to consider those rare cases, usually relating to very vulnerable or traumatised children, that the existing admissions process could not deal with sensitively due to the constraints of the legislation. The service is available to those seeking admission to years eight to 12.

“The new ECB, which is independent of the Department of Education, can consider cases, supported by evidence, that demonstrate very exceptional and compelling reasons why a child needs to attend one specific post-primary school, but where he or she failed to gain admission through the normal application of the school’s admissions criteria. Where the ECB decides that the evidence clearly supports the case that this needs to be treated as an exceptional application for admission, the ECB can direct that the child is admitted to the named school.

“This is a very important innovation that will provide a source of help for some of the most vulnerable children in our education system, ensuring that they are not disadvantaged or excluded from education due to circumstances beyond their control.”

Parents who feel they have a case to make must first apply to the school in question and have that application turned down before they can make an application to the ECB. If a child has not been placed in the school to which their parents feel they must, for compelling and exceptional reasons, be admitted, then parents can apply to have the child’s case considered by the Exceptional Circumstances Body.

For further information about this process, or to make an application to have a case heard by the Exceptional Circumstances Body, parents should contact the Secretary by telephone at 028 9127 9871, or by email at ecbsecretariat@deni.gov.uk or by writing to Secretary of the Exceptional Circumstances Body, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Rathgill, Bangor BT19 7PR.

Information can also be accessed about the Exceptional Circumstances Body through the link on the Department of Education website or at NI Direct.

Notes to editors:

1. This service is entirely separate from the Independent Admissions Appeals Tribunal (administered by the Education and Library Board) which, in law, has the precisely defined remit to uphold appeals and reverse non-admission decisions where:

• a school has not applied or has incorrectly applied its published admissions criteria; and
• where any such failure has denied admission to the appellant.

2. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 02891279207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.