A list of witnesses is outlined in appendix 3. On Sunday morning, the jury considered the substantive questions and discussed conclusions. By lunchtime a position was reached where the jury had agreed its conclusions and this is reflected in this citizens' report. The change to a comprehensive system in England and Wales was associated with a widening deficit in overall academic performance compared with Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of participation in higher education in these islands.
Selection is unavoidable given that some post-primary schools are more popular than others.
The system allows individuals to work with their peers at their own level and in a supportive environment. The transfer test distorts the late-primary curriculum, grading is unreliable and the result is not a real indicator of secondary performance. Selection at 11 leads to a long tail of under-achievement, not consistent with social justice. A stigma of failure attaches to those individuals who do not pass the transfer test and vocational qualifications are under-valued. Options are foreclosed at early stage and there is less flexibility for individual change.