Ms Mai Fanning:

One thing we have heard from parents is that when it comes to post-primary level, in some cases the local community is not the deciding factor. The choice is made under different criteria. Parents ask what the post-primary school can offer their child, whether it is focused on particular things like sport, whether it is more academic or practical and so on. Choices are made under different criteria and the geographic location of the school is not always a consideration. Another issue that would have to be considered is the ethos of the school. For many parents, the ethos is a very important and controlling factor in the choice they make. It would even impact on schools that are primarily boarding schools. Regardless of the reason it is considered appropriate for a child to attend a boarding school, that school would in most cases be outside of their community. The criteria that would be used at primary level differs from the criteria applied at post-primary level and that must be acknowledged in any legislation.