The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

[F1 5.— (1) Every board shall make arrangements for enabling a parent— N.I.

(a) on whom a copy of a proposed statement has been served under paragraph 2,

(b) on whom a copy of a proposed amended statement has been served under paragraph 3, or

(c) on whom an amendment notice has been served under paragraph 3 which contains a proposed amendment about—

(i) the type or name of a school or institution, or

(ii) the provision made for the child concerned otherwise than in a school or institution under arrangements made under Article 10(1)(b),

to be specified in the statement,

to express a preference as to the grant-aided school at which he wishes education to be provided for his child and to give reasons for his preference.

(2) Any such preference must be expressed or made within the period of fifteen days beginning—

(a) with the date on which the written notice mentioned in paragraph 4 was served on the parent, or

(b) if a meeting has (or meetings have) been arranged under paragraph 7(1)(b) or (2), with the date fixed for that meeting (or the last of those meetings).

(3) Where [F2 the Authority] makes a statement in a case where the parent of the child concerned has expressed a preference in pursuance of such arrangements as to the grant-aided school at which he wishes education to be provided for his child, [F2 the Authority] shall specify the name of that school in the statement unless—

(a) the school is unsuitable to the child's age, ability or aptitude or to his special educational needs, or

(b) the attendance of the child at the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for the children with whom he would be educated or the efficient use of resources.]

F1 2005 NI 6

F2 Words in Order substituted (1.4.2015) by Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 12), Sch. 3 para. 1(1)(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 4(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(2)); S.R. 2015/35, art. 2(b)