The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

3.—(1) Every board shall make arrangements for enabling a parent on whom a copy of a proposed statement has been served under paragraph 2 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 2(b) was served on the parent, or

(b) if a meeting has (or meetings have) been arranged under paragraph 4(1)(b) or (2), with the date fixed for that meeting (or the last of those meetings).

(3) Where a board 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, the board 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.

(4) A board shall, before specifying the name of any grant-aided school in a statement, consult the Board of Governors of the school and, if the school is in the area of another board, that board.