Caitriona Ruane said she had legal concerns

Lumen Christi College in Londonderry will introduce its own academic aptitude test when the 11-plus comes to an end in 2008.

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said she was disappointed and had concerns about the legal implications.

School principal Pat O'Doherty said his school's arrangements "were interim".

"There has to be a compromise, in terms of academic selection," he said.

"The legal position is that academic selection will remain, subject to a vote by the assembly and obviously all the arrangements we have put out are interim arrangements in the expectation that there will be some form of academic selection accepted by the department.

"If that is the case, obviously we will fall in line with whatever academic selection process they advise."

However, the minister said: "The board of governors of Lumen Christi should be in no doubt, the Department of Education will not fund, facilitate or in any way support a breakaway entrance exam.

"Any school opting for this route should have full knowledge of the risks involved, including the potential for multiple appeals and litigation aimed at overturning what are bound to be highly contentious admission decisions."

Ms Ruane has faced criticism in the assembly over her plans to reform the way children transfer from primary school in Northern Ireland.

She said last year that the 11-plus would end this year with pupils deciding their next move at the age of 14.