A large number of primary schools actively discriminate against poorer and weaker pupils in their enrolment and admission policies, a new report has claimed.
The report says schools, including those that charge fees, should not be allowed operate enrolment policies that discriminate against working-class children.
The report of the National Forum on Primary Education says anecdotal evidence suggests some schools discriminate against working-class pupils, Traveller children and those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
The report suggests that a standardised enrolment policy, which applied throughout the primary and secondary sector, would eliminate the problem.
The report states: "The Department of Education should develop a standardised policy of integrating children in schools. Such a policy would address the integration of Traveller children, children with disabilities, children with learning difficulties, children from different ethnic backgrounds, children with different religious beliefs and working-class children in primary school classrooms around the country."
It adds that anecdotal evidence throughout the proceedings of the national forum, which was attended by 500 delegates earlier this year, suggested that decisions relating to the integration of these children "tended to be arbitrary or discretionary within individual schools".
In its recommendations the forum, attended by education figures ranging from teachers to Government officials, summarises what it wants: "to create a standardised and inclusive enrolment policy for all schools that prevents all forms of discrimination".
During the forum a considerable number of delegates noted that certain schools were discriminating against particular groupings by preventing access to their schools.
Most notably, Traveller children and children from working-class families were excluded. "The creation of this standardised policy is considered essential to ensure equality of access to primary education for all the State's children, irrespective of their backgrounds," the report states.
In relation to getting a standardised approach adopted, the report states: "Responsibility for ensuring the fulfilment of this policy should rest with the proposed regional educational structures. In addition to ensuring the fulfilment of this policy, this plan emphasises the need for the regional structures to provide supports to schools that will enable teachers understand the rationale behind such a policy and the need for their goodwill in its implementation."
The report, Action Plan of the National Forum on Primary Education: Ending Disadvantage, also calls for teachers to be given "incentives" to work in disadvantaged areas.