A boy who was traumatised by a racist attack can remain at a grammar school which wanted to remove him, the High Court in Belfast has ruled.

The boy, who cannot be named, was “deeply impacted” by his experience of a hate crime at his family home when he was 11.

He subsequently did poorly in his transfer test and failed to get into the grammar school.

However, his family appealed to the Exceptional Circumstances Body (ECB), which directed that he should be admitted to the school as it was most suited to his needs and circumstances.

The school refused to accept the decision, but eventually agreed to admit the child under protest and on a temporary basis when judicial review proceedings were put before the court.

The school then sought to challenge the decision of the ECB in the High Court in Belfast and were granted declaratory relief.

The High Court has now ruled that the boy can remain at the school.

Solicitor Katie McAllister of Madden and Finucane Solicitors, acting for the boy’s family, said: “The family are grateful that more trauma has been avoided and that the child can remain in the school following the original ECB decision.”