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Heads’ fury at 11-plus confusion
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
enlargeEvery child in this picture is among the thousands of primary six pupils across Northern Ireland caught up in the stalemate and confusion caused by what will replace the 11-plus.
The children — from Brooklands Primary School in Dundonald — and their parents do not know how they will transfer to post-primary schools next year and their teachers do not know what to tell them to calm their nerves. The story is the same for the vast majority of P6 pupils, parents and teachers across the province.
Today, a number of principals tell the Telegraph of their mounting frustration at the lack of information on what will happen next year to their P6 pupils now the 11-plus has been scrapped.
There is the real possibility of a chaotic unregulated education system emerging, as the only proposal being considered by Education Minister Caitriona Ruane is her own contentious plan to phase out academic selection over three years.
And earlier this week Ms Ruane announced she would “take action” against schools who skew their teaching away from the curriculum to help pupils prepare for common entrance exams being set by 30 grammar schools.
However, David McCartney, principal of Brooklands, confirmed he was preparing his pupils for a test.
“Parents are at my door every day asking me what is happening but I can’t provide them with answers. All I can say to them is that there may be some aspect of academic selection when their children go into P7 next year,” he said
“We have decided to continue preparing our children as we have done in the past for a test in maths and English, as well as working on the revised curriculum, until we hear otherwise. Because of the vacuum in relation to concrete plans, we have to continue as we have done before.
“My son is in P6. I can’t tell him what is going to happen and I also can’t tell the other parents. That just isn't good enough.
“Whether you like transfer as it is or not, at least we know what we are doing. The children currently in P6 are going to be guinea pigs when it comes to any new system and that will make them even more nervous.
“The 11-plus will come to an end at the end of this year and we do not know what will replace it. That’s just crazy.
“The Minister keeps saying that there are concrete proposals but there aren’t. We don’t understand them and even if we did they are not going to get through the Assembly anyway.”
Wilma McMaster, chair of the board of governors at Fair Hill Primary in Kinallen, Co Down, said: "Parents were approaching me all summer about what is going to happen in P6 and I had no answers for them.
“As a parent of a P6 child myself, the lack of information is frightening and time is running out.
“How can the Department of Education get rid of an existing system when a new system is not in place?
“That leaves all parents and children in limbo, whether you want to do a transfer exam or not.
“It's all very well for the Minister to say that everything will be in place in time but how can it be, when the Assembly has not accepted her proposals?
“It's time for politicians to face up to reality — no new system will be in place in time for our P6, and even P5, cohort of children. The only option is to reinstate the old system and give children the choice whether or not to sit the Transfer Test. Then the politicians can take all the time they want to debate a replacement.”
Geraldine Regan, principal of St Columba's Primary School, Straw, outside Draperstown, said: “I think it defies belief that education is caught up in this limbo and no progress or decisions are being made about the future of our children.
“This time last year we were astonished that no firm, clear decisions had been made. Now a year later we are still caught up in uncertainty. It is crazy.
“Young children are being let down very badly by the lack of clarity and directives for the future. Our primary children are very precious and they do not deserve this.
“Here in St Columba's we continue to prepare our P5 and P6 classes as usual for transfer to post primary education, especially in literacy and numeracy. What form that assessment will take, however, we don't yet know.
“It is very late in the day for all involved in education to not know what the future holds. The fundamental rights of our children are not being met. This is a very serious matter.”
Nuala McCaughan, principal of St Michael’s Primary on Belfast’s Ravenhill Road, has already written to parents to point out that primary heads have been issued with no guidance from the department about children transferring in the 2009/10 year.
A Department of Education spokesman said the minister was seeking a legislative framework for her plans, “developed to bring much-needed reform to the post-primary system — but they are also compromise proposals that allow for time and transition”.
“The minister considers her proposals, therefore, to warrant very serious consideration. The minister has also stated, however, that if agreement on future arrangements cannot be reached then we will face a situation where there will be no regulations stating the admissions criteria that schools can or cannot use. She has been very clear that this is a prospect that should be avoided.”
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31 Comments
Why do people automatically think that if your child goes to grammar school you are well off???? There is not one rich kid that gets on my child's bus. Yes there is a problem with numeracy and literacy standards - so go fix the secondary schools - don't make the children at grammar schools suffer because the secondary schools need more resources / more inspections / teachers who care!
Posted by Annoyed Parent | 29.09.08, 15:21 GMT
Has anyone bothered to look at the Northern Ireland economy lately? Has anyone sat back, taken a long breath and asked themselves “well is everything tickety boo?” How can anyone really think our education system is OK? How can anyone believe that our current system delivers for all our children? If all is right with the Northern Ireland system of education why do we have the appalling record of literacy and numeracy? If everything is brilliant with our system why are we at the lower end of international educational benchmarks?
The education system is a single entity; you cannot siphon out the most privileged and say “look our system works!” We are only as effective as the weakest link in our education chain. The selective systems “ourselves alone” attitude really will not cut it in the 21st Centaury.
Posted by Exasperated | 29.09.08, 00:35 GMT
Geraldine Regan, principal of St Columba's Primary School has it right in saying "The fundamental rights of our children are not being met. This is a very serious matter.”
The Parental Alliance for Choice in Education will lead any action on behalf of parents as advised to Ms Ruane's predecessor Anglela Smith. She may wish to refer to the minutes of that meeting if she is unclear about the intent. Teachers have the duty of care to teach the curriulum but the method is entirely for them not Ruane.
Posted by the Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 27.09.08, 10:05 GMT
Catriona Ruane must leave! She talks no sense, repeats herself in interviews and is completely out of her depth. It is crucial our education system remains. It delivers people who can compete on the world stage - Northern Ireland can no longer work in isolation - and the only way to do this is through academic selection. It is the best way of matching pupil ability to school and is a SYSTEM (Grammar and High School) which delivers top class people for our country. Do we need to fix it? NO!
Posted by M Fox | 25.09.08, 20:58 GMT
I graduated from Stranmillis almost 40 years ago and taught in a couple of Primary Schools in Norn Iron prior to emigrating to Australia where I am currently Principal of a Primary School. As retirement approaches 'tis interesting to see the similarities between the two education systems i.e. a succession of Education Ministers who have absolutely no idea about education. The only constant in education is change - and most of it for change's sake.
Posted by Bert | 25.09.08, 16:12 GMT
Concerned Parent (Big P) is illogical and wrong. He promotes a compromise when no compromise is possible. Billy, North Belfast makes more sense. Now what exactly is Concerned Parent going to do? Bleating on about politicans compromising on a matter as fundamental as this demonstrates a complete lack of understanding. I hope CP does not teach nor have any parents in P5.
Posted by Pro Tanto Quid | 25.09.08, 13:32 GMT
What a load of nonsense exasperated! We have a child at grammar school and come from the working class Garvaghy Road - I can assure you, there is no one privileged living in our area! Incidentally, the mood in the area has shifted, people would rather see 10,000 Orangemen walk the Garvaghy Road than have Caitriona Ruane ruin our education system.
Vote with your feet people!
Posted by Concerned parent | 25.09.08, 12:55 GMT
Simple logic, for the slow learners tells you that if it’s not broken it does not need fixing, plain and simple, what is it that, the minister of education does not understand. Northern Ireland’s educational system is working well; it’s the attitude of irresponsible parents and the Marxism of Sinn Fein that needs fixing.
Christian Socialist, Tigers Bay.
Posted by Billy North Belfast | 24.09.08, 22:51 GMT
I am getting fed up with Ms Ruane's repetitive waffle!! I am a parent of a child in P6 and I haven't a clue what is happening. I have spoken to most of the other parents and they don't know either!!! I think she should resign as she obviously not up to the job!
Posted by Rosie | 24.09.08, 22:15 GMT
I know, why don't we take away the process that has made the educational system in Northern Ireland the best in the UK. Lets take away a system that shows young people that doing your best is key to surviving when you become an adult.
Why should we give them a system when getting by is seen as doing enough?
Ms Ruane, give up your crusade and leave our successful system alone.
Posted by Neil | 24.09.08, 21:52 GMT
I am beginning to wonder 'what can we do?' I know that my friends, who also have parents in P5, are completely amazed that we have reached this point - the current P6 pupils would have been doing the 11-plus in just over a year!!
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with academic selection, surely EVERYONE must agree that this situation can not and should not continue! We have politicians that appear to know nothing about running a country, but are more concerned about maintaining ancient, diverse positions, regardless of what they do to our children, their education and ultimately the NI economy.
It is time to put the age-old rhetoric behind us and come to some kind of agreement - let those who want academic selection keep it, and those who don't can choose schools that don't!?
Posted by Concerned Parent | 24.09.08, 21:49 GMT
Exasperated has a valid point,i've noticed this anomaly myself and don't believe it's a coincidence.
Government research has clearly shown that the public sector accounts for 70-75% of our G.D.P and pays the best wages and pensions in our fictitious economy. Also,don't buy into this nonsense that proportional numbers of children,from say,the Shore Rd go to Grammar school when compared to children from the Malone Rd-that's a total fabrication-due to the fact that the 11+ is not a true test of intelligence similar to a Mensa I.Q test,it's simply an outdated mode of "skills" testing and like any skill it is entirely learnable-that's the reason many children are coached 18 months/2 years before they sit the test,at a cost naturally-more affluent areas generally have considerably higher levels of disposable income which can be directed towards tudoring costs,hence higher past rates within these neighbourhoods.
Posted by William | 24.09.08, 20:43 GMT
I love it! The central tenet of my observation regarding how our 11+ selective system is excellent at churning out new Public Sector recruits who do not actively generating revenue, is ignored.
Face it; with the N.I. subsistence grant running at approximately £3,500 per annum for every man woman and child in Northern Ireland and the ratio of new DLA etc claimants to new workers at 4:1, not to mention an aging population, our economy is in dire straits. It is the education system that can help prepare ALL our children for a global economic competitive market. The status quo has not served us well up to this point (60% of jobs are in the public sector and don’t actually generate wealth!!).
YES I acknowledge that those benefitting from selection will oppose its ending, as we have witnessed from a long line of, Oh lets guess? Yep that’s right, civil servants, accountants, teachers and medics queuing up to denounce the end of the world as we know it.
Posted by Exasperated | 24.09.08, 20:16 GMT
Dear Exasperated - whilst your point may have some validity, alas NI has very few competitive advantages to offer such that we might build a prosperous economic future. By dragging down the brightest students, as you clearly advocate, an English-style mediocre education system would deny us such an opportunity.
Perhaps the better solution is to leave the 11 plus intact and for Ms. Ruane to use her energy to improve the high school education system (not destroy the Grammar school system).
Posted by Ben | 24.09.08, 19:01 GMT
I read that Minister Ruane stated on Monday that no one was confused about the transfer procedure quoting "People right across the north understand exactly what's happening here." What planet is this woman living on. I know of no one - teachers, parents or children, who understand what is going to happen to our P6 children. Its getting more and more frustrating as time goes on. She has been in post now for about 16 months and we are still no clearer - if anything we are more confused. She keeps hammering on about the current system failing too many people - but at least there was a system in place - now we are all in limbo and she has certainly failed us. If she really did care for children she would face up to it that she's incapable of her job and let someone else sort it out, rather than continually being defiant on stepping down. She should have given this issue her highest priority but it just seems that she keeps coming up with excuses and saying things will be clear.
Posted by Frustrated P6 parent | 24.09.08, 18:27 GMT
The situation is a disgrace, it was myself who had a live conversation with Frank Mitchell on u105 last Thursday as id been on Wednesday night to a Primary 6 meeting in my son's school. His topic for that day Thurs on his show was the constant on and off exceutive, never mind that what about our kids education, i do agree it system has worked why change it but I do understand it doesnt work for everyone. My point is and was last week for education minister to make a decision as what is to be next year , it isnt fair to teachers , parents and kids. All parties need to resolve issues and get matters like these sorted.
Its us that vote and put you all where you are today, to all out there, think what has happen the last few years and carefully select your votes and next election, ITS MAYBE TIME FOR A CHANGE IN WHO REPRESENTS US THE PARENTS!!!!
Posted by concerned and disgusted parent | 24.09.08, 18:20 GMT
As a primary school teacher I find it very frustrating reading our education ministers comments that there is no confusion or worse that parents are not concerned about this issue. I wish she could sit in with me on parents meetings to see how people really feel.
I agree with the other comments on this site that the minister should resign as I don't think that we will see any progress while she retains her post.
Posted by Concerned primary teacher | 24.09.08, 17:11 GMT
The Minister's comments yesterday clearly indicate that she is NOT in touch with the majority of concerned parents. The Executive need to sort this out now (or else, why do WE pay them). The Minister does NOT have the confidence of the parents of any political persuasion by the look of it. Resign and salvage some respect Minister.
Posted by ListentotheelectorateMinister | 24.09.08, 17:09 GMT
Exasperated....I dare say you are so called as this is how you make people feel. I work for a Northern Ireland based company started by a Northern Ireland entrepreneur who is a product of the Northern Ireland education system. This company currently employs ~1300 people here and over 2000 worldwide. Would you say that has helped the economy here??? Sometimes having an excellent minority can benefit a majority of people. One man's vision now enables more than 2000 people to have a living. Maybe we should promote excellence of the minority.
Posted by stephen | 24.09.08, 17:02 GMT
Exasperated uses the practiced language of the educationalist insiders. This whole matter is one of ideology. There is no "general agreement" but a fierce division between equality of opportunity (11-plus and selective grammars) and equality of outcome (imposed comprehensives) If CCEA are an example of converting public services to business models this mess is only going to get worse. £30 million a year for exam certificates, profiles and no 11-plus? Get a grip Exasperated
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 24.09.08, 15:28 GMT
31 Comments