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Parents put their faith in new entrance tests
Monday, 22 June 2009
Around 4,500 pupils have already signed up to sit new entrance tests run by one grammar school consortium, it can be revealed today.
The Association for Quality Education (AQE) has confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph that it has processed 3,500 of the 4,500 registration forms for the Common Entrance Assessment (CEA) it has received so far and expects that it could end up providing tests to up to 6,000 children in the autumn.
The registration process began just a month ago and has a closing date of September 18.
The figures will be a body blow to Education Minister Caitriona Ruane who has issued numerous appeals to schools and parents not to get involved with the unregulated tests.
They are also a strong indication that many parents still feel strongly that they want to try and secure a grammar school education for their children.
Billy Young, from AQE and former principal of Belfast Royal Academy, said they were pleased with the number of registrations so far and that the office is receiving many forms every day.
It is thought that thousands of families will also have signed their children up for tests being run by English exam company GL Assessment — which is catering for another 34 schools which are members of the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium.
However, a spokeswoman for the company said it was not processing the registration forms so was unable to say how many applications had been received so far.
In recent years, around 15,000 pupils sat the 11-plus test annually in schools across Northern Ireland.
The principal of one school running the GL Assessment tests, who asked not to be named, said: “Each school is running the tests independently so we could not tell you how many applications we have so far in total.
“AQE has taken on the role of being an organising body but there is no parallel organisation for the schools doing GL Assessment.
“We took the decision to be just loosely connected for legal reasons. If a parent decides to sue, they will only be able to deal with one school.”
Almost all of the 69 grammars in both the controlled and maintained sectors have decided to set their own tests for pupils hoping to gain places in their schools in 2010.
The Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education said last week that it wants its grammars to phase out selection by 2012 — but it is allowing schools to continue with academic testing in the short term.
The GL Assessment test will involve two multiple choice papers — one for English and the other maths — sat by pupils on November 21. The schools involved are mainly within the Catholic maintained sector but also include some integrated and controlled sector schools.
Pupils hoping to gain places in schools connected to the AQE tests can sit up to three tests in English and maths in November and December. The best two scores will count.
Non-selective secondary schools are set to follow admissions criteria guidance set by the Education Minister. In these schools, they will determine their intake without taking consideration of pupils' academic ability.
Speaking at a primary principals' conference earlier this month, Ms Ruane said: “Testing children at the age of 10 or 11 for the purpose of determining admission to post-primary school is totally wrong, particularly in circumstances where the stakes are so high.
“Putting young children under this sort of intense pressure when there are alternatives available is indefensible.”
AQE TESTS
34 grammar schools. Costs £35 unless in receipt of free school meals. Children sit two or three tests.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 18 2009: closing date for applications.
October 2009: open days/familiarisation days in advance of sitting the test.
November 14, 28 and |December 5: children sit tests in post-primary schools at 10am.
February 6 2010: results arrive at homes.
February 18: closing date for applications for remarks. Will be notified of outcome by March 18.
February/March 2010: pupils apply to schools. Can have interviews at post-primary schools and primary principals will meet parents to complete Transfer Forms. Parents may wish to consider applications for special circumstances.
May/June 2010: Pupils allocated to schools.
June 2010: Induction of pupils into port-primary schools.
GL ASSESSMENT TESTS
34 schools — mainly Catholic but some state and integrated. No fee. Children sit two papers on one day.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 18 2009: deadline for registration forms.
Saturday, November 21: pupils sit two multiple choice papers. The first paper, English, will last 50 minutes. The second, Maths, will last 45 minutes. Short practice session before each paper and a break between papers. Children record their answers on a computer marked sheet.
December 12: supplementary assessment for children unable to attend in November or unable to complete test due to illness.
December 18: deadline for receipt of claims for special circumstances.
February 5 2010: results posted out. Children receive grade (A, B1, B2, C1, C2 or D), grade boundaries and also ‘standardised age score’ and ‘national percentile rank’.
February 19: deadline to request remark.
Applying to schools not sitting tests
December 2009/10: post-primary schools not signed up to testing will publish their non-academic admissions criteria.
This is likely to include feeder primaries, whether siblings already attend, random selection etc.
Education Minister Catriona Ruane is likely to also urge schools to accept a certain proportion of pupils on free school meals as their first criterion.
- Open nights for pupils and parents will be held at schools up until February 2010.
- Primary school principals will help parents and children to fill out their Transfer Form — on which they will list their choices of schools.
- Post primary schools with more applications than places available will apply their published admissions criteria.
- Applicants unsuccessful in one application will then be considered for their next choice of school.
- Final admissions decisions will be issued to applicants towards the end of May 2010.
- Text Size
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Gerry Fitt had proposed this when power sharing with Brian Faulkner. The then education Minister was Paddy Devlin who had a whole library of books almosy all coloured in. Ms. Ruane has probably them all filled but mostly with green.
Big Fred
p.s Watch out for the word puzzels and dont use a dictionary as you have to able to spell before you can look one up
Posted by fred needham | 23.06.09, 06:32 GMT
We have just received the biggest load of codswollop that is the newly launched ANNUAL PUPIL REPORT for my daughter in P6. We now have to use that together with the now abandoned Pupil Profile report, we received last year, to assist us to choose the most appropriate post-primary school for her. It is not only Minister Ruane who is responsible for this. Our senior civil servants in DENI are just as culpable. No formal assessment arrangements for at least another 18 months! What a travesty!
Posted by L Saunders | 22.06.09, 19:08 GMT
Here is some maths for you.
34 schools with 4500 applicants.
Approx 132 applicants per school.......
If each Grammar takes approx 125 pupils per year, which is not unrealistic, then the very vast majority of these kids will have already made it, just by sitting the test. Only the lowest 7 will be unfortunate. Or 5% of applicants.
Based on averages of course.
Posted by SM | 22.06.09, 18:44 GMT
Samuel, the figures are only for the AQE, one half of the unregulated system, all the General Assessment applicants are uncounted. The fact is almost all the Grammar schools will retain academic selection as is their statutory right. Just as many middle class parents will ensure their kids will sit these tests as did the 11+, opportunity for those kids not as well supported will be lost outside a state run exam and we will have a truly two tier education system.
Posted by Mark | 22.06.09, 16:42 GMT
Let's get these figures into perspective - around 20,000 - 25,000 pupils will transfer to post primary next year. Given the quoted figure of around 4,500 pupils being signed up for an entrance test -(it's not clear if these figures include multiple applications for one pupil) then currently more than 80% of parents are choosing not to put their children through an entrance exam. But never let the facts get in the road of a tired and well worn lobbying campaign.
Posted by Samuel | 22.06.09, 16:13 GMT
With the Catholic Church making the announcement last week ordering all Catholic school to stop academic testing next year, does that mean 6,500 children scrambling for the same places in the non-catholic sector?
Posted by Deirdre | 22.06.09, 15:54 GMT
DW and Wendy-I take your point but using children entitled to free school meals is one of the only methods of determining social disadvantage. Even the grammar schools accept this to waive the AQE charge so it's not something just Catriona Ruane has come up with. As for what's going on, it's total and complete shambles and the horrible 11+ should not have been scrapped until something else was created....Burns pupil profile seemed perfectly logical and did not involve academic selection.
Posted by Chris | 22.06.09, 15:11 GMT
Essex - I agree with most of your post except the last couple of words. Future generations needs to become tolerant and accepting of the two cultures and beliefs in Northern Ireland before being expected to be tolerant of others.
Posted by colin | 22.06.09, 13:19 GMT
What a mess! Only in bloody Stormont are such acts of stupidity unpunished. Ruane should take the hint from the quite large dissent of Northern Irish parents. The education system in NI was a great source of pride before this unecessary push for 'equality' as our children were leading the UK in terms of exam results. Also may i point out that Ruane's children attend a grammar school but i suppose politicians have never had to truly believe in what they preach.
Posted by Andrew McDowell University of Glasgow | 22.06.09, 13:19 GMT
Well said DW, I would like to know the answer to that as well. I wonder if that arrogant woman assumes that just because one's children do not eat on the free that their parents are affluent...? I certainly am not but would never take something for nothing, not for me or my kids. And I work and pay taxes!!!
Posted by wendy | 22.06.09, 13:11 GMT
Mark, I think that could be a valuable unintended consequence, it's been too long that the majority of kids have been segregated at school.
Integrated education could become the norm rather than a growing minority sector. Maybe future generations would have increasing tolerance for other cultures......
Posted by Essex Expat | 22.06.09, 12:55 GMT
It is great to see the people and grammar schools here showing their determination to retain the excellent working model that this nation is known for. Ms Ruane must understand she is not a dictator and WE do not accept HER conditions. She sends her own daughter to school in the republic so why does she not sod off down there and mess up THEIR school system!
Better that we make her job more frustrating than ours...
Posted by Merry | 22.06.09, 12:16 GMT
Education Minister - not fit for purpose what a mess, well done to the AQE and schools supporting GL Assessment, giving people the statutorily enshrined option the Minister and her Department has ignored. First sign of true devolution, what a pity it wasn't our politicians who delivered it!
Posted by Mark | 22.06.09, 11:55 GMT
I think Catriona Ruane should have the decency to resign and have someone actually capable of taking over. She has not a clue. Our children have no rights. I am on my own with two children and work. I would like to know why children entitled to school meals have more rights thatn children whose parents actually go to work and pay taxes than to those who are on the dole???????
Posted by DW | 22.06.09, 11:52 GMT
Sadly this minister cannot be removed from her post except by her boss McGuiness
What will happen is that the tests will continue they will just cost more many thousands of parents will have to make sacrifices to get thier children the best education - just like in the Irish Republic
I feel so sorry for the pupils and parents of primary age children this woman doesn't care one iota about anyone but herself and her own close supporters
Posted by Robert | 22.06.09, 11:49 GMT
This is turning into a nightmare. Jonathan, I think you’re half way there, if this was anywhere else she wouldn’t have been sacked, she would have done the honourable thing and resigned.
Let’s hope that there is enough common sense in the NI executive to call an end to this fiasco and not jeopardise the future of the children of Northern Ireland any further.
Posted by Ourside looking in | 22.06.09, 11:28 GMT
Well done to Ruane. What a fantastic system/mess she has created. She abolished the 11+ without having anything to replace it and this has enabled grammar schools to go it alone with unregulared test and cause even more stress to our children than ever before. If this happened anywhere else she'd be sacked!
Posted by Jonathan | 22.06.09, 09:38 GMT
The Stormont Executive must meet now and sort out the shambles in our secondary education system. Minister Ruane's plans can be endorsed. amended or scrapped and replaced. Decisions have to be made now without referral to consultants, review bodies or quangos. Govern or be damned.
Posted by George | 22.06.09, 08:40 GMT
If Catholic Grammar schools cease to exist in 2012, where will those Catholic parents send their children?
Will it mean half as many grammar school places will be available to all parents?
Might it also mean only the highest performing students will get into the remaining grammar schools in 2012?
The net result of the Catholic church action may be the remaining grammar schools becoming not only more selective than at present but also more integrated as Catholic parents opt for these schools.
Posted by mark | 22.06.09, 08:17 GMT