Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Schools transfer chaos - Belfast Telegraph launches 'sort it out' petition
Thursday, 24 September 2009
The Belfast Telegraph is today launching a petition that calls on Northern Ireland’s leaders to sit down and sort out the school transfer crisis.
The Belfast Telegraph is today launching a petition that calls on Northern Ireland’s leaders to sit down and sort out the school transfer crisis.
Our major campaign urges the Executive to come to an agreement on the way forward in time for this year’s P6 pupils to transfer to post-primary schools in 2011.
>>To sign up to our petition please fill in the form right>>
We believe that a solution cannot be reached without agreement among the political parties and calls for their leadership.
Our petition is not calling for academic selection to be retained or scrapped — and we appeal to the Executive to put their differences aside to reach an agreed solution.
Belfast Telegraph editor Mike Gilson said: “Our recent coverage of Transfer 2010 has highlighted the stress and confusion currently facing thousands of families and hundreds of schools across the province as this year's P7 pupils face new, unregulated entrance exams.
“Our petition was inspired by the huge response from parents who have made it clear that they simply want the situation to be resolved.
“We are calling on our Executive ministers to put their differences aside and sit down together to come up with an agreed way |forward.
“It is our hope that the children currently in P6 can transfer within an agreed and regulated system. Whether or not academic selection remains will be a decision for our politicians to tackle together.
“The education and welfare of our schoolchildren must be the top priority in any discussions.”
Pip Jaffa, chief executive of the Parents Advice Centre (PAC), said: “There is little doubt that from what PAC has heard from parents, together with the extensive societal discussion, that there is much dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity around transition processes from primary to post primary.
“It is very hard for parents to create the sense of security children need about their education when they themselves are left with a sense of confusion.
“Given the importance of education to children, young people and families, and indeed the wider society, it seems that, as a matter of urgency, politicians need to make all possible efforts to move to a decision about the future of the transition from primary schools.
“It is not for PAC to express an opinion about possible transition systems.
“What we do wish to see is a cross-party resolution to the matter so that our children and their parents can focus on their day |to day education and not be unnecessarily distracted by this ongoing debate.”
Dympna Thornton from Larne, whose son Conn is sitting the tests this autumn, said: “I would certainly support the Telegraph’s |petition and would urge everyone to sign it.
“I would hate to think that any other children would have to go through what our children are going through this year.”
Rune Naeri from Co Down, whose son is also sitting the new entrance exams, said: “I would support the petition and will certainly be adding my name to it.
“It's a pity that not all our elected politicians can listen to the wishes of the electorate and sort out the current chaos in the transfer system.
“Parents are very fortunate that grammar schools have shown leadership and filled in the vacuum left by the Department of Education in communicating with parents and schools.”
Copies will also be sent to every school in Northern Ireland.
- Text Size
.
Comments
24 Comments
Mrs C.(24.9.09) Roll on Christmas when this is all over. What about the results and the rest of the lives of these children who have sat this shambles. Yes the petition is great but sadly it should have taken place months ago. Cold comfort to those children who sit these tests in a few weeks time.
Posted by Now very worried P7 parent | 26.09.09, 11:11 GMT
ireland abu asks "What is the Tele's view on transfer?"; obviously they have not followed coverage given by this paper.
Looking back we see how 'Top grammar principals', 'STOP chairpersons' and 'AQE Spokesman' have all been given a soapbox from which to throw fuel on the flames of public concern. ireland abu must also not have noticed the historical habit the 'Tele' has of distributing 'free transfer papers' supporting what is widely recognises as an unfair system.
Editorials lambasting the removal of the 11+ allied to what are virtually advertisements for a commercial organizations product, the AQE tests, all add spice to the mix.
Given this torrent it is obvious the 'Tele' (and the rest of NI's middle class media) is firmly in the camp (along with their old boys/girls) of the grammar school lobby.
Posted by Exasperated | 25.09.09, 12:23 GMT
Will Hawkes | 24.09.09, 13:54
Correct in what you say.
Posted by T J McClean | 25.09.09, 08:00 GMT
As a P7 parent I fully support Ruane's ideal of equal education without academic selection. However, as a P7 parent I think the woman can not see beyond the end of her nose. I have a child who appears to be reasonably academic. She goes to an integrated 'all ability' school. I have known for a number of years that the approaching turmoil would arrive at exactly the time that we didn't need it, and when we had talk of AQE, GL, 5 tests, etc etc I wasn't sure that I should put her through that stress. The crunch point came when the school arranged to hold extra curricular exam preparation. After the first 90 minute session, my daughter told me that they got through more work and more learning in 90 minutes in a class of triers then they would usually in a week in the class of 'all abilities' - So a 10 year old with little political intuition has told me that streaming works.........
Posted by P7 Parent | 25.09.09, 00:34 GMT
I thought the whole idea of this was to relieve the stress of a large exam at such an early age. This is just causing more stress for the parents and the child.
Posted by Grammar | 24.09.09, 23:55 GMT
I know from chatting to a group of middle class friends of mine who have kids in primary schools, some of which are embroiled in this current 'mess'. They had voted for Sinn Fein in recent elections. As they now see SF as being responsible for creating this huge vacuum in their kids educational future their general consensus was that this will cost SF dearly at next elections among middle class Catholic parents, a vote that SF had previoulsy worked hard to get in areas like South Belfast for one. So there may be a huge price for that party to pay for, due to this blunder.
Posted by Paul | 24.09.09, 23:10 GMT
i am against selection at 11,but I cannot beleive the mess we are in over this.it just proves how inept mla's are.and how remote they are from the real world,you just wouldn't get away with this in anywhere else but in the daft world of n.i politics.as other correspondents have said we should be having mass rallys over this at stormount gates.as we have protested over much more trival things in the past why not this one ? also i think we have one of the best systems of education in n.i that should have been implemented over a five year timespan,namely the dickson plan in the craigavon area where there is selection at 14 and results that match any other in n.i.caitriona there's anger out there,resign now so someone else can begin to sort this mess out.
Posted by Harry | 24.09.09, 22:25 GMT
This women is trying and currently looking like succeeding in spoiling what is widely recognised as the best education system in the UK if not Europe. The general public should stand up and show her that we do not want her socialist agenda forced upon our children. Education is vital for our children to become the leaders of the future. I will be signing the petition and telling other to do the same. Well done BT for trying to get something done about this serious issue.
Posted by Philip | 24.09.09, 22:01 GMT
(continued from previous posting )
Unfortunately the children cannot complete these tests in 60 minutes as they are too lengthy, now that the short and snappy science questions have been removed. As a result the scores in these practice tests have dropped by at least 10 marks in comparison to previous years' results. The children know their results are low and this in turn is damaging their confidence and self esteem. I know as incidently I'm also a P7 teacher, sorry I thought I better drop that in. I'm also aware of one local primary school who sent a letter home to parents explaining why they wouldn't be doing any papers with their P7 pupils for a week in October as they are under going a school inspection and stated that it would be unwise to be 'caught' doing papers while the D.of Education were in the school. This new unregulated system really is a shambles. Roll on Christmas when this nightmare is finally over for our present P7 kids!
Posted by Mrs. C. | 24.09.09, 20:28 GMT
It's great to see that the B. Tel. is being proactive with their petition and I was happy to sign in hope that it might ease the confusion for children and parents from 2011 onwards. I however have a child presently in P7, so unfortunately it's not going to help the situation that we find ourselves in. At first when the proposals to abandon the 11+ came out I was quite relaxed about the idea of my son going to his local school, and as one of the criteria included siblings, I thought we were very fortunate, as his elder brother is already at the local grammar. This with the introduction of the AQE tests became irrelevant however and we now find ourselves in a situation where we are practising for tests without the aid of the appropriate practice tests. The B.Tel. tests, although useful, are indeed too easy and the primary schools are putting together old 11+ papers consisting of entirely maths and english questions. ( continued on next posting due to lack of space)
Posted by Mrs. C. | 24.09.09, 20:10 GMT
The Telegraph just can't mask its distaste for the Sinn Fein education minister, can it? This is an attempt to hound Ruane out of power.
The campaign would have more credibility if it was either in favour of or against something - but it isn't. It's like a campaign for more weather - doesn't matter if it's rain or sunshine, just as long as there's more of it.
What is the Tele's view on transfer? Dunno. Doesn't have one. No point in being decisive, Kathryn, if the decision is the wrong one.
Posted by ireland abu | 24.09.09, 19:25 GMT
Will Hawkes said: Ms Ruane is a far left-wing socialist. Citation/proof needed.
Posted by wollsy | 24.09.09, 19:09 GMT
Ruanne is the problem put it to a public vote to put her out after all it was the people of this country put her in she is a public rep put in by the public so we should have the final say to have her put out again she has single handed wrecked a system that has worked for years.
Posted by Martin | 24.09.09, 16:04 GMT
No doubt Ruane will ignore this petition just as she has ignored parents' views. What about a petition to get rid of Ruane!
Posted by Belfast Citizen | 24.09.09, 15:42 GMT
Well said Will..
Posted by Yawning | 24.09.09, 14:44 GMT
The petition would be a good idea if we didn't have Ruane in charge.
Posted by robbo | 24.09.09, 14:15 GMT
Only one politician in NI has any power over decision making in regards to this issue, Caitríona Ruane. It was her decision to remove the 11+ without any other realistic options being available.
Ms Ruane is a far left-wing socialist, she is entitled to her political views. She believes that all children should be educated in exactly the same way irrespective of ability. I have news for her, not all children are equal, some are more intelligent than others and deserve a chance to have that intelligence stretched as far as it can be by going to a grammar school. That, however, does not mean that the children who don't pass the 11+ should receive a sub-standard education.
Ms Ruane's far left-wing views should not be manifested in decisions that have clearly affected a tremendous amount of young people in this country in regards to academic selection. What has happened this year is nothing short of a disgrace, I really hope that the young people affected can forgive and forget.
Posted by Will Hawkes | 24.09.09, 13:54 GMT
Its not a question of sorting out differences, its a question of being able to get rid of a non-performing minister, her veto is what's delaying progress. Its time to change the system at Stormont.
Posted by Mark | 24.09.09, 13:45 GMT
I would like to know what happened to all the parents' comments that were part of the Burns Consultations?
Getting rid of the transfer test without a clear proposal how children are going to transfer to secondary school was never going to work. I had hoped that the Department of Education would also consider to address the lack of vocational training opportunities for young people. Instead of keeping everyone in school until 18, there should be an opportunity at 14 to move into vocational training. All political parties should also work together to build up the infrastructure for jobs and prosperity - because that's what young people want when they leave school!
Posted by Barbara Boyle | 24.09.09, 13:37 GMT
Politicians have ignored everyone in this whole mess. The churches even came together to say `step back from your established positions', yet they ignored them.
They will ignore a petition too.
Posted by Ed | 24.09.09, 10:57 GMT
24 Comments