Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Primary heads' 'deep fears over entrance tests'
Conference to hear of pressure caused by transfer chaos
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Priamry school principals from across Northern Ireland are due to meet in Belfast today to discuss serious concerns about new unregulated grammar school entrance tests.
The event has been organised by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and is supported by the four other teacher unions here. It is due to take place at the Ramada Hotel this afternoon and is likely to involve representatives from hundreds of schools.
Almost all of the 69 grammars have decided to set their own tests for pupils hoping to gain places in their schools in 2010 — against the advice of Education Minister Caitriona Ruane.
Pupils currently in P6 will be the first to sit the new tests later this year. In some cases, pupils may end up sitting five papers on Saturdays in total in a bid to gain entry to a grammar school.
Speaking before the conference, INTO senior official Brendan Harron claimed that grammar schools are attempting to put pressure on schools in the primary sector to “conform to their proposed regime of academic testing for transfer”.
Mr Harron continued: ”This is forcing schools to consider abandoning the revised curriculum, is putting many principals at the forefront of some parental demands to ensure coaching of children for the proposed tests and is creating a climate of legal uncertainty where the only winners will be the legal profession.”
Last week, Frank Bunting, INTO northern secretary, said: “The prevailing mood among primary heads at the moment is one of serious concern about the development of entrance tests and the way they could potentially be administered.”
The UUP, SDLP, Alliance Party and DUP have all voiced support for a replacement transfer test being put in place by the Department of Education for a couple of years — to hopefully allow for political consensus to be reached on a way forward.
However, this has been rejected by Ms Ruane.
Last week, Northern Ireland’s exams body confirmed time has run out for it to prepare a state-sponsored transfer test for P7 pupils this autumn. The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) said “it would not be practical at this late stage” to develop a test for use in November 2009.
- Text Size
.
I agree Gaz. Instead of focussing on improving those failing secondary schools that cannot attract pupils, the Minister wants to remove parental choice with the excuse of the "unfairness" of academic selection. There is a consultation document on her department's website that is entirely spin. Grammar schools are blamed for the fact that enrolment figures are down in certain secondary schools despite the fact that enrolment is up in other secondary schools. It's not rocket science Minister!
Posted by Anne | 29.05.09, 12:16 GMT
The cancer of progressive education reform has indeed metastasised to all areas of the system. PACE have consistently sought accountability from the politicians of the Assembly for this unnecessary chaos. Unfortunately for them because of Daily Telegraph revelations using the Freedom of Information Act the politicians are proven incapable - just like their civil servant friends. The Minister is responsible but her loud opponents have been unable to stop her.
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 29.05.09, 08:14 GMT
This mess will spread to the Secondary Pupils when parents realise they cant choose the Secondary School of their choice.
For eg at least 6 buses leave Ards each day for Bangor Secs because the parents, for good reasons are unwilling to put their child into a well publicised local Sec School.
This choice under Ruanes system will no longer exist. Local people are already catching on to this potential situation and the alarm bells are beginning to ring.
Its not just grammars that attract.
Posted by Gaz | 28.05.09, 23:23 GMT
Sinn Fein has let down our teaching profession, a minority party stands alone on this issue and wholly responsible for this mess.
Time to go Minister, academic selection is here to stay, you've failed to deliver your promises.
Posted by Mark | 28.05.09, 14:16 GMT
How Hard for Teachers, forced into the forefront of having to teach their pupils english & maths !
Posted by Outraged | 28.05.09, 12:41 GMT
How Awful for the Primary School Teachers,
they will be forced to teach children English & Maths.
Posted by P6 Parent | 28.05.09, 11:18 GMT
"The UUP, SDLP, Alliance Party and DUP have all voiced support for a replacement transfer test being put in place by the Department of Education...
However, this has been rejected by Ms Ruane."
So everyone except Ms Ruane ( thinks that some kind of standardised transfer testing is a good idea, yet she refuses to listen. Three cheers for Northern Irish democracy!
Posted by Richard | 28.05.09, 09:50 GMT
Although I am not a supporter of the 11-plus, at least it was regulated, and we had a fair idea what to expect.
Now we are left in a shambles, well done Catriona!!!
Posted by cd | 28.05.09, 09:31 GMT