AQE Exam Results

rolo1_2

Neveranymoney/Kingston - Carrick Grammar is our 1st choice and picked BHS as 2nd choice. Both schools are really top notch IMO.

Again everyone will have their own thoughts on schools. I fully expect over 100 (probably less) will be good enough for BHS but I would not get into a tizz if they 'End up' in Carrick Grammar. I have had lots of great reports on the pastoral and accademic success of Carrick Grammar - and the exam stats hold up against any school. Sorry, just felt Carrick Grammar was getting a bit of a bashing. I know everyone wants the best for their child, and I know we would be dissapointed if we did not get our 1st choice.

I suppose East Antrim is very lucky to have so many good Grammar and secondary schools. Good luck for Sat, it will all work out, you'll see!!

kingston_2730

beccasmum wrote: »

I am interested to know why everyone would rather have grades instead of scores? I think that both would be more appropriate because at least then children with the same grade could be distinguished between in a tie break situation. With the old system sometimes kids with higher scores were turned away simply because the school did not know the raw scores and I think if people are complaining this year about kids with lower scores getting in on special intakes then they better realise that with the old ststem the exact same thing happened only we didn't have the facts in front of us. How would you feel if your child was turned away in favour of a lower score with the same grade, would it be ok because you don't know any better. I think this sounds a bit like ignorance is bliss and I for one want to know every detail. Roll on Saturday and the final outcome, only thing is my son who is going into P6 in September will have the joy of putting me through all this fun again. Ahhh!!

Well I don't think anyone on this board is ignorant and I know nobody is blissful :rotfl:I think the point is that we were given, to a certain extent, a meaningless score and were therefore unable to make an educated decision as to which grammars our kids would have a chance a getting into. Yes you are correct that on the old system kids with for example, lower B2s were sometimes admitted before kids with higher B2s in a tie break situation and I think we are all intelligent enough on here to realise that. The whole point is that giving us scores instead of grades did not change this. The vast majority of grammars are STILL using 'other' criteria to admit a percentage of their intake and therefore kids with lower scores are STILL getting admitted before ones with higher scores so nothing from that perspective has changed. The point is why then give scores and not grades? What was the point in changing the way the marks were communicated?

kingston_2730

rolo1 wrote: »

Neveranymoney/Kingston - Carrick Grammar is our 1st choice and picked BHS as 2nd choice. Both schools are really top notch IMO.

Again everyone will have their own thoughts on schools. I fully expect over 100 (probably less) will be good enough for BHS but I would not get into a tizz if they 'End up' in Carrick Grammar. I have had lots of great reports on the pastoral and accademic success of Carrick Grammar - and the exam stats hold up against any school. Sorry, just felt Carrick Grammar was getting a bit of a bashing. I know everyone wants the best for their child, and I know we would be dissapointed if we did not get our 1st choice.

I suppose East Antrim is very lucky to have so many good Grammar and secondary schools. Good luck for Sat, it will all work out, you'll see!!

Rolo1, you are absolutely right. Carrick grammar is an excellent, excellent school IMHO and nearly all of the high scores in our primary have put it down as first choice. I actually have personal reasons for not choosing it first (don't want to go into that!) and therefore was quite happy that my son put it down as 3rd but please don't think I was suggesting it was an inferior school in any way. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if its tougher to get into this year than previous years as there seems an awful lot putting it down as first choice. I think Mr Mulvenna is brilliant too and he has really improved the school immensely

kingston_2730

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

Last night I posted that this thread had been viewed 85000 times. Well I've just noticed that its now been viewed 100,000 times. Thats a lot of viewing going on in less than 24 hours. :eek:

OMG now its nearly 102000 times. I posted on here as I reckoned it was a relatively low key board and would mostly be read by the N.Irelanders that were moneysavers. I am starting to worry now that people will recognise me from posts...not sure I want that!!! I may have a lot of editing to do. Who are all these lurkers? They're obviously googling it and coming up with our thread. Hey, lurkers why don't you post??? We want to hear from you!!

facingthefuture

Hi I am a lurker, my son is in P6 and we live in the north west. I came across this after searching the web following a school meeting to explain all about the AQE and GL . I was very confused but now understand the emotions and demands that face us in the next year. Sorry I have nothing to contribute, you all know much more than I do.

I really hope your children end up in the best possible schools.

PS I don't know anyone on here so don't worry.

kingston_2730

Facingthefuture, great to hear from you and glad you posted! I really don't envy you going through this however I do think that the process will be clearer for you. For one thing, you will have this year's scores to go on and how that translated into grammar school places which should help a lot.

kingston_2730

ni-mum wrote: »

My son got 120 and was initially disappointed as he had scored highly in practice papers and so thought his score would be over 130. It was only after we heard everyone elses scores that he realised how well he did. He still doesn't believe he'll almost certainly get into his first choice school.

Thats a disgrace!! Yet another example of why the grades should have been issued and NOT unclear scores!

violinski

Hi all, I am also a lurker. I have followed you all from Feb 6 as I, like most of you, am a P7 parent.
You are amazing and I feel like I know you all. I have laughed so much and identify with the stories of frantically searching for postmen, stalking principals, pricing uniforms etc. I even have a polo shirt for my sons first choice to give him on Sat morning - HOPEFULLY. (score of 111)
Good luck to all, and a word of encouragement - there are lots of kids in the world who would love to have parents like us to look out for and after them. Can't wait to read your messages of 'good news' after thepostman/woman arrives.:)

kingston_2730

violinski wrote: »

Hi all, I am also a lurker. I have followed you all from Feb 6 as I, like most of you, am a P7 parent.
You are amazing and I feel like I know you all. I have laughed so much and identify with the stories of frantically searching for postmen, stalking principals, pricing uniforms etc. I even have a polo shirt for my sons first choice to give him on Sat morning - HOPEFULLY. (score of 111)
Good luck to all, and a word of encouragement - there are lots of kids in the world who would love to have parents like us to look out for and after them. Can't wait to read your messages of 'good news' after thepostman/woman arrives.:)

Awwwww, violinski, thanks so much for those lovely words. Its amazing that so many people seem to be following us. Its a bit like a soap opera really isn't it. Tune in for the next episode where P7 mum (ex spendaholic) is caught impersonating a postwoman in order to infiltrate Grosvenor Grammar School in the search for truth.:rotfl::T

neveranymoney

Rolo1, I really didn't mean to bash Carrick grammar, the reasons I'm hoping for BHS are these, firstly, I'm not from over 'ere and have no idea about schools, BHS is the closest and i actually have no idea how my child would get to Carrickfergus, well, I do, two buses but I don't want her wandering the streets alone and secondly, I didn't go to the schools open night with her, so have no feel for the school. She really liked it and would be well chuffed if she got a place there, it's me being, well, me! Kingston, I wonder are we distant relatives, I too was beginning to worry that people in real life would recognise me on here and my facade as a well balanced, pleasant person would be ruined forever and I also want to hear from others who haven't previously posted, to find out their thoughts and feelings (and what schools their hoping for!) as well.