AQE Exam Results

JosieJoBelfast

Good Morning All:)

Just realised that I must be one of only a handful in work or school today.

Big congratulations to everyone that is happy that they got a school of choice.:T

For those that didn't get a school of choice - I hope that you are able to appeal and get a school of choice or that you get an answer as to why if you are on the doorstep of receiving schools you have been denied a place. I have friends in North Down & Ards and have heard all sorts of nonsense in terms of allocations to the local secondary schools. I wish you well and hope that you get a satisfactory outcome.

Some of you(Kingston and 10daystogo in particular) you are very organised. Daughter wasn't interested in getting school uniforms etc...she just wanted to get to the stationary shops to buy folders, pencil cases etc etc. PS - don't think we got a Warnocks flyer about discount - did anyone else get one from Methody?

While AQE have questions to answer, I am still thankful to them for giving those parents who seek a Grammar education for their children an opportunity to gain a place. I hope AQE have learnt lessons from this year and realise that providing no information, just leads to rumours and misinformation and distrust in the system.

To Mrs Ruane - if a Grammar was good enough for your child (before you moved her out of the school), why deny this as a choice for others. Focus on investment in early years and maintain this investment throughout the school years - trying to do a patch job at age 10/11 is too late. There are excellent secondary schools however not all geographic areas has them (none where I live) and therefore I choose along with my daughter that she would sit a test to gain entry to a school of choice.

I will enjoy looking round Methody on the 14 June and wondering if any of the other mothers/fathers are the fellow bloggers......:p tee hee!!!

relievedmum

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

Grosvenor people, I was talking to a friend last night who already has a boy there. She buys the uniform in Gowdys. She said they do a deal of a blazer, badge, tie, trousers and 3 shirts for £100. She said you can pay a few quid extra for the better trousers and blazer. The PE uniform is an unknown quantity at the minute as Grosvenor are just unveiling a new one which all kids have to have for 2011 and it is only sold in the school. :eek:

I have been another lurker since 06 Feb and just want to thank you all for keeping me sane!!!!! You have all helped me realise that I am not going mad lol:eek:. Ex Spend - You could be me!!!!!!! :T My son has got into Grosvenor too:j:jWe hope to go today and leave in all his forms - he goes on his school trip tomorrow. Went on Saturday and got his tie and no doubt will be going to get his uniform soon. According to the shop we were in on Saturday the new sports kit is only available through school and is about £25 more expensive than the existing one. Its Canterbury! "Cool" as my son said! :cool: He is also musical and is really looking forward to September.

I am soooo pleased for everyone who got the school of their choice but I do feel for those who haven't. Hopefully they will all have a positive outcome.

Thank you all again and I look forward to more of your witty banter for the next while to come! :beer:

kingston_2730

rolo1 wrote: »

Hi Kingston - The 10% off for uniform from Gordons, is that only until end July?

Also do you have to pay all up front to get the 10% discount or can you secure with a deposit?

ta

Yes discount is only until end of July and yes you can pay deposit to secure discount

Ex-Spendaholic

Hi and Welcome Relieved Mum. :beer: Congrats to your son. :T :T
I'm glad my son is musical as he is not at all sporty. The thought of rugby doesn't inspire him at all and he will choose hockey given the chance. You wouldn't think it to look at him though. Where are you buying the uniform? I tried to get a tie on Saturday but Gowdys and Littles were closed (this was about 5pm)

JosieJo, I fully agree with everything you said. Without AQE we would have been in a much worse position. Its just a pity they hadn't have provided a bit of information which would satisfied us all and then there wouldn't have been so much suspicion/rumours. My main bugbear is the 6 February and my intial thought that my son's score was really poor. A bit more information with the results would have quelled that.

I suspect things will be a bit easier for the next lot of kids going through. At least they will know what scores got into each school and when they get a score next February will have a better idea of whether they are likely to get a school of their choice unlike us lot who really had no idea.

relievedmum

Thank you ex spend. We went to Littles on Saturday but will prob have a look around. My son sounds so like your son lol. Music and not sports - would rather do hockey than rugby - so glad he's not the only one!

Re AQE - I do feel annoyed the way the results were given. We had such elation on Saturday when we found out about Grosvenor and I really feel that was taken away from my son on 6 Feb. He got 112 which we now know is a fantastic result but because on that day it was just top of 2nd Quintile in my mind it was possibly that borderline b1 -b2 with a doubt over a grammar place. I always said I would hate to be in that "borderline" grade - if his grade had been a lot lower I was quite happy with our local secondary school - we are very lucky in that it is a VERY good school but also very oversubscribed as a result.

Son was happy but as usual being a mum I was trying to keep a brave face on it - he kept asking what his grade meant and I felt so stupid because I couldn't actually tell him.

Anyhow - thats in the past for us now and hopefully for those who follow lessons will be learned. Its hard to believe its been a year since we sat in "William Moles Hall" to hear about the "new test".

Happy uniform shopping and I can just imagine our sons talking about their crazy mums come September.

sniffy_2

I was going to buy my son a North Face black coat last week. Glad now I didnt as BRA states if coats are worn they should be plain and navy in colour. I know my son will not wear a plain navy coat. It seems strange as they have stated hats and gloves can be plain navy, black, grey or maroon. Looks like my son will be soaked and frozen this winter. Does anybody elses children have to have to attend their schools for an interview with senior staff member to discuss hobbies, interests etc. I have to ring to arrange a time.

Ex-Spendaholic

Relieved Mum I was up at Grosvenor with my paperwork. I asked for a PE kit price list but they don't have it yet. She said we'll have it on 21 June.

Sniffy, thats a bit of a nightmare. I couldn't see my son wearing navy either. Luckily for us he is allowed black, navy or bottle green (as if). Over the years I've bought North Face Nuptse coats. I know they aren't cheap but I always manage to get £40-£50 on ebay for them once he has outgrown them so in reality he gets a good warm coat for little more than one from the likes of M&S. I'm thinking maybe some sort of goretex coat would be good for over the blazer? I'll leave that to my OH who will frequent Surf Mountain, Tiso and Cotswold in persuit of the perfect coat whilst buying himself stuff he doesn't need. :eek:

Golden_Anemone

JosieJoBelfast wrote: »

To Mrs Ruane - if a Grammar was good enough for your child (before you moved her out of the school), why deny this as a choice for others. Focus on investment in early years and maintain this investment throughout the school years - trying to do a patch job at age 10/11 is too late. There are excellent secondary schools however not all geographic areas has them (none where I live) and therefore I choose along with my daughter that she would sit a test to gain entry to a school of choice.

Extremely nicely put JosieJo - nicer than I will ever be able to be about that shameless harridan!!!

neveranymoney

Firstly, i don't really want to pay lip service to 'relax', but I just can't control myself - why bother with this site if it bothers you so much and then, why post that your child got their first choice school if you don't really agree with us all here?? There's nowt as queer as folk, anyhoo, I wasn't going to bother with an overcoat, I had to spend many a damp day at a bus stop in my blazer, but if it's the done thing, I suppose I may. I was thinking Clarks for shoes and a largish back pack jobby, the daughter likes Roxy stuff but I think its a bit of a rip off tbh. We've also got a good lot of the stationary stuff in, bar the bible and geography books, theres a reason why my name on here is neveranymoney - I love shopping and it is guilt free when it is for your child!

Ex-Spendaholic

Neveranymoney, I joined this site 3 years ago looking for ways of saving money hence the ridiculous name I saddled myself with. :rotfl::rotfl: Truth be told I'm the biggest waster ever and I just can't resist the kids. I'm a bit of a Roxy mug too. Sometimes you can pick up bits from M + M Sports.

I'll not be worrying about a coat until its cold/wet enough to think about one. Seriously that son of mine grows so fast. I usually buy all uniform and school supplies when we return from holiday mid July. This year though we aren't back until 31 July so may end up doing it earlier.