AQE Exam Results

portrushdad999

Belfast_Mum wrote: »

Press release from ministers office -

Education Minister sends best wishes to children

The Education Minister has offered her best wishes to all children who find out today which post-primary school they will transfer to in September 2010.

The Minister, Caitr!ona Ruane said: "I want to offer my best wishes to all those children, and their parents, who have been informed today about their post-primary school place. The move from the primary school into the post-primary is a big step for children and I hope they look forward to September with anticipation and excitement.

"If this is a typical year, then approximately 9 out of 10 children will get into their first choice school. I am of course delighted for these children, but I am also sorry for those children who have been disappointed.

"I am very sympathetic to those parents who feel that their child has been rejected on the basis of breakaway tests. No parent should have to tolerate their child being rejected in this manner and no child should suffer such a rejection. I will continue to do all within my powers to bring to an end a transfer process that does this to children and parents.

"Grammar schools should not be testing children at 10 or 11 years old to gain access to an education to which they are entitled. It is socially unjust and educationally unsound to select children by a test.

"The policy of the Department of Education is for a non-selective system. That is not going to change. The new transfer procedures are in place and they will remain in place. We have moved on and will continue to move."

Firstly I would like to tell Catriona that I or my son dont want her best wishes.

Secondly it is a cheap political trick to target the vunerable who have been unsuccessful in gaining their first, second or third choice schools to garner support for a policy which the schools, the pupils, the parents and political opponents reject.

Thirdly Catriona mentions Grammar schools in her press release so she accepts their existence and the fact they are going nowhere, does she honestly believe that her social transfer criteria is any fairer that the academic selection route, if so come on here and debate I among others are ready.

Fourthly she mentions moving on, she cant move on without cross party support this is hot air. She needs to rethink her policy or SHE SHOULD MOVE ON. Parliament has just introduced a right to recall for MPs does this apply to MLAs because if it did would Catriona survive a vote of confidence. Roll on the 2011 assembly elections with any luck her political ineptness and naivety will cost her her undeserved seat as our representative. In addition maybe the DUP who has the choice of taking education should do so at the next assembly elections to prove to the electorate they are serious about their policies and not just avoiding the potentially controversial office of education so as to snipe from the sidelines in committee.

Fifthly while i am in full rant mood AQE deserve some praise but we as parents and customers need to be better treated. There are various measures that could be used to gain information from them freedom of information act, supply of goods and services act etc however it would be much easier if AQE just done the right thing you have the information, most grammar schools have the information relating to them its all in the public domain just collate it for us and publish it on your website simple? In addition AQE learn from your mistakes the quintiles was not a great idea and may have cost some kids places that they would have got. We as parents and customers need to be better treated and need more information that is why this forum has 130,000 views+.

Anyway rant over the press release from catriona set me off but i have calmed now through typing.

Ex-Spendaholic

Well Ms Ruane you can stick your best wishes, my child doesn't need them. What my child needed was a properly regulated system of selection but instead we got AQE who did their best under the circumstances when you tried to destroy the grammar schools for good.

However the people have spoken, you have not won and never will. Your position is untenable so you really should go now before you cause any further destruction to the education system in Northern Ireland. Yes that is Northern Ireland not "the north" or the "island of Ireland" or any of that other nonsense you force on the staff of your department. The staff who are much better qualified and competent at their jobs than what you are.

Finally maybe you could tell me why my children should take lower priority than those who have free school meals just because I pay around £50 per month per child. :mad:

Ex-Spendaholic

vido wrote: »

I remember the Principal from Grosvenor advising parents to put down the school that they want regardless of marks. Looks like he knew what he was talking about!

He said it until he was blue in the face. He then visited our primary school to tell the kids to make sure their parents put down the school(s) they wanted regardless of score and finally he sent a letter just after the results were out. He did know what he was talking about and thankfully I took his word for it rather than listen to the Primary School Principal (which some friends did) and apply elsewhere.

10DaystoGo..AHHHHHHHHH

Off to secondary school you will go......... One day there will be no more grammars, ahhhaa haa haaa

cheesypuff

Hi E1

I hope you don't mind me posting on here, I have not posted on this thread before. I am a mother of a p6 child and I have been reading these pages with interest. We live in Ards and I have seen Regent mentioned, but does anyone on here know what the cut off was for

Strathearn
Bloomfield
Glenlola
I know it may change next year but it just gives me an idea of what we are aiming at perhaps.

Well done to all those who go there first choice school.:T

Madmags_4

Morning Everyone, I have been a lurker for a long time but decided to say Hello.

I suspect that I am the parent that Vido is talking about.
Congratulations to you all, whose children got into the school they wanted to attend. In our house, on saturday there was disapointment alround but I am still hoping to possibly transfer if he keeps his head down and works hard over the next year or so....

I did listen when the principil of Grovenor when he said to put the school of your choice down regardless of score but we always felt that if our son was to get into a grammar school it would be by the skin of his teeth and as Grovenor had in the past turned away some Bs we thought he would have had no chance, also when we were discussing this with the primary school principil we were discouraged from putting Grovenor on the form in favor of Wellington as they in the past had accepted lower Grades.

I found out from Wellington that the actual cut off was 93 and that they will keep the childrens names on record.

Vido.... I'm hoping the children are enjoying themselves, I'm sure they are.

Lisburn_Mum_2

Whatever happened to parental choice!!

My nearest grammar was Wallace High my daughter did not want to go there was very sure of that, Hunterhouse was our preference it is the right school for my daughter. Because we could not put Wallace down as she may have got in we had to forfeit our right to a bus pass so hey that is going to cost us approx £40.00 per month for the next 5-7 years! I dont mind paying because it is the right thing for her but how unfair!!!!! If she had have scored lower? we could have been rejected from Wallace and got the bus pass we couldnt take the chance!

I work part time and my husband isnt a high earner, but we dont get school meals - getting my daughter into grammar is not an easy option for us!!!

But I am happy that this is where she is going we will manage!!!!:rotfl:

Madmags_4

Lisburn_Mum_2 wrote: »

Whatever happened to parental choice!!

My nearest grammar was Wallace High my daughter did not want to go there was very sure of that, Hunterhouse was our preference it is the right school for my daughter. Because we could not put Wallace down as she may have got in we had to forfeit our right to a bus pass so hey that is going to cost us approx £40.00 per month for the next 5-7 years! I dont mind paying because it is the right thing for her but how unfair!!!!! If she had have scored lower? we could have been rejected from Wallace and got the bus pass we couldnt take the chance!

I work part time and my husband isnt a high earner, but we dont get school meals - getting my daughter into grammar is not an easy option for us!!!

But I am happy that this is where she is going we will manage!!!!:rotfl:

As long as she's happy and your happy it will be totally worth it. Money always comes from somewhere!

Ex-Spendaholic

Hi and welcome Madmags :beer:
I feel very angry on your behalf at your Principal. Why was he/she giving that sort of advice? He should have been telling you to put all the Grammars down in order of preference. The Principal of our school was useless too and sadly many people listened to him and have kids now going to Inst. Nothing wrong with Inst but these kids are on the doorstep of Grosvenor and their parents would have liked them to go there but by listening to the Principal felt they had no chance and put Inst as first choice.

Ex-Spendaholic

Welcome Cheesy Puff. :beer: No idea on the answers to those questions as there doesn't seem to be much talk of those schools on this thread. There is another thread running about scores so hopefully you will get the information you need soon.

Lisburn Mum 2, I firmly believe that if one child gets free travel to school then they all should. Totally unfair.