AQE Exam Results

kingston_2730

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

Actually I would be about 99% sure its the ELB. Give them a ring first thing in the morning.

My son put Methody as 2nd choice. No-one else in the school put it down but he liked it. As its a fantastic school, I'm well pleased at his choice but it is odd that such a sociable child with so many friends went for something different than his friends. I agonised over that a bit. Wellington seems to be the top choice amongst his friends.

I think its wonderful that your son has chosen a school that none of his mates have chosen. I think it shows great strength of character.:)

newtownabbey_mum

kingston_2730 wrote: »

OK.Opinions please!! We are seriously considering reversing our second and third choices. It was a big debate before we filled the form in and now we are having second thoughts. The problem is our son wants it left the way it is but my OH and I think his decision is based on the wrong reasons (he is only 10 after all)!! Unfortunately due to having the flu, it was the one school we missed the open night for (BRA) and we took a tour instead during school hours. Son didn't think it was as exciting as there was not the buzz that was there on the open nights of the other schools that we were able to attend. I really feel that if we had of attended BRA open night he would have loved it. I went to it last year and was very impressed plus we have family connection with BRA and this person LOVED her time there. His other reason is that the majority of his friends are going to the other school which we currently have as second (BRA is third choice)although there is one or two going to BRA. I just don't know what to do...son at one point had decided to put BRA second but in the end decided to put it third and the other school second. There will be more travelling involved with BRA but I believe they have the travel side of things very well organised. Both are good grammar schools but in my heart I just believe BRA is the better school. Can I have advice please? Does anyone have opinions on BRA or Carrickfergus grammar? What would you do? Would you go against your child's wishes if you thought it was for the best? I just believe that he will LOVE BRA once he gets there. As his first choice of grammar will be borderline, there is a very good chance that it will be his second choice that he gets into. Principle of BRA has already told us that he will get in with his score. ANy opinions would be very welcomed and appreciated.

Hi, my daughter scored 112 and BRA is her first choice. She wanted it as her first choice but to be honest i would have gone agains her wishes as i beleive it really is an excellent school. I was so impressed when we went to the open night. If you dont mind me asking what score did your son get?

rolo1_2

kingston_2730 wrote: »

OK.Opinions please!! We are seriously considering reversing our second and third choices. It was a big debate before we filled the form in and now we are having second thoughts. The problem is our son wants it left the way it is but my OH and I think his decision is based on the wrong reasons (he is only 10 after all)!! Unfortunately due to having the flu, it was the one school we missed the open night for (BRA) and we took a tour instead during school hours. Son didn't think it was as exciting as there was not the buzz that was there on the open nights of the other schools that we were able to attend. I really feel that if we had of attended BRA open night he would have loved it. I went to it last year and was very impressed plus we have family connection with BRA and this person LOVED her time there. His other reason is that the majority of his friends are going to the other school which we currently have as second (BRA is third choice)although there is one or two going to BRA. I just don't know what to do...son at one point had decided to put BRA second but in the end decided to put it third and the other school second. There will be more travelling involved with BRA but I believe they have the travel side of things very well organised. Both are good grammar schools but in my heart I just believe BRA is the better school. Can I have advice please? Does anyone have opinions on BRA or Carrickfergus grammar? What would you do? Would you go against your child's wishes if you thought it was for the best? I just believe that he will LOVE BRA once he gets there. As his first choice of grammar will be borderline, there is a very good chance that it will be his second choice that he gets into. Principle of BRA has already told us that he will get in with his score. ANy opinions would be very welcomed and appreciated.

Hi Kingston. Hope I can help you here. We are very similar to you and faced the same choices. We have Carrickfergus Grammar 1st choice and Belfat High 2nd. The logic behind or choices are:
1. Exam results are basically the same -Very Very Good
2. Pastrol care very high quality in both schools, Carrick just edged it for us.

Now probably most important, in my opinion, Carrick had that something extra (hard to explain), The headmaster is so enthusiastic and we know some children in first year whose parents are so glad they sent them to Carrick Grammar. The children are all very happy and settled.

In reagrds to BRA, I have no doubt it is a great school, but please consider distance to travel, length of school day, what with after school activities etc, and probably most importantly the location of new friends your son will make.

Hope this helps.

sniffy_2

kingston_2730 wrote: »

OK.Opinions please!! We are seriously considering reversing our second and third choices. It was a big debate before we filled the form in and now we are having second thoughts. The problem is our son wants it left the way it is but my OH and I think his decision is based on the wrong reasons (he is only 10 after all)!! Unfortunately due to having the flu, it was the one school we missed the open night for (BRA) and we took a tour instead during school hours. Son didn't think it was as exciting as there was not the buzz that was there on the open nights of the other schools that we were able to attend. I really feel that if we had of attended BRA open night he would have loved it. I went to it last year and was very impressed plus we have family connection with BRA and this person LOVED her time there. His other reason is that the majority of his friends are going to the other school which we currently have as second (BRA is third choice)although there is one or two going to BRA. I just don't know what to do...son at one point had decided to put BRA second but in the end decided to put it third and the other school second. There will be more travelling involved with BRA but I believe they have the travel side of things very well organised. Both are good grammar schools but in my heart I just believe BRA is the better school. Can I have advice please? Does anyone have opinions on BRA or Carrickfergus grammar? What would you do? Would you go against your child's wishes if you thought it was for the best? I just believe that he will LOVE BRA once he gets there. As his first choice of grammar will be borderline, there is a very good chance that it will be his second choice that he gets into. Principle of BRA has already told us that he will get in with his score. ANy opinions would be very welcomed and appreciated.

My son has put down BRA as his first choice and the majority of the other pupils have chosen Ballyclare High. He doesn't want to go to Ballyclare High. Spoke to parent who made her daughter go to a school that she didnt want to go to. Transferred to the grammar school that the girl wanted to go to orginally in 3rd year. Girl was very unhappy at the school that parents had wanted her to go to. Blamed parents for making her put it down as 1st choice. I am worrying about my son choosing BRA as only 2 other boys have put this down as 1st choice. My son isn't worried as he says he will make new friends. He just loved it last May when they had an open morning and I made him go back again for the open evening in Jan. He will have an earlier start to go to BRA but the transport is very good. There will be buses home in the evening if he stays on for clubs unlike Ballyclare High there are no buses home if he stays on for clubs so he would need to be picked up. It is very difficult to know what to do but remember that your child's happiness also has to be taken into account. Even now I am worrying incase he doesn't like or if he misses his friends. My husband says I am worrying too much. Good luck in whatever decision you make.

kingston_2730

Thanks all for your replies. Well we decided just to drop it and leave things as they were. Didn't mention it again to son. Guess what?....he started going on the BRA website and the Carrickfergus one and then studied the prospectuses. He then rang his aunt who went to BRA and then.....drum roll.....told us he wanted to change the order and decided to put BRA down 2nd instead of third and Carrickfergus 3rd which was previously 2nd :T. We are soooo pleased :jNow I don't really mind if he gets his first choice (Belfast High) or his second choice as I love both schools. Rolo1 unlike you, I did not get a good vibe about Carrickfergus during the open night. I did not feel it was as well organised as the other schools and it was so overcrowded seeing as they only had one open night, that we barely got into see any of the rooms. I do know it has a good reputation though and know of many people who have recommended it highly, it just didn't feel like a good match for us. Thank you so much for your valued advice though! So we have contacted the ELB and made the change. Yippee!!! Bring on May 28th :j

kingston_2730

sniffy wrote: »

My son has put down BRA as his first choice and the majority of the other pupils have chosen Ballyclare High. He doesn't want to go to Ballyclare High. Spoke to parent who made her daughter go to a school that she didnt want to go to. Transferred to the grammar school that the girl wanted to go to orginally in 3rd year. Girl was very unhappy at the school that parents had wanted her to go to. Blamed parents for making her put it down as 1st choice. I am worrying about my son choosing BRA as only 2 other boys have put this down as 1st choice. My son isn't worried as he says he will make new friends. He just loved it last May when they had an open morning and I made him go back again for the open evening in Jan. He will have an earlier start to go to BRA but the transport is very good. There will be buses home in the evening if he stays on for clubs unlike Ballyclare High there are no buses home if he stays on for clubs so he would need to be picked up. It is very difficult to know what to do but remember that your child's happiness also has to be taken into account. Even now I am worrying incase he doesn't like or if he misses his friends. My husband says I am worrying too much. Good luck in whatever decision you make.

Sniffy, can I ask what area you are from and what sort of travelling time you expect? I have been told by my sister in law who travelled to BRA as a student from Whitehead that the travel side of things is really really well organised. There are apparently 800 or so pupils that take the train from as far as Larne and they all get to know each other and the train journey becomes a social event for them lol!! Our son will be travelling by train from Whitehead and it will take about 30-35 minutes to get to Yorkgate and it is then a ten min bus journey to BRA. Apparently if your child has to leave home before ten to eight in the morning they can be given a late pass in the morning. I think that is very accomodating of them. It will actually take my son as long to get to his first choice Belfast High just purely down to travel by bus. Travel by train is much more efficient and pleasant IMHO!!

sniffy_2

kingston_2730 wrote: »

Sniffy, can I ask what area you are from and what sort of travelling time you expect? I have been told by my sister in law who travelled to BRA as a student from Whitehead that the travel side of things is really really well organised. There are apparently 800 or so pupils that take the train from as far as Larne and they all get to know each other and the train journey becomes a social event for them lol!! Our son will be travelling by train from Whitehead and it will take about 30-35 minutes to get to Yorkgate and it is then a ten min bus journey to BRA. Apparently if your child has to leave home before ten to eight in the morning they can be given a late pass in the morning. I think that is very accomodating of them. It will actually take my son as long to get to his first choice Belfast High just purely down to travel by bus. Travel by train is much more efficient and pleasant IMHO!!

Templepatrick/Parkgate area. Bus departs at 7.30am near Templeton hotel. There is also a later bus 7.50am but most children get the 7.30 bus. The journey time is roughly 30 mins depending on traffic of course. That is right what you say about the trains to Yorkgate. BRA have their own buses to collect the children from the train station. I was aware about the late pass but haven't mentioned it to my son incase he uses it as an excuse to be late every morning. You would think to hear me that he has got in to BRA.

rolo1_2

Kingston. Glad you got it sorted. Was it much hassle to get it changed?
You have 3 great school choices, although I would be confident you will get your first choice.
It's funny how the open nights left diff opinions. We thought Carrick Grammar open night was really good (yes a bit crowded) and the Headmasters talk we thought was the best of all.
BHS open night also brill, probably as we got a personal guide!!. The animal club seemed very popular not to mention the 1st year trip to Disney. We gave our daughter the option to change choices from Carrick Grammar to BHS, but she has her mind very much set on Carrick (which re-assured us that we had made the correct choice)
Larne Grammar open night we thought was awful, very poorly organised, yet other parents we spoke to thought it was great.
As long as the school choice is the right one for the child that is the main thing:)

kingston_2730

sniffy wrote: »

Templepatrick/Parkgate area. Bus departs at 7.30am near Templeton hotel. There is also a later bus 7.50am but most children get the 7.30 bus. The journey time is roughly 30 mins depending on traffic of course. That is right what you say about the trains to Yorkgate. BRA have their own buses to collect the children from the train station. I was aware about the late pass but haven't mentioned it to my son incase he uses it as an excuse to be late every morning. You would think to hear me that he has got in to BRA.

So does that mean he will be getting into school at 8:00?? (seems a bit early :eek:) My son got 102 on test and Mr Dickson told me that he should have no problem getting place at BRA so I would say its a given that your son will get in!!

kingston_2730

rolo1 wrote: »

Kingston. Glad you got it sorted. Was it much hassle to get it changed?
You have 3 great school choices, although I would be confident you will get your first choice.
It's funny how the open nights left diff opinions. We thought Carrick Grammar open night was really good (yes a bit crowded) and the Headmasters talk we thought was the best of all.
BHS open night also brill, probably as we got a personal guide!!. The animal club seemed very popular not to mention the 1st year trip to Disney. We gave our daughter the option to change choices from Carrick Grammar to BHS, but she has her mind very much set on Carrick (which re-assured us that we had made the correct choice)
Larne Grammar open night we thought was awful, very poorly organised, yet other parents we spoke to thought it was great.
As long as the school choice is the right one for the child that is the main thing:)

Rolo, I wish I were confident that we will get first choice, I think its going to be iffy! You are right about Mr Mulvenna's speech. I also spoke to him several times before and after scores came out and I can say without reservation that he was the nicest and most down to earth person associated with a school that I have ever spoken to. The majority of my son's school have put Carrick grammar down as first choice and I feel a lot of that is to do with Mr Mulvenna. He is a real asset to the school. I agree re Larne open night. Didn't think principle's speech was overly inspiring or exciting and our tour guide kept shouting at us to hurry up!! Wouldn't it be awful if the principles of schools were reading this thread. If you are, all your schools are wonderful I'm sure and we have to go on the 'feel' we get from the school on open night. How reflective this is of the actual day to day goings on of the school remains to be seen!