AQE Exam Results

sniffy_2

kingston_2730 wrote: »

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!!

Roughly, but it depends on the traffic along the Antrim Road. I would be quite happy for him to get the 7.50 bus but all the other children get the early bus. I would like him to travel with some company on the bus. I am sure there will be mornings that he not be up in time for the early bus. I am glad you are much happier about your child's choice and it was even better that he made the decision to change.

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:)

On a funnier note, another thing about Larne Grammar is that their blazers are polyester and not wool like the others...ick!!!!! :rotfl:I work in the community and the last while I have found myself looking at school children passing by to see what their uniforms are like. I even stopped into Gordon's in Carrick to check out the different uniforms...hope this makes some of you laugh...yes I am very sad, but harmless really!!! :rotfl:

kingston_2730

sniffy wrote: »

Roughly, but it depends on the traffic along the Antrim Road. I would be quite happy for him to get the 7.50 bus but all the other children get the early bus. I would like him to travel with some company on the bus. I am sure there will be mornings that he not be up in time for the early bus. I am glad you are much happier about your child's choice and it was even better that he made the decision to change.

Thanks sniffy, actually it will give your son a good opportunity to get to know the other kids and they will probably enjoy that time in the morning to mess about with each other.

wdyw

kingston_2730 wrote: »

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.

Strangely enough, when I'm involved with open days the first thing I tell propspective students that they should never base your decision on what they see or hear from staff alone. You are only going to be shown the impressive aspects of the institution and the talks will all be postive as effectively the people giving them are the equivalent of car salesmen on the night - if you have the gift of the gab you can sell a car, or in our "trade" make a parent/guardian.son/daughter put you down as first choice.

Always take the laid on activities as a guide but if possible talk to the students who are currently there. They will tell you the true story. Whether its student tour guides (they will only use ones they "trust" - which isn't a proble if its a top notch institution), or someone who lives down the road, or a friend of a friend ...whatever!

kingston_2730

wdyw wrote: »

Strangely enough, when I'm involved with open days the first thing I tell propspective students that they should never base your decision on what they see or hear from staff alone. You are only going to be shown the impressive aspects of the institution and the talks will all be postive as effectively the people giving them are the equivalent of car salesmen on the night - if you have the gift of the gab you can sell a car, or in our "trade" make a parent/guardian.son/daughter put you down as first choice.

Always take the laid on activities as a guide but if possible talk to the students who are currently there. They will tell you the true story. Whether its student tour guides (they will only use ones they "trust" - which isn't a proble if its a top notch institution), or someone who lives down the road, or a friend of a friend ...whatever!

OMG :eek: are you a principle??

Bonno_2

kingston_2730 wrote: »

OMG :eek: are you a principle??

:rotfl:Kingston2730, you are so funny!!!!:rotfl: (just had to tell you that, I still can't stop laughing !!!!!!!!!!!!! :laugh:)

kingston_2730

Bonno wrote: »

:rotfl:Kingston2730, you are so funny!!!!:rotfl: (just had to tell you that, I still can't stop laughing !!!!!!!!!!!!! :laugh:)

Well I was a bit of a class clown in school and my son is following in my footsteps (dear help him)!! I do do some silly things sometimes (on a daily basis if I'm being honest), its just me!! I do seriously hope though that if Wdyw is a principle (and he certainly sounds like he is) that he's not Larne Grammars principle otherwise my son's chances of going there as his 4th choice may be seriously reduced :rotfl:

Tarquin_GL

Still no news on the GL Assessment specification. All this chatter about age standardised scores and the formula for working it out ignore the rather obvious fact that the GL assessment tests were taken on the same day (the pupil remains the same age on that day) versus the AQE tests which were taken over three days weeks apart (necessitating a sophisticated algorithm) Perhaps all those having a dig at the AQE test will explain (a) why they did not point out this rather obvious fact and (b) what their handy dandy formula for working it out might look like. Do you think that the GL Assessment decision to offer the two tests on the same day might have had something to do with the convenience of reading off age-standardised scores from a table? Just a thought folks.
This one test that the resident gurus talk about must be wonderful. I wonder if it will be anything like the Minister's test based upon the revised curriculum which she shelved last year after spending £185,0000 on it. Perhaps GL Assessment were involved in that exercise too.
As to the "FREE" GL tests. Any idea who paid GL Assessment? I would really like to thank such a generous benefactor, you know - shake their hand, get my photo taken with them, nominate them for a professorship at QUB School of Education. Hey - when there is just one test that will be twice the bill- twice the influence of those kind PPC people. I love Trojans bearing gifts.
As to the transport arrangements to Larne, Belfast High, Carrick or BRA I suggest that you apply to an Irish medium or integrated grammar and everyone can get a taxi

rolo1_2

Tarquin_GL wrote: »

Still no news on the GL Assessment specification. All this chatter about age standardised scores and the formula for working it out ignore the rather obvious fact that the GL assessment tests were taken on the same day (the pupil remains the same age on that day) versus the AQE tests which were taken over three days weeks apart (necessitating a sophisticated algorithm) Perhaps all those having a dig at the AQE test will explain (a) why they did not point out this rather obvious fact and (b) what their handy dandy formula for working it out might look like. Do you think that the GL Assessment decision to offer the two tests on the same day might have had something to do with the convenience of reading off age-standardised scores from a table? Just a thought folks.
This one test that the resident gurus talk about must be wonderful. I wonder if it will be anything like the Minister's test based upon the revised curriculum which she shelved last year after spending £185,0000 on it. Perhaps GL Assessment were involved in that exercise too.
As to the "FREE" GL tests. Any idea who paid GL Assessment? I would really like to thank such a generous benefactor, you know - shake their hand, get my photo taken with them, nominate them for a professorship at QUB School of Education. Hey - when there is just one test that will be twice the bill- twice the influence of those kind PPC people. I love Trojans bearing gifts.
As to the transport arrangements to Larne, Belfast High, Carrick or BRA I suggest that you apply to an Irish medium or integrated grammar and everyone can get a taxi

Never mind that. I'm more interested in the quality of the Larne Grammar blazer:rotfl:

Golden_Anemone

I thought something about you sounded familiar Tarquin GL. Yet another political, lecturing, point scoring post! Someone commented on an piece on Slugger recently making all the same points only [STRIKE]you[/STRIKE] they call [STRIKE]yourself[/STRIKE] themselves Pace Parent on there.

You are PaceNI back with a new User name, aren't you? You can tell us!