Good luck - 11 transfer Northern Ireland

facingthefuture · 31 January 2011 at 12:26PM

Good luck to all those whose dd and ds are waiting for their results from the transfer tests on Saturday.
Whatever happens, I hope they all get in to decent schools. What did you think of the open days? Are you calm?
I'm not!!!!:eek:

happymummy24-7 · 31 January 2011 at 1:41PM

thanks :beer: our family appreciate your thoughts

Im as nervous as anything more so because once we get the envelope and dd opens it....the score inside it will mean very little to us until the actual school acceptance letter arrives in may-perhaps im the only one that feels like that but i really cant get my head round what the score will mean on saturday!
Anyway we are planning a fun family day out so no matter what the number on the page.....we will have a good day

I was shocked at how our open nights went-the lovely expensive grammar school that is 1st choice was left in the dust of the secondary school down the road in the country as the atmosphere and friendliness of the pupils and staff was just outstanding,i thought,and heard others say the same! my dd felt the same and in fact toyed with the idea of putting it as 1st choice (after all the exam stress lol perhaps we should have open days for p6 before they decide to actually sit the exam!!) the grammar was very un-welcoming cold and clinical and the pupils and staff were like snobby robots to be quite honnest and had absolutly no rapport with one another!!!
Good luck to all involved,my thoughts are most definatly with all the families this weekend x

Freefromdebt_2 · 31 January 2011 at 10:36PM

facingthefuture wrote: »

Good luck to all those whose dd and ds are waiting for their results from the transfer tests on Saturday.
Whatever happens, I hope they all get in to decent schools. What did you think of the open days? Are you calm?
I'm not!!!!:eek:

I know how you are feeling. I'm not likely to get much sleep this week. Have decided will ring post office in Friday and get them to hold our post over on Saturday so I can collect it - saves waiting around all day for postman. And have bitten my nails to nothing.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE FOR SATURDAY:A

steveymp · 1 February 2011 at 11:59AM

Good luck to all indeed:T

The open nights where a good eye opener indeed, and like happymummy I was more impressed with our local integrated non grammar school than the grammar itself. They made you feel more relaxed and welcome, oh and they had more Oxbridge offers for their 6th form than another local Grammar, which is supposed to be the "Best school in Northern Ireland"

Provides me with somewhat of a problem if DS scores a borderline score:o

Ah well good luck all, a wee celebration is planned for Saturday regardless of the score in the letter:T

facingthefuture · 1 February 2011 at 2:08PM

Stevemp, with you there - will be out celebrating regardless on Saturday.
Its funny out of the two grammar schools we went to, they differed so much. At the first (who has no problem getting the numbers, grade required A-C)) the children led a chaotic and very basic presentation of the classrooms, the teachers studiously ignored the prospective parents. The second, not from our natural tradition but who really need numbers to stay in existence was the opposite (grade required A-D). The teachers were attentive, informative and friendly with children who were well mannered and vocal in a good way about what they studied. We were able to see text books and examples of work.TBH I think we will go for the latter, we are not 'religious' anyway plus I want my children to regard everyone with respect, regardless of colour, creed etc. There is a third school which features very high in the Times list which we may consider (if he gets the stratospheric grade - high A's only), but after our older lad went there - they tend to be hothoused then far too many drop out at uni...I don't know. Personally, I love the school with the good manners - is that daft?

steveymp · 2 February 2011 at 11:47AM

Not daft at all, I was much more impressed with what could be described as the comprehensive school, and it is co-educational and integrated:T

I attended the Grammar school that DS is hoping to attend too, and it is very well integrated now also:T He totally had his heart set on this school but after the open days he was very impressed with the Integrated too:)

Last year all who wanted to go to he grammar from his primary school were accepted, and some were accepted with lower scores than you would think. If DS's score is not at the mark I think it should be I would think twice about sending him to a grammar to struggle:o

Only 3 more sleeps left:eek:

Rach39 · 2 February 2011 at 12:02PM

I know, I think the viewing only served to confuse me even more!! The Grammar DS wanted originally I wasn't that impressed with tbh I preferred the other Lisburn one just beside it but he wasn't interested in that one!! Then he went and threw something else in the mix by announcing that actually he preferred an entirely different school to either of those two!! One we hadn't even gone to the open day of!! Aghh can't wait till Saturday so at least we'll know what our options are!!

3 sleeps and counting (dreaming about it now how v sad!):eek:

Jersy · 3 February 2011 at 12:08AM

Rach39 wrote: »

I know, I think the viewing only served to confuse me even more!! The Grammar DS wanted originally I wasn't that impressed with tbh I preferred the other Lisburn one just beside it but he wasn't interested in that one!! Then he went and threw something else in the mix by announcing that actually he preferred an entirely different school to either of those two!! One we hadn't even gone to the open day of!! Aghh can't wait till Saturday so at least we'll know what our options are!!

3 sleeps and counting (dreaming about it now how v sad!):eek:

I went to one of the forementioned and my brother went to the other!

Rach39 · 3 February 2011 at 11:35AM

.... still dreaming about it, last night dreamt he got 107 in AQE and an A in his GL!!! Wots all that about???

steveymp · 3 February 2011 at 11:52AM

Rach39 wrote: »

.... still dreaming about it, last night dreamt he got 107 in AQE and an A in his GL!!! Wots all that about???

:T Both excellent scores. lets hope they come true for you:)

I really wish the AQE was graded like the GL:o On Saturday we will get a score and have no idea if it is high enough or good enough to get DS into required school.

Well unless the mail is delivered by a flying pig and he gets a 141:rotfl:

butterflymum · 3 February 2011 at 12:24PM

Talking of scores........went to print off the table that Belfast Telegraph so kindly produced last year (around October) showing which score ranges got into which schools.......and can't find it at the link now. Did anyone happen to keep a copy of same at the time?