Support thread for parents of chilldren sitting the transfer test in 2011

Mollykins

My dd got 104. She has her heart set on Methody where ds goes. Methody consider scores in sets of 5 so 99-104 are all considered together and the cut off was in that set 2 years ago and the 95-99 set last year. We filled in her form at school this morning. Have a very strong chance according to head. Seems a long wait though. Second choice of Victoria no disaster and they will definitely take her if Methody don't. I'm exhausted!

runninggal

We had our meeting yesterday and had to bring Ds for the first 10 minutes. The Head congratulated him, told him he did great etc and asked him what his first choice was. Then he went back to class and I was able to have a chat

Pmum

Mollykins,

It is exhausting isn't it.

I'm sure your dd will be joining her brother.

Even if the band that gets to the tie breakers is 100-104 she will be well up the list with a brother at the school.

BallyclareMum4

Anyone got a coin I could flip. Seems my only option is an arbitrary decision!
Good luck to all in the magical mystery tour to secondary level education and the sincerest best wishes to all your children - may they be happy, content and well educated x

Pmum

BallyclareMum,

I take it you didn't get much comfort from last night's meeting?

What did they say?

Mollykins

Ballyclare mum - that is rubbish and not fair of ballyclare secondary IMO. Other schools don't seem to do this with first preference as considering falling birth rate it seems rare for non selective schools to be so over subscribed. Presumably poor planning by NEELB.
I phoned aqe office. 6700 did test - about same as last year but less than 2 years ago. But there are 400 fewer p7s than last year so likely schools will not be more strict than last year. Most kids got in 90s or low 100s and that should be considered as grammar school level. Highest score was lower this year as more kids of similar ability than in past. Sounds hopeful on the whole for those of us in 90s/low 100s.

Pmum

I suppose each school will do what they can to fill their places. It does put the pupils in that area in a very difficult position.

It used to happen a lot in the old transfer system until the DENI (or someone) put an end to schools using where they appeared on the form as a criteria. It really is a shame to have it that way again.

I think last year Lagan College were "advising" parents to put them first on the form to ensure a place but I'm not sure what effect it had other than to frighten parents.

beccasmum

Hi all, Is the fact that too many kids scored the same mark the reason why there were no quintiles issued this year? If this is the case then surely schools will have to look at their other criteria more than ever this year as there could be numerous kids with the same mark competing for last few places. :eek:

Pmum

I think they just didn't like the fact that some people were trying to equate the quintiles with the old grades and it was causing confusion. Either that or they didn't want us being able to analyse the results too much.

Chose an answer depending on how cynical you are feeling today.

There are still quintiles, they just haven't sent the boundaries to parents.

Ex-Spendaholic

BallyclareMum, if I was in your position, I would apply for Ballyclare Grammar (or High or whatever it is called) and then list the other grammars within travelling distance and see what happens. You have Carrick Grammar, Larne Grammar, Belfast High, BRA, Antrim Grammar and probably others which are probably reachable at a push.

No way would I put my child in the position that I had chosen Ballyclare Secondary first (due to their methods) and they got placed there whilst kids in their peer group with less marks ended up in grammars. At the end of the day we put our kids in for the AQE tests as we want them to have a Grammar education.

Just my opinion.