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

PortableNuke

BallyclareMum4 wrote: »

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

BallyclareMum, I can appreciate how you feel. Our DS sat the tests this year and we were concerned that he might get a borderline score and therefore be left with the choice that you face now. Fortunately he scored well and should (fingers crossed) be well placed for a position at the High, however our approach to applications was going to be that if he did score in the "grey area" we'd simply list the Secondary as our first choice as:

1) It's a reasonable school
2) He would likely do well there as he scored in the borderline area

That way he was guaranteed to be going to a school that was close to home. I does seem unfair though that the Secondary gives priority to people who list it as their first choice, especially as it tends to be oversubscribed - I can only presume that they do it the avoid being seen as the school which takes all the children turned away from the High, which was the perception back when I did my 11+.

It would have helped a lot if the application procedure was more like applying to university, in that each school would consider your application in isolation and then make you an offer of a place (or not). That way you could happily apply to several schools and wait to see which ones replied with an offer. Then you could decide which to go for and decline the others. It would however be a logistical nightmare, especially as the ELBs seem to move at a snails pace.

Whatever choice you end up making, I hope your son enjoys the school he attends and does well in his chosen subject, which is really all we can ever hope for.

flymetothemoon_2

BallyclareMum4 wrote: »

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

BallyclareMum4

I wish someone could wave a wand over Ballyclare to solve this problem for all parents looking to the High but wanting the Secondary if their child doesn't make it into the High School - it really is very unfortunate.

Did you get to the High School last night?
Did you elicit any useful info on this yrs performance?
Any suggestions by them as to how low they may go?

Thinking of you

Mollykins

It seems to me the answer is in grammar is priority or local is priority

I got a 30 minute bus to school and loved it. Was all part of the experience and great chance to flirt with older boys. My son travels to his school a similar length of time by train. There is an expense attached and it's a pain that his friends are from all over NI practically and he's lost touch with some of his primary school friends. But he's much more independent than some of his peers for whom post primary school has been more of the same in terms of school run distances.

Weigh it up for you I guess. It's different for every family.

BallyclareMum4

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

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.

Opinion greatly appreciated, many, many thanks :-)

BallyclareMum4

Pmum wrote: »

BallyclareMum,

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

What did they say?

Basically, they said anyone over 100 was probably safe, high 90's may have a chance, but really it is anyone's guess. Made no predictions, but suggested we should definitely seek grammar school place somewhere!

Comfort? No, definitely none of that.

BallyclareMum4

Mollykins wrote: »

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.

Thanks, very helpful. Fingers crossed for us all. Going to make a decision, speak to primary principal and then not think about it anymore! What will be - will be!

BallyclareMum4

PortableNuke wrote: »

BallyclareMum, I can appreciate how you feel. Our DS sat the tests this year and we were concerned that he might get a borderline score and therefore be left with the choice that you face now. Fortunately he scored well and should (fingers crossed) be well placed for a position at the High, however our approach to applications was going to be that if he did score in the "grey area" we'd simply list the Secondary as our first choice as:

1) It's a reasonable school
2) He would likely do well there as he scored in the borderline area

That way he was guaranteed to be going to a school that was close to home. I does seem unfair though that the Secondary gives priority to people who list it as their first choice, especially as it tends to be oversubscribed - I can only presume that they do it the avoid being seen as the school which takes all the children turned away from the High, which was the perception back when I did my 11+.

It would have helped a lot if the application procedure was more like applying to university, in that each school would consider your application in isolation and then make you an offer of a place (or not). That way you could happily apply to several schools and wait to see which ones replied with an offer. Then you could decide which to go for and decline the others. It would however be a logistical nightmare, especially as the ELBs seem to move at a snails pace.

Whatever choice you end up making, I hope your son enjoys the school he attends and does well in his chosen subject, which is really all we can ever hope for.

Thanks and well done to your son :-)

flymetothemoon_2

caz100 wrote: »

Hi I was wondering if you could give the lowest marks accepted by lumen christi Derry the past two years? Thankyou
Flymetothemoon

You may have opened the flood gates :L I'd appreciate it if you could tell me score for past two years for wallace and banbridge academy

Thanks in advance x

[/QUOTE]

Caz100

Lumen's intake in

2010 - 120 pupils admitted all had A grades - lowest score accepted 240

2011 - 189 applications - admitted 120 - all had A grades - lowest score accepted 242

BallyclareMum4

flymetothemoon wrote: »

BallyclareMum4

I wish someone could wave a wand over Ballyclare to solve this problem for all parents looking to the High but wanting the Secondary if their child

doesn't make it into the High School - it really is very unfortunate.

Did you get to the High School last night?
Did you elicit any useful info on this yrs performance?
Any suggestions by them as to how low they may go?

Thinking of you

Over 100 pretty safe.
High90's maybe.
Anyone's guess.
No predictions.

RikM

PortableNuke wrote: »

It would have helped a lot if the application procedure was more like applying to university, in that each school would consider your application in isolation and then make you an offer of a place (or not). That way you could happily apply to several schools and wait to see which ones replied with an offer.

Things must have changed since I was applying to uni... But then that was <oh my god> years ago...
I can remember having to list up to 5 places, taking into account that some wouldn't even interview you if you didn't put them first, and others would require you to sit an entry test... I can recall with relief seeing that Sussex explicitly stated that they didn't care where on the list you put them - "put us last", they suggested.

Hopefully the transfer test will change (for the better) before child number 2 has to take it. Luckily, plenty of time for that...