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

Third_Time_Mum

Quote:
Originally Posted by travellinglight
so sorry to hear about the awful experience your son had. Is this correct that the school who accepts the child send a letter to the primary school who then give or post it to their pupils? I thought the Education board wrote and the school sent a welcome letter which came on the same day... so if u see the schools postmark, you know what the other letter will be saying????? Or is this "old school"???

I echo the sentiments of the other parents on this thread - I am utterly appalled at the way this information was communicated to AnnoyedMum's son when no-one was expecting it. Surely the letters are addressed to the parents and not to the children, which makes it even more shocking that the letter was just handed to the child by the teacher who said it was a letter for him. I agree with Travellinglight, it would be good to have some clarification as to where the letters come from - is it now common practice for them to go to the primary schools first? Even if this is the case, it does seem completely out of order that the post-primary school issued the letter before the process is completed. In the BELB transfer booklet it states: "Wednesday, 9 May 2012 Last date for parent/guardian to communicate FSME to Transfer Department within ELB.
Last date for receipt, by ELB’s, of new applications/additional preferences, additional information or changes in exceptional circumstances. Any preferences received after this date will not be processed.
Monday, 28 May 2012 Issue of letter advising parent/guardian of the post-primary school their child has been accepted to. If placement letter is not received on Tuesday 29 May, transfer staff will be available after 2.00pm to confirm placement."

So it seems there could still be some movement on allocation of places during May - what on earth is this school doing sending out letters a full month before we were told to expect to receive them? I wonder if any other post primary schools have already sent out letters and they are just going to be sitting in the primary schools for the next month. If the post-primary school in question is the only one to have done this, surely the ELB should be taking steps to bring it into line with the policy of other schools in the board?

I can however sympathise with Annoyedmum's dilemma and reluctance to rock the boat if she feels it might impact on her son. We are all very conscious of the stress our children have been under, particularly those of us who are enduring the long wait from February to May and I can understand why she would not want to add any more stress to the horrifying experience her child has just been through, which is totally unacceptable. Perhaps the Appeals process is the way forward, although this will mean an even longer wait. Having said that, I really don't like this attempt by the primary school to cover up the incident, nor am I impressed by the ELB's lukewarm response. The Department of Education really needs to take responsibility for this shambles of a system so I think it would be worthwhile for Annoyedmum to speak to her MLA.

confused_mummy_3

10 days left and I think we are more nervous now than when we were waiting on results or test days. Good luck to everyone and I hope your kids are happy wherever they end up.

travellinglight_2

nervous for my son now.

Charliedevil

So heard today that our local secondary has filled its quota this year! First time in a few years! Also turning a few away! Could this mean the local grammars intake scores have risen? Or a move away from the integrated? Really panicking now! So close to d day!

travellinglight_2

which school Charliedevil ?

Charliedevil

Girls model Belfast! Hazel wood integrated has been popular the last few years for kids in our area! However only 5 out my daughters class have applied for the intergrated, the other 17 are going to boys and girls model. My daughter is the only child applying for a grammar school place! Being the only one left in limbo has been extremely hard for her! She took sorosis before the tests last year, and it flared up again around the results time and now it has come back with a vengeance waiting on this letter! Mayber I should have applied for sc! But at the time it seemed too insignificant! Now knowing the silly reasons others have applied sc for I'm kicking myself!

caz100

Charliedevil are u sure the letters come out in monday and not Saturday?

Charliedevil

The letters are being posted on Monday, we will recieve them on Tuesday! I called belb myself. It is also in the front of the big booklet that all the schools admissions criteria is in! Every one is that used to it being a saturday! The nursery and primary acceptance letters came out mid week this year too!

Charliedevil

All education and library boards stick to the same date!

caz100

Thanks charliedevil, hardly seems fair to make the kids sit through a day of school before they find out but guess that's the way it's gonna have to be just!