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

molly68

My dd got a place in his 1st choice school Ballyclare High. We are all absolutely delighted and a little shocked as his score was 94 and all the indicators where pointing to higher boundaries this year. I hope everyone has the news they wanted and thanks to all in this forum for the info and support!!

KATHYBEAR

Strathearn did not take any score under 100! thats up on last year! headmaster has put it up on website as usual!

confused_mummy_3

Delighted for you Molly :T still waiting on postman coming the wait is agonizing.

confused_mummy_3

What was Strathearn lowest in previous year Kathybear??

KATHYBEAR

think it was 94 from memory!

confused_mummy_3

wow big jump!! I have been expecting that

caz100

Well my daughter missed out her first place by one mark she got 246 cut off 247 compared to last years 242! Very upset little girl today

caz100

Thanks to everyone for all their support over past 7 months

Ex-Spendaholic

caz100 thats a pity. I would ring the school and tell them you are still interested in a place. Someone may drop out at some point. This happened in the first year where a child took a place in Grosvenor when they really wanted Methody. A place came up in Methody and they got it. Worth a try.

Good luck to everyone for today.

cck_3

What about this for a conspiracy theory?
Grammar schools have been recently taking flak for accepting "low" marks in the AQE tests, making them seem more like an "all ability" school..
What do they do? well if they make the test really easy, then the vast majority of puplis will be bunched together around the average?
My understanding (can't remember where i read it ) is that a very large percentage of pupils were bunched around the 98-102 mark.

This would have the affect of increasing the cutoffs points it would also mean other criteria would be increasingly used to separate out puplis all on the same mark?

What i expect is to see a general increase accross the board of about 3-4 marks, and quite a few disappointed parents who were using last years cutoff as a guide.
I could also be totally wrong .
Fingers crossed for everyone!!!!!!!!!