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

Ex-Spendaholic

Nodisguise, do you happen to know the cut off for Methody? Well done to your daughter by the way.

I know of a 110 who got into Friends.

NoDisguise

Ex-Spendaholic wrote: »

Nodisguise, do you happen to know the cut off for Methody? Well done to your daughter by the way.

I know of a 110 who got into Friends.

I don't know the Methody cut off at the moment -- DD got 108 (which wouldn't have got her into 3rd choice Friends). Her friends were all in the low to mid 90s. I think Methody's cut off last year was 97?

Bad_Hair_Day

Anyone out there know the admission cut off for Belfast High School?
DD of a family friend did not manage to gain admission and she is unwilling (too upset) to make the call.
As it was not my DD I have no business ringing the school on her behalf.
Any ideas as it could influence joining a waiting list?

MeAndMrsJones

24 hours later and my ds is still upset so much so the principle and his teacher both mentioned it today...i dunno what to do now

Pmum

Do you know what it is that is upsetting him in particular?

Is it because all his friends are headed to G and he will be separated from them? Does he know anyone from his PS that is headed to W too?

Could you find any older kids he knows who are at W who could help sell the idea to him? Maybe someone he looks up to at some organisation or other? Maybe look through their web site to find some activity they have which he might really enjoy?

When are they having their "Orientation" thing? He might feel better after that.

I know he is upset just now but he will not be the only disappointed child around and he is not the first to feel that way. He will settle. Unfortunately we can not protect our kids from disappointment no matter how much it hurts.

I really hope this doesn't sound condenscending because it is not meant that way in the slightest. Just trying to think of any positive steps you can take. You have to be the positive influence here no matter how disappointed you are feeling too. He has got a place at a very good school and I suspect a lot of kids would swap places with him today.

Charliedevil

I cannot imagine how all of those who didn't achieve their first preference are feeling! We do our best for our children, give them every thing they need and want! This one very important thing is the one thing we cannot give them! All I can say to you is that kids bounce back pretty quick and maybe in a few months time they will be happy with their school! By the sounds of it they all got into good schools anyway. My outlook on life is always be thankful for what you have and make the best of it! I know some people who have ended up in secondary schools having been rejected by 2 or 3 grammars with good scores!

Perhaps a visit to the uniform store for a scarf or tie will cheer the kids up!

Mollykins

I'm one of the lucky ones. Dd with 104 got into Methody. So did one of her friends. Been a tough time. I'm exhausted with it all. Never mind how it's affected the kids.
No disguise my ds is in 3rd year and they were really good at putting kids in classes to some extent by geography or those who were the only ones from their primary. Also there were lots of events to help them get to know each other.
See you on 18th

NoDisguise

Mollykins wrote: »

I'm one of the lucky ones. Dd with 104 got into Methody. So did one of her friends. Been a tough time. I'm exhausted with it all. Never mind how it's affected the kids.
No disguise my ds is in 3rd year and they were really good at putting kids in classes to some extent by geography or those who were the only ones from their primary. Also there were lots of events to help them get to know each other.
See you on 18th

Thanks muchly for the reassurances Mollykins

DD has had her heart set on Methody since open night last year (we took her when she was still in P6), worked incredibly hard for a great result and counted down the days till 29th May. Now it's suddenly a big reality -- from a confident P7 in a country primary to a small fish in a huge pond, with her friends heading to Victoria and Hunter House -- it's daunting.
Fingers crossed the 18th will go well -- that will be half the battle.

Mollykins

As your dd put friends down I'm guessing you live in that vicinity. We're not far from Bangor but pm me if you want me to try to find you on 18th.

travellinglight_2

Third_Time_Mum wrote: »

Travellinglight, I'm so sorry your child got so close to getting into Grosvenor and then missed out on random selection, especially because of the circumstances he had to endure during the tests. The B of G in schools is supposed to look first at whether there are grounds for special circumstances, which there clearly were in your case, and then at academic evidence that the child underperformed. They now seem to focus particularly on the results of the standardised tests (NFER) in P5 and P6, presumably because the transfer test results are also standardised. Did your child do better in the NFER tests than those who scored higher in AQE/GL? If so you might have good grounds for appeal.

I don't have this info about other children and doubt I can get it... but I know my child was not functioning at his best due to circumstnces and wonder how this can be irrelevant? Awaiting appeals info from Board...