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

Shaz3_2

Plum
Yes they did take second choice.

Pmum

Thanks Shaz3.

Just saw your answer after I'd posted the question.

BallyclareMum4

Shaz3 wrote: »

BallyclareMum4

Two of my DD friends had the secondary school in ur area as a second choice and both got in with scores in low nineties and high eighties, I think it's very unfair of the school to state first choice.

He would have got into secondary without AQE, which was my original thought, but he wanted to do test and when he did well I felt I owed it to him to apply to grammar. But we were told there was no way he'd get into secondary (and thus no travel) as second choice and that there was no point putting it on form at all! Asked school and they confirmed this was the case - didn't want to take a chance that they would be over subscribed again.

Hope your daughter is happy with her school. We are happy with school just not the travel :-)

Shaz3_2

BallyclareMum4

Thks yes my DD got into Belfast High her 1st choice so she's very happy I understand what u mean and I would have done the same, just think it's unfair for the sec to ask for 1st choice another of my friends DD got high ninties but she was unsure whether to put the high as 1st and sec as second and then her having to travel out of Ballyclare for sec school, so she put sec as 1st and has since heard others with the same Mark as her DD got into high

molly68

Surely the placement element of this process should be much more black and white? (Yes, I am ready for the ridicule and accusations of naivity!)

Ballyclaremum4
I can see this is catch 22 situation and if I was in your shoes i would probably feel the same way. I thought from our previous discussions back in Febuary when our children had obtained borderline scores that you had been to the meeting in Ballyclare High when they explained the criteria. I thought the meeting made it clear that they had a 5% pool for the final 8 places. It would seem from a what a teacher has told me that scores between 94 and 96 made it into that pool. It is unfortunate that the criteria will benefit some and not others..and it is envitable that this will leave some families disapointed. Maybe parents should all ensure they are fully aware of their chosen schools criteria to avoid any future disapointments.

BallyclareMum4

molly68 wrote: »

Surely the placement element of this process should be much more black and white? (Yes, I am ready for the ridicule and accusations of naivity!)

Ballyclaremum4
I can see this is catch 22 situation and if I was in your shoes i would probably feel the same way. I thought from our previous discussions back in Febuary when our children had obtained borderline scores that you had been to the meeting in Ballyclare High when they explained the criteria. I thought the meeting made it clear that they had a 5% pool for the final 8 places. It would seem from a what a teacher has told me that scores between 94 and 96 made it into that pool. It is unfortunate that the criteria will benefit some and not others..and it is envitable that this will leave some families disapointed. Maybe parents should all ensure they are fully aware of their chosen schools criteria to avoid any future disapointments.

Yes, was at meeting and fully understand the process and criteria. Not bothered about not getting into high school, just think it's a shame he has to travel. More annoyed that I was advised by primary school etc not to put secondary on form.

My ds is delighted with school and has no idea if it was first, second, third or tenth preference bacause we didn't tell him the order we stated. As far as he is concerned he's going to a school he wants to go to.

flymetothemoon_2

Ballyclaremum
The amount of travel time for your DS is indeed unfortunate when you are living so close to the schools in Ballyclare - personally, I think something needs to change with this system so as to avoid all this travel chaos for local kids who are worthy of a grammar place. Am I right in thinking your DS scored 98 and that was not enough? If so, what was the cut-off before Ballyclare High went to their final 5% of places? I must say, I'm not sure I particularly agree with this 'pool' system which is operated by a few schools because it ends up knocking out kids with a higher score who didn't have a sibling already at the school or weren't the eldest child etc.
I remember at BRA's open night last year, the Principal emphasised that they stick to rank order of scores and do not operate any kind of pool. I think this is probably more fair.

molly68

The pool for Ballyclare High was between 94 and 96%. I think a lot of the problem is allocating individual scores instead of grades. It means now parents can point at other scores and feel cheated about their own child. Not a healthy situation for parents or children. The entire AQE is a mess and I am very happy I don't have to go through this situation again. When I sat my transfer they scraped the 11+ and did a PQRS system for a couple of years...result was total carnage. I didnt get into Ballyclare High despite getting a P grade and having a sibling at the school. (they had criteria even then). 20 something years on and the system is no better. Anyway I'm signing off from this forum because it seems to be making me feel negative about my childs achievement and I don't want to feel the need to justify myself anymore. all our kids will be just fine.

flymetothemoon_2

Hey molly68
SNAP - I also did the 11+ under the P,Q,R,S system - it was very harsh that u didn't get into BHS with a P. I agree that allocating individual scores creates no end of problems and comparisons and chat between the kids themselves - not at all healthy. Your lucky u won't have to tread your way through this mess again, I'll be facing it again in a few years. However, I thought long and hard about the 'pools' being used by some schools last year versus the schools that weren't using any 'pools' and I came to the conclusion that I think it would be fairer to all, if no pools are used and all schools select by straight forward rank order. This would also be easier for parents rather than having to consider different sets of criteria for schools that use 'pools' and those that don't. I also wondered why BHS reduced their pool size from 10% in the 1st yr of AQE down to 5% - don't you think this was telling?

BallyclareMum4

molly68 wrote: »

The pool for Ballyclare High was between 94 and 96%. I think a lot of the problem is allocating individual scores instead of grades. It means now parents can point at other scores and feel cheated about their own child. Not a healthy situation for parents or children. The entire AQE is a mess and I am very happy I don't have to go through this situation again. When I sat my transfer they scraped the 11+ and did a PQRS system for a couple of years...result was total carnage. I didnt get into Ballyclare High despite getting a P grade and having a sibling at the school. (they had criteria even then). 20 something years on and the system is no better. Anyway I'm signing off from this forum because it seems to be making me feel negative about my childs achievement and I don't want to feel the need to justify myself anymore. all our kids will be just fine.

Oh my goodness, did I make you feel this way? It certainly wasn't my intention! Your child did really well - i'm just whinging about travel! My child
did really well too, i'm not detracting from anyone's achievement and i sincerely apologise if that is how it came across.