Transfer Test AQE 2015-2016 *NEW THREAD*

Rox12

Thanks v.much Bobs, you've all been great so far! It seems like it'll be a long road ahead for is on the start of our journey!

BOBS

Rox12 wrote: »

Thanks v.much Bobs, you've all been great so far! It seems like it'll be a long road ahead for is on the start of our journey!

seems like a long road while you are in the middle of it but looking back it really has flown in

Rox12

P.s....I might sound really silly but I'm all new to this....where do I find new thread?x

BOBS

Rox12 wrote: »

P.s....I might sound really silly but I'm all new to this....where do I find new thread?x

at the right hand side of this page you will see forum jump - press on the Northern Ireland forum and you will see all the threads relating to Northern Ireland - its how the site breaks everything down into sections

this is also the link https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5413535

Edit - Also if you are new - some abbreviations - people use LO for little one, DS darling son, DD darling daughter - there are others probably but feel free to ask away - we all started somewhere

neveranymoney

Oh flip, I've just realised I was one of the original, first ever AQE threads on here, feels like a lifetime ago!
ROX12, I will just be going at the schools pace and doing the odd paper, probably starting after Easter.

JedBo

Hi just wanted to give my take on tutoring. I have two elder children whom I got tutored through the 11+,both did well and went to chosen Grammar and again did exceedingly well academically there, my DS has just done the AQE, I got her tutored as well as doing tutoring myself and she has done well and will go to her chosen school. Practically all the kids in her class had tutors and whilst most did well others did not and will not get their chosen school. The kids who did not do well were the ones predicted not to do well - so no amount of tutoring was going to get them through. The AQE covers specific topics in KS2, if your child has the ability they will be fine, tutoring only fine tunes what is already there and will not get them through the AQE if they do not have the ability, that is my experience, but if you believe your child is able and will grow and mature in Grammar then tutor them, they will not fall at the first hurdle in year 8

RikM

Funnily enough I raised a related question with my wife (not being a local, myself), about why people were doing all this tutoring, when surely the point of the test is to identify the kids who are fitted to that type of school (academic track).
She tells me there's a kind of pejuduce in play - that there's some sort of status gain involved in going to a grammar school (regardless of whether it's any good).
Kind of weird. But then there weren't any grammars around where I grew up, only state secondary and (poor) fee-paying schools.

My eldest has ended up in a grammar, but the decision was based on the quality of the head teacher, and the way the school presented itself at open evenings. Second choice wss a secondary, on the same criteria, ahead of other grammar schools.

flymetothemoon_2

RikM wrote: »

Funnily enough I raised a related question with my wife (not being a local, myself), about why people were doing all this tutoring, when surely the point of the test is to identify the kids who are fitted to that type of school (academic track).
She tells me there's a kind of pejuduce in play - that there's some sort of status gain involved in going to a grammar school (regardless of whether it's any good).
Kind of weird. But then there weren't any grammars around where I grew up, only state secondary and (poor) fee-paying schools.

RikM
No prejudice or status in this as far as I am concerned. For me, and many others, it's purely about getting your child into what you believe to be the best school for them, based on their ability, and within a reasonable distance from your home. A school that will offer them lots of opportunities and enable them to achieve their full potential. In my locality, the choice was quite stark ie: one of the excellent grammars or 1 of the 2 poorly performing secondary schools. With both our kids being very capable and studious, it was a 'no brainer' for us.

Grammar principals will tell you that the equivalent education in England is currently costing families upwards of £6000 per year so NI is extremely fortunate to have retained its grammars and I believe a lot of parents in NI know that and that is why they are so highly valued. The great and the good continue to lament the destruction of the grammar system in England - it really was a monumental mistake.

If I had had a good secondary near home, the grammars would not have held the same attraction but in the absence of even a half decent secondary, thank heavens we had the option of grammars which are accessible by completion of a test rather than £6000 per year.

Cherryscone

Same here if I had thought that we had a great High School my Child would never have did the AQE ....anyhow how are we all getting on ?

Flashfriend

Having went to a secondary school myself I really do think there is a status thing about grammars school. Unfortunately I think grammar school kids are made to believe they are a cut above and as a result end up oozing in confidence. This is my own experience anyway.