Testing times for P7 pupils

There were two 11-plus replacement tests, the AQE (Association for Quality Education) test for non-denominational grammar schools and the other, GL (Granada Learning), offered by the Post Primary Transfer Consortium, which was mostly used by Catholic grammars. Some local P7 children sat both.

The AQE gave a standardised score obtained by the pupil, but left parents to work out the equivalent grade, with a table to help them.

The other - GL, used by Catholic schools, gave both a grade and a score, so that either can be used.

Most grammar schools will consider only the grade, but a quarter have decided instead to use the mark awarded when allocating places to pupils.

The next step is for parents was to bring the results to meetings with primary school principals and then choose a list of schools to which they want to apply for a place for their child.

One pupil who sat the tests was 11-year-old Caitlin Convery from Newtownabbey. Caitlin scored 103 points, which is the equivalent to a B1.

Her father, Columb Convery, said they did not have any problems doing transfer tests at that age, but that the uncertainty surrounding this year’s process had been very stressful.

“Previously they would have sat two exams in their own school during school hours,” he said. “But this year Caitlin had to sit exams in an unfamiliar school over three Saturday mornings.

“In previous years her 80 per cent grade would have given her an A. So we are now unsure what her B1 will mean to her first preference school.”

Principals of local schools have been kept busy since the test results came out, meeting with parents to discuss how best to proceed.

A group of 30 P7 pupils who attend St. Mary's on the Hill Primary were among those who underwent testing.

Principal Mr Patrick Kennedy said that the results of both tests for P7 pupils attending his school were “by and large what had been expected”.

“At this early stage I can only speak with some authority on the GL test when I say that the overall result is much as it has been over the years.

“The AQE result is more difficult to interpret, in that it is more difficult to say which mark corresponds to which grade, and so the parent or guardian would be best to phone the grammar school find out more.

“One thing that was rather awkward for us on Monday morning was that the school didn’t have the results at that stage, and it was difficult for the teacher to know how to approach pupils as they came into school after the weekend.”

The Principal of Earlview Primary said that “basically, the school was happy enough with the test results”.

“The results are as expected, as we would have predicted, so there is nothing really different in that sense,” said Mr Raymond Smyth.

At Ballynure Primary, Principal Elaine Doherty said that 9 children had taken the test. She had had some queries from parents about it and was still holding interviews with them.

“In the most part, the period after the test is much the same as it would have been post the 11 plus tests, and the pupils will know by the end of May what the next school they attend will be,” she said.

Principal of Glengormley Integrated, Mr Nigel Arnold, said he had found the management of the AQE tests very good in that he had a list of the results before pupils came in to school on Monday morning.

“This wasn’t the case with the GL,” said Mr Arnold.

“10 of the 20 P7 pupils at the school sat the tests and we have found that the results were a fair reflection of the childrens’ ability. It would be good in future years if there was just one test which had to be done which meets everyone’s needs.”

Meanwhile, if parents are unhappy with their child’s grade or mark, they can apply for a re-mark. The AQE will charge for that while GL Assessment will not. However, both organisations say their marking procedures are so robust, it is very unlikely that mistakes will be found and grades raised.