Calling all NI parents who are planning for AQE/GL

[FedUpWithBriiiiick]

The Department of Education Committee has published a survey for parents whose kids are intending to do post-primary transfer tests.

twitter.com/NIACfEd/status/1289173547198246912?s=20

[NancyNoNickers]

Bumping- thank you!

[FedUpWithBriiiiick]

Title reported for grammatical error 😳

[WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo]

@FedUpWithBriiiiick and @NancyNoNickers

Hello, I know this thread hasn't had a post on it for a while, but I wondered whether you fancy a mutual support thread for the all horror that is the AQE.

[WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo]

The grammatical errors are catching, I meant to say the all encompassing horror.

[AutumnSummersBuffysCousin]

@WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo my DS is in P6, and about to start with a tutor next week. Afraid of how things will go Covid wise so want to get as much into his brain from a real teacher while I can! Is your child doing it this year?

[Exasperatedcroc]

My DS is P7 and has worked really hard for Transfer. I was so annoyed for him and his friends when it was postponed. They just want to get it over and done with and to get on with the fun part of P7. I'm really afraid it will get cancelled in January and God knows what will happen then.

[WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo]

Yes, DD is in P7. What will happen if it’s cancelled, do you think? Would schools admit based on distance?
Not that I think it will be cancelled, I saw a comment on a news story recently where it said the AQE is like a cockroach in that it would survive a nuclear blast.

I reckon they’ll do socially distanced exams.

[Exasperatedcroc]

I know some schools in several areas, Newry and some others, announced early on that they wouldn't be relying on the transfer test this year but instead would base it on their other criteria. They seem to be things like older sibling or parent attended the school or on Free School Meals. Whilst I agree with that type of criteria if the transfer was abolished altogether and we had a properly comprehensive system, I can't see how it will work for just one cohort.

[WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo]

Oh, I would love a fully comprehensive system.

Have any of the schools not using the test for admissions released their 2021 criteria yet?

[WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo]

Just found this thread while deleting my Watch list. Hope @Exasperatedcroc you’ve got some good options now the criteria are out. We are struggling a bit as DD doesn’t have any siblings so I think our first and second choices could both be risky.

[Exasperatedcroc]

Also struggling here. DS is eldest so feels like a lottery. Ultimately we are just trying to play down the importance to him. Will put down all local schools in the order we rate them. We have no control so best just to forget about it then until June.

[WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo]

DD is pretty fixed on one particular place but we’re not sure the criteria will work in our favour.
We still can’t even decide whether to stick with local or go for schools a bus away. Head melter.