NI Education system

[Decisionsdecisions43]

I grew up in NI and like many others here am contemplating moving back (likely around Belfast) . I know it’s always had a reputation for a fairly rigorous academic education system. I’m interested to know how people who have part educated their children in England/Scotland for example have found NI schooling (primary and secondary both relevant)?

Also, if there’s anyone with a current opinion on how the state of education is at the moment-feel free to chime in.

For context, I’ve been really disappointed with the Scottish education system and can’t quite seem to make the push to leave. All opinions welcome!!

Possibly not the right person to answer as my eldest has just started a pre-school attached to the school but I have teacher friends here too and I’ve been astonished with the differences in the system! So much more rigorous academically, teachers never leave their jobs so brilliant consistency for the children, seems to be plenty of funding for everything they need, class sizes so much smaller and TA’s for the children who need them, it’s been really surprising to us coming from the English system (we are English and I was a secondary school teacher in England before we moved)

The Northern Irish education system is much better than the south, more rigorous, grammar system also which gives all children the chance of an optimum, rounded education if they pass the entrance exams.

And if they don't?

Leaving school at an early age is 2 to 3 times higher in NI than in ROI. That's not better.

Yes, I agree. It’s all good and well if your child secures the points to get into a grammar school but what’s your plan B if they don’t? Things are especially competitive within Belfast when it comes to high scores, some kids at the age of 10/11 just haven’t found their academic groove yet and really struggle when it comes to the pressure of AQE/the new SEAG testing. Some of the comprehensive secondary schools are really quite dire, and the better ones are understandably very oversubscribed.

Speaking as a parent of a child who went to one of the prestigious Belfast grammars. I wouldn’t say that the quality of teaching was particularly outstanding - they rely on having a clever, self motivated intake who pick things up with minimal teaching (hence the high entry requirements). Neither I, nor most other parents were particularly impressed.

Yeah I moved from Dublin to the North and hate the thoughts of going through the transfer tests (not there yet). Such ridiculous pressure to put on young DC. A friend who taught in England before moving home to NI said the same about the quality of teaching in grammar schools too, they rely on the high quality intake and invested parents.

I've been really impressed with my DC's primary though.

Thanks everyone. In the mid sized town I grew up in, some of the non grammar schools are as well regarded so maybe I’ve a skewed idea of the differences.
It sounds like Belfast is different in that regard.
We would not plan to send my eldest to a grammar so that may be a tricky one.

Like I said I'm not from NI and my kids aren't at that stage yet, but my understanding is that some non-grammars are great.