1. Grosvenor Grammar School Transfer Arrangements for September 2012 Please note that while every effort has been made to present accurate information in this guide, some of the details may be subject to revision.

2. Background (1) Cause of current problem – decision by Minister of Education in 2002 to end the 11+ without putting in place an appropriate alternative; Education Order (2006) bans academic selection, BUT… St Andrews Agreement – the ban to come into force only with the agreement of the Assembly;

3. Background (2) Current Minister of Education has not managed to obtain agreement for her proposals in the Executive, thus we now have an unregulated system (from 2009); The Minister has issued Guidelines (to which we have given due consideration) but the use of academic criteria by post-primary schools remains legal 34 grammar schools use the AQE Ltd test (CEA).

4. Association for Quality Education www.aqe.org.uk 3 possibilities: –Free choice at 11 based on Pupil Profile, with possible election/transfer at 14; –NFER tests –Common Entrance Assessment (CEA)

5. AQE Established itself as a company to administer testing system; Acquired office space/staff to deal with application process; Creation of website [www.aqe.org.uk]; Prepared a guide for parents; registration form; specification & sample test questions – all available on website; Established Examination Panel – a Chief Examiner (with extensive knowledge of test design); a team of revisers (experienced teaching professionals at primary level).

6. Common Entrance Assessment (CEA) Based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum English & Maths (no Science) Three 1 hour papers (best two count) Test dates: November 12 th, 26 th, December 3 rd 2011 Taken in one of the 34 AQE schools – not necessarily the one to which application will be made A modest charge (£39.50)

7. Timetable – May-Oct 11 (1) The Board of Governors of each school determines the admissions criteria and it will be published in the Transfer Procedures booklet prior to Christmas 2011. Registration 16 th May – 16 th September 2011 Application forms available from AQE website or participating grammar schools (& may be available from primary schools)

8. Timetable - May-Oct 11 (2) Guidance notes available – Grosvenor will provide assistance to anyone who needs it; Application forms (inc. application for access arrangements) returned to AQE; AQE processes application forms, confirms test centre and sends out candidate examination number; Friday 28 th October – Familiarisation day for applicants.

9. Timetable – Nov 11-Feb 12 Tests – 12 th, 26 th Nov, 3 rd Dec Marking & collating of tests by AQE Results (Age-Standardised scores) sent to parents & to schools (to arrive on 4 th Feb)

10. Timetable – Feb 12 Parent meeting with primary school Principal (DE are considering removing this funding) Transfer form completed & forwarded (along with any application for Special Circumstances) to relevant educational authority

11. Timetable – Mar-May 12 Post-primary schools receive forms and apply published criteria Parents informed of schools allocated

12. Timetable – May-June 12 Appeals process If a parent thinks that a school has refused to admit a child because it did not apply its admission criteria correctly, an appeal can be made to an Appeal Tribunal.

13. Admissions criteria Not yet finalised in Grosvenor for entry in Sept 2012 Very likely to be: –Applicants will be placed in rank order using CEA test score and admitted up to admissions number [155 pupils] –Should 2 or more applicants for the last place (s) have equal scores then other criteria will apply in order: e.g. sibling/eldest child, tie-breaker criteria e.g. random number generator

14. Special Circumstances Access Arrangements Special Circumstances Special Provisions

15. Access arrangements 1 Registration form contains a section in which parents may apply for access arrangements to facilitate a candidate to undertake the CEA. A second form (ACC 11) will then be issued to those parents. An AQE Access Panel will meet to make decisions on all applications for access arrangements. Examples of arrangements that may be made include –extra time –enlarged test booklet –bi-lingual dictionary –specific test venue

16. Access arrangements 2 Application for Access arrangements: –Disability – noted on application form –Access arrangements – separate form to be submitted with application form –Difficulty? Contact test centre school/AQE –Decision by team of 3 assessors – sent to parents & test centre –Appropriate arrangements made

17. Special Circumstances Any parent who feels that their son/daughter under-achieved due to circumstances beyond his or her control may make a claim. Form SC11 obtained from the AQE office, AQE website or any AQE school after the assessment. Completed Form SC11 and any accompanying evidence should be brought to the Transfer interview with the Primary Principal and attached to the back of the Transfer Form. Each school will consider claims and decide on the validity of each case.

18. Other considerations Statemented pupils – do not have to sit the CEA. They will continue to be assessed by the ELBs. Pupils who miss all the CEAs – application made to schools under Special Provisions Pupils arriving in NI post CEAs - application made to schools under Special Provisions Irish language version of the CEA will be available.

19. Parent Preferences Factors to take into consideration when choosing schools: Your child’s abilities & aptitudes Information about post-primary schools (inc. co-ed, travel, fees etc.) Test results Your child’s views N.B. Very very few post-primary schools take into account the order in which parents place schools (check transfer booklets for the criteria set by each individual school). Preference is not a criteria of Grosvenor Grammar School nor was it used last year as a criteria in any of our competing Grammar Schools.

20. Useful websites AQE: www.aqe.org.uk Grosvenor Grammar School: www.grosvenorgrammarschool.org.uk www.grosvenorgrammarschool.org.uk