Transfer Meeting 2017 Welcome

Purpose of the Meeting To inform you about the transfer process To explain the role played by the school To explain your role in the process To give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the process

What is transfer? Transfer is the transition from Primary School to Post-Primary School All P6 pupils will be involved in the transfer process next year Some parents may decide to register their children to complete the GL or AQE tests as part of the process

Post-Primary Schools There are a number of different types of Post-Primary School in NI One difference between them is ‘Admissions Criteria’ Grammar Schools use a test as a basis for admission

Grammar Schools Grammar Schools use ‘Academic Selection’ as their first criteria for admission To complicate matters, some Grammar Schools use the GL test while others use the AQE test A few use both

GL Grammar Schools Catholic Grammar Schools & Lagan, Campbell and Victoria (35 in total) GL test takes place on Saturday 18th November Registration available until 2.00pm, 22nd September 2016 (Free) www.knock.co.uk or www.pptcni.com (Post Primary Transfer Consortium)

GL Grammar Schools There will be a Supplementary Entrance Assessment on Saturday 9th December 2017. The Supplementary assessment will be held at specified regional Assessment Centres and not necessarily the Assessment Centre initially assigned to a child.

GL Grammar Schools The Supplementary Entrance Assessment is only available to a child who was registered but absent on 18th November 2017 or was not well enough to be present for any part of the second assessment paper. If

GL Grammar Schools If your child takes the Entrance Assessment in any of the Assessment Centres you may apply for a place in any of these schools irrespective of where your child has taken the Entrance Assessment.

Access Arrangements GL When you complete the Registration Form, please indicate that your child has particular requirements and complete the Access Arrangements claim form. It is important that you provide sufficient detail of your child’s needs when completing the Registration Form. Consult the Guidance Notes

Special Circumstances GL If your child experiences illness, injury or indisposition at the time of the Entrance Assessment, you must inform the Assessment Centre no later than 15th December 2017 (2.00pm) by registering a claim for Special Circumstances. Your claim should provide brief details of the illness, injury or indisposition that your child has experienced.

Special Circumstances GL Later in the application process, you will need to provide documentary evidence from medical and other professional sources to substantiate your claim for Special Circumstances. Full details are provided in the Claiming Special Circumstances Pack available after the assessment.

AQE Schools Non-Catholic Grammar Schools (34 in total) AQE tests take place on Saturday 11th , 25th Nov & 2nd December Registration available until 8th September(£48 fee, unless your child is entitled to free school meals) www.aqe.org.uk

AQE Assessment The school that you select is for sitting the assessments only. Once the assessment is over, you may apply for a place to any other AQE school. Applications for school places happen in February, through the Education Authority.

How to apply? It’s up to parents to register their child Packs are available through the participating schools School websites are the best starting point for information https://aqe.org.uk/how-to-register/

AQE Access Parents should tick the appropriate box in Section B of the Registration Form and complete the Access Application Form (ACC/17) which should be attached to the Registration Form along with all appropriate evidence.

AQE Access You should send any evidence that supports your claim. This can include, where appropriate: Any medical evidence Educational evidence from an educational psychologist (Key Stage 2) Evidence from the primary school of the pupil’s normal way of working.

AQE Access Extra time up to 25% Supervised rest breaks Invigilator to prompt candidate to stay on task Separate invigilation within a CEA centre Accommodation suited to a child with limited mobility Accommodation away from the CEA centre Coloured overlays

AQE Access Coloured paper Low vision aid Enlarged Papers Scribe(An adult approved by AQE who will write for the child in the assessment) Word Processor Child to read aloud

Special Circumstances For after the tests If you believe your child hasn’t performed as well as expected due to illness, bereavement etc Evidence is required to support your case – Nfer GL Scores for example The school may adjust a score based on evidence

Transfer Form After GL or AQE results (27th Jan 2018)are published, parents are invited to complete the pupils’ Transfer Form with the Principal. (Feb 2018) On this form, you list your school preference and supporting comments in relation to their specified ‘Admissions Criteria’ Please take school advice when completing the form

School Allocation You will be notified about your child’s school placement in May 2018 There is an Appeal’s Procedure if you feel a school hasn’t applied their ‘Admissions Criteria’ correctly

Timetable Tue 2nd May 2017: Registration Opens for AQE 15th May 2017: Registration Opens for GL Fri 8th Sep 2017: Registration Closes for AQE Fri 22nd Sep 2017: Registration Closes for GL

Timetable Nov 11th, 25th Nov, 25th Dec 2017: AQE Assessments November 18th GL Assessment Sat 27th Jan 2018: Results Dec – Jan – School Open Days

Timetable February 2018 – Transfer meeting with Primary principals May 2018 –Parents are informed by the Education Authority which school that their child has been allocated to.

Role of Parents To adopt a sensible approach Encourage pupils but don’t make a ‘big deal’ of the process Carefully consider the school that best suits your child Be realistic and set attainable targets for your child Register your child if you want to sit the tests Attend Open Days (Dec-Jan)

Role of the School We will provide you with support and advice throughout the process Pupils are taught up to and including Level 5 in Maths & English and cover the topics as specified in the NI Curriculum Conduct regular assessments in both subjects Set relevant homework assignments

The Tests GL Assessment (18th November 2016) Consists of 2 tests on one morning – English (50 mins) and Maths (45 mins) with a break in between Multiple choice style test Test content and questions are referenced against the NI Curriculum Results given as grades (A, B1 etc) and standardised scores (69-141)

GL Assessments There will be a short practice session before each of the papers and, between the papers, the children will have time for a snack and a toilet break. The children will record their answers on a separate computer marked answer sheet.

AQE Assessments AQE (11th & 25th Nov, & 2nd December) Three tests on English and Maths 1hour long Only best 2 scores count Test content and questions are referenced against the NI Curriculum Results given as standardised scores within 5 quintiles

AQE Assessments Tests are held in participating grammar schools The test does not necessarily need to be taken at the school you wish your child to attend. During the application you list schools in order of preference and based on availability you will be notified which school your child will sit the test at.

AQE Assessments After the registration process has been completed, all candidates will be contacted by their Assessment Centre, and invited to attend a familiarisation day in this school.

AQE Assessments All 3 assessments begin at 10 a.m. and last for 1 hour (with the exception of extra time candidates). AQE recommends that candidates attend ALL 3 assessments, however as the final age-standardised score is achieved through ‘best 2 out of 3’, it is only compulsory to attend 2 assessments. This allows for an ‘off day’ or illness etc.

AQE Assessments There is no subsidiary paper available. If a candidate is only available to attend 1 assessment, you should contact the AQE Office via telephone - (028) 9022 4002.

Questions?

Many thanks