Doubt over transfer test as more grammar schools pull out 11 plus Transfer test. Story Simon Doyle. 09 January, 2021 01:00
GRAMMAR schools are withdrawing in growing numbers from a planned transfer test next month - casting doubt that it will take place at all.
As executive ministers argued yesterday about staging entrance assessments, several more schools revealed they were pulling out.
The Association for Quality Education (AQE) intends to hold a single exam for P7s on February 27.
The first of its three postponed papers was due to be taken today by more than 8,000 children.
Amid demands to call off all tests on health grounds, the executive discussed the issue yesterday but broke up without agreement.
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Grammar schools reject AQE testing for Year 8 intake AQE is to hold a single transfer test in late February
08 January, 2021 14:53
Grammar schools in Belfast and Co Tyrone have said they will not use the transfer test this year for their Year 8 intake.
The Royal School Dungannon, Belfast Royal Academy, Victoria College and Campbell College announced their decisions amid a row over one post-primary transfer test going ahead despite a fresh pandemic lockdown.
Independent test providers the Association for Quality Education (AQE) and the Post Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC) announced earlier this week that exams planned for January and early February would not go ahead.
Transfer tests should be cancelled, urges mental health champion AQE is to hold a single transfer test in late February
Professor Siobhán O Neill
GRAMMAR school entrance exams due to take place later in the year must be scrapped, it has been urged.
Mental Health Champion Siobhán O Neill said all tests for 2021 and 2022 admissions should be cancelled.
Prof O Neill said there was a need to minimise mental health risks and prioritise children s rights above all other concerns.
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Rather than sit three papers, with the best two scores counting to allow for an off day , children will now take just one.
GCSE and A-level exams have been cancelled Rebecca Black, PA 06 January, 2021 16:28
Plans for a post-primary transfer test while GCSE and A-level exams are cancelled have been branded ludicrous .
However, this afternoon, Strabane Academy - which uses the AQE test to evaluate pupils - wrote to parents of P7 pupils to say they will not facilitate the additional planned test due to ongoing uncertainty.
In its letter to parents, the school said in these exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, we have taken this decision based on; what we believe is the correct decision for children’s’ welfare .
The Stormont executive is set to discuss the matter during its meeting tomorrow, Health Minister Robin Swann indicated to the assembly.