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And the door has now been opened to allow children to sit the test in their own schools, though the minister said any arrangements would have to be across the board, with agreement from all stakeholders to prevent some pupils having the unfair advantage of taking the test in familiar surroundings. Mr Weir said it was "vital" that AQE now engages with "pupils, parents and other stakeholders" to explain their approach to how the tests will be conducted. The organisers of the tests would need to agree, he said, adding that prior to 2016 primary schools were not permitted to be used for the exams...

One of the private companies which runs the post primary transfer test for P7 pupils has said it is pressing on with preparations for tests next November, despite coming under increasing financial pressure. Company records show AQE, which is run as a non-profit organisation, made a loss of over £27,000 in the year ending 2019. That almost doubled to over £50,000 in 2020. Earlier this week AQE said it would fully reimburse all parents who had entered a child for this year's test at a cost of £55 per pupil. That amounts to a £400,000 hit for the company, which provides tests for 34 of Nort...

AQE announces full refund of £415,000 to families who registered for Transfer Test But education sources say the bill running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds casts a shadow over the future of AQE and its test Updated Dr Darrin Barr, AQE Never miss a thing from Belfast and beyond - sign up for FREE newsletter direct to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer....

An academic selection test for primary school pupils in Northern Ireland has been cancelled to end weeks of uncertainty caused by coronavirus restrictions. The assessment run by a private company was due to be held on February 27 but soaring numbers of hospital admissions have forced a tough lockdown and disrupted lessons. Health chiefs have warned the measures could continue well into next month. The joint chief executive of transfer test organiser AQE, Darrin Barr, apologised to pupils. He said: “We are sorry for the distress caused. “Everyone is working with the uncertainty of Covid as...

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. Subscribe to our Morning newsletter Rather than sit three papers, with the best two scores cou...