CHILDREN from across Northern Ireland will have got their transfer test results by now and will be in the midst of choosing the school in which they will take the next steps of their educational journey.
That simple white envelope that fell on many door mats just over a week ago saw the end of months of hard work, stress, weekends doing practice papers, evenings spent with a tutor, stressing over marks, celebrating achievements.
What was contained in the piece of paper within that envelope would have made hearts soar or crushed the dreams of an 11-year-old. A high mark will ensure they can go to the grammar school of their choice, if they want to. A less-than-good mark will mean that they can choose between a variety of all ability post-primary schools.
I was immersed in transfer test madness this time around as my youngest son took the test along with thousands of other children all across the north. Not all of these 11-year-olds will have got the scores they needed for the school of their choice and that will have hit them hard. They will now be discussing their options with their primary schools, contemplating leaving their life-long friends behind for a strange school, while feeling like they 'failed'.
I know that feeling all too well. I failed my 11-plus exam back in the day and that feeling of failure, of being 'stupid', of not being quite good enough, didn't leave me for years. And it is awakened every so often when people – whether unwittingly or maliciously – refer to non-grammar schools as somehow less than grammars or refer to grammar education as far superior to secondary school.
I remember years ago when asked about my son's next step I told an acquaintance that my son was going to an all-ability secondary school. Her response was – and I quote: "Well, someone has to sweep the streets." I laughed in her face, 50 per cent in horror at the absolutely mad notions some people have, 50 per cent because she obviously had no clue that non-grammars churn out as many fantastic results and top class pupils as their grammar counterparts.
Although it might have seemed like a disaster at the time, I wouldn't have liked my educational journey to have gone any other way. I was so lucky to go to a brilliant secondary school. I had experiences there that have stayed with me forever. Friends I made there who still have my back, long after the last school bell went and we burnt our school ties. I also got a shed-load of GCSEs, A-levels, a degree and journalistic qualifications, and I happen to think I turned out just fine.
If your child was one of the ones waiting on results on Saturday, I feel your pain.
Your child may only now be emerging from months of hell, doing endless months of sample papers, comparing marks with their friends, worrying about low scores, feeling proud about high scores and working at the weekends.
Your child will have entered an exam hall in a strange school with the weight of their future, their parents' hopes and their own dreams weighing heavy of their shoulders – all this while trying to remember everything that they have learned. And then, they had to wait months for the result which essentially changed their lives. It's a long, hard process and one I still think unfair.
There are so many brilliant schools in Northern Ireland, both grammar and all-ability, full of amazing teachers who will guide your child on this educational journey. For all those who got what they needed in the Transfer Test this time around, well done. For all those who didn't, know that everything will be OK.
I've been down this road two times with my own children. One boy went to secondary school and the other went to a grammar school. They are both thriving. They both had excellent educational journeys with amazing, inspiring and motivating teachers.
Your child will be the same. They will grow and thrive wherever they are planted.
