Northern Ireland

Principals say 11-plus scores on transfer forms a `grave concern'

Results of unregulated 11-plus exams are due to be released on Saturday
Results of unregulated 11-plus exams are due to be released on Saturday Results of unregulated 11-plus exams are due to be released on Saturday

SCHOOL principals have voiced "grave concern" over changes to official transfer forms that ask parents to share children's 11-plus scores.

Parents of primary pupils will soon be filling in applications, known as `the transfer form', after results of unofficial exams are released on Saturday.

On these forms, parents list the post-primary schools, in order of preference, that they would like their children to attend from September.

For the first time, explicit reference is made on the form to unregulated grammar school entrance exams.

The last state-sponsored 11-plus was held in November 2008. Grammar schools are now largely split into two camps using either the Common Entrance Assessment, run by AQE, or multiple-choice papers set by GL Assessment. Some use both, meaning some children sit five papers over four consecutive Saturdays.

The inclusion of a section asking parents to list AQE/GL grades as well as "GL cohort percentile" and "GL combined total" is the latest change made since the pro-selection DUP took control of the Department of Education.

Education minister Peter Weir first lifted a ban on 11-plus coaching in schools. He then announced that a team of educational professionals would "seek to simplify the current transfer test process" by asking rival groups to create a single exam.

Head teachers are concerned at the latest change. Some said many parents had not even heard of "cohort percentiles", let alone understood what they were.

The Catholic Principals' Association said it viewed the changes with "grave concern".

"The newly introduced addition, regarding AQE/GL unregulated test outcomes, raises pertinent questions and concerns: Why have these additions been made and at whose behest?" a spokesman said.

"Is the department officially endorsing AQE/GL as official test providers? In those circumstances will the department release all of the data which it holds with respect to these tests so that their validity/reliability can be checked?

"Will the department be issuing urgent advice and guidance to school principals with regard to the changes and how they suggest that principals might advise parents accordingly? We note that these changes were made by the department without any consultation with schools or indeed any notification."

The department said transfer forms were designed to enable parents to fill in their preferences for post-primary schools.

"As many schools use the results of AQE and GL tests as a basis for admission, the transfer form provides parents with the opportunity to record their child's score," a spokeswoman said.

"It is intended to reflect the reality that many schools use these tests and to help parents record information relevant to their child’s application. It does not indicate endorsement of any individual test."