Northern Ireland

Ending 11-plus created rival testing groups

The two groups emerged after the state-sponsored 11-plus ended
The two groups emerged after the state-sponsored 11-plus ended The two groups emerged after the state-sponsored 11-plus ended

THERE has been no state involvement in 11-plus exams for more than a decade - yet academic selection persists.

Grammar schools are split largely into two camps, using either the Common Entrance Assessment set by the Association for Quality Education (AQE) or multiple-choice papers from GL Assessment.

Afraid of limiting their options, parents will often enter their children for both.

The Post Primary Transfer Consortium (PPTC), which uses the GL papers, and AQE are under pressure to devise a single, common exam.

There are 36 schools - almost all non-denominational grammars - aligned with AQE. There are 33 - mostly Catholic schools - represented by PPTC. Eight schools accept results from either.

The split was an unforeseen result of plans to scrap the official 11-plus that were first put in motion by Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness almost 20 years ago.

Under direct rule, the Labour government had later planned to abolish academic selection but a deal reached within the St Andrews Agreement won it a reprieve. The matter would instead be left to assembly members to find a solution.

With the DUP strongly in favour of retaining selection, and Sinn Féin strongly opposed, there has been, and is unlikely to be, any agreement.

This meant that after devolution was restored, and it was confirmed the last state 11-plus would be held in 2008, that grammar schools would still be allowed to use academic selection.

This led to the formation first of AQE and then PPTC, who have managed unregulated exams since.

While both assessments focus on English and maths, there are some differences concerning format, results and fees.

Parents must pay to enter children for AQE papers. The fee is £55 and the group has said it will refund £20 if tests are cancelled as £35 goes on administration.

There is no charge for PPTC schools.

Children sit three AQE papers over three weekends, with the best two counting towards a final score. The PPTC schools offer two papers, which are taken on the same day, and they award grades similar to the old 11-plus.

The two groups previously agreed draft proposals for a new test, but this has not progressed.

The idea was it would involve two papers taken on successive Saturdays with a supplementary paper for children missing one paper due to illness or other circumstances. The best score of the two tests would determine the outcome for each pupil.