Transfer 2016 Information for Primary 6 Parents Good evening everyone Thank you for taking the time to come along to our information session this evening. I n the past I have tried to put myself in your shoes and try to think what questions you may have as a parent. I have now gone through the process as a parent over the past two years and so I have a great deal of empathy with you and hopefully tonight I will be able to answer any questions you may have about; the process, why we use AQE and how we use the results. You will also have the opportunity to hear from one of our Yr 8 pupils, Stephen Brown who sat the test last year and also from he perspective of a parent, Pam Canning who is the chairperson of our PTFA and who has also now gone through the process twice. Transfer 2016 Information for Primary 6 Parents

1. Strabane Academy –Transfer 2016 Common Approach: 34 grammar schools using the AQE Common Entrance Assessment (CEA) Similar admission criteria for other Grammar Schools Result of the Assessment - 1st Criterion If you want your child to enter the top academic stream they must sit the Assessment So why do we use AQE? As there continues to be no political agreement on Transfer from Primary to Post Primary and it is likely to remain that way: we at SA will continue to use academic ability to stream our classes. AQE along with the GL Assessment remains the only standardised test which gives us a true indication of your child’s ability compared to others and it enables us to place them into classes with children of the same ability to: Push/drive each other on at the same pace. Our top streams: Sit more GCSE’S including the 3 Sciences/Further Maths/English Literature/2 languages and a higher percentage go on to University. It is important to stress that all pupils have the same opportunities and there is the opportunity to move classes at the end of the first term and the last term each year.

Top performers at GCSE Best Girl: Courtney Gallagher 8A*, 2A grades Last year our best performing girl was: Courtney Gallagher from St Marys 8A*, 2A grades

Top Performers at GCSE Best Boy: Jonathan Smyth 7A*, 2A, 1B grade Our best performing boy was: Jonathan Smyth, Ardstraw Primary, 7A*, 2A, 1B grade

7 or more A*/A grades Adam Chambers, Ardstraw / Abigail Crozier, St Annes / Dara Guram, SPS / Lauren Laird, Artigarvan / Krista Lee, SPS /Robert Magee, SPS/ Ronan McCrea, St Marys Boys / Leanne McKelvey, Sion Mills / Jenna Mealiff, SPS / and Hannah Smyth, Ardstraw Primary School

Top Performers at A Level Aine Corry A*A*AA, Sion Mills Rachel Donald AAAA, SPS Megan Edwards AABB, St Marys Girls Mark McElroy A*A*A, Barrack Street Boys Ian Donnell A*A*A SPS Janet Graham A*AA, Sion Mills Hannah Smith A*AB, SPS Kathryn Donnell A*AB, Artigarvan Jason Reid A*AB, Artigarvan Gemma Hamilton AAB, Edwards PS Leah Shaw AAB, SPS And Aine, Rachel, Megan, Ian and Janet are currently in their first year of University studying Medicine

2. AQE Common Entrance Assessment AQE -company formed to produce a test based on current NI curriculum The company (not the schools) will: administer the application process set 3 papers –1 hour each mark the assessments give out the results Just read and press

3. Assessment Process 3 papers –1 hour each Pupils sit any 2 or all 3 papers Sit in a grammar school 10.00 –11.00am Saturday morning 7 November 2015 21 November 2015 28 November 2015 Note –GL tests Sat 14 November Read above first So why 3 papers? To give the children the best chance/opportunity to display their abilities and to reduce the effects of them having an ‘off day’ as only the best two scores count. There will also be a familiarisation morning usually the Saturday before the Halloween break; this year it will be the 17th October. This is an opportunity for you to visit the school, see where the tests take place and get briefed on the exam arrangements. I should point out that this is our seventh time of running these exams and we have become quite well practised in their running and indeed thre have been no incidents to date and I have no doubt this will continue.

3.Assessment Process Format of CEA 8 mathematics items Poem 1 with 7 comprehension items Basic English skills passage Poem 2 with 7 comprehension items 8 mathematics items. Prose passage with 7 comprehension items. The format of the exam has remained the same over the last number of years It consists of: read above Tonight in your pack you will have a practice paper and answers and they are also available to buy from AQE . A order form is also included at the back of your Parents Guide In the past the Belfast Telegraph has also beenvery useful as is the AQE website and if you phone them they can give you information on where to get some help and assistance in the form of Practice books

3. Assessment Process CEA takes account of Revised KS2 Curriculum for English and Mathematics (no Science) Practice papers and answers are available to order on the AQE website (www.aqe.org.uk) The test takes account of the learning programme and the attainment targets of the Key Stage 2 curriculum for English and Maths. The questions set will test the skills, aptitude and knowledge that all pupils will be developing in their Primary School and the assessment should therefore be acessible to all pupils studying the revised KS2 curriculum in NI. Practice papers provide the opportunity for pupils to familarise themselves with the format and timings of the questions. Press

3.Assessment Process The Assessments Held in each of the 34 participating Grammar Schools Register with AQE for preferred centre -centre allocated by AQE Preferred centre likely to be most convenient –independent of school to which pupil may wish to transfer Familiarisation morning –details after registration –Strabane Academy Saturday 17 October Read This means that: if you wish to sit the test at a school in Derry You can still apply to SA

3. Assessment Process The Assessments in Strabane Academy will take place on Junior Campus, Derry Rd Held in classrooms Invigilation team from Strabane Academy Familiarisation morning for pupils (Saturday 17 October 2015) to see rooms meet invigilators be briefed on conduct of assessment In a classroom with pupils from the same Primary School as far as possible Max 17-19 per room Last year we used 5 classrooms with other rooms used for children who required special access arrangements

3. Assessment Process Procedures similar to all other external examinations like GCSE and ‘A’ Level Marking Each paper marked twice by different markers Then checked by a third marker Will take place in two centres in presence of chief examiners Opportunity to apply for a remark Good about AQE ; It is the same as other examining boards e.g.CCEA An independent company who take complete responsibility for the running of the exam

3. Assessment Process Results Best of 2 out of 3 results Age adjusted Given as a standardised score (therefore the average score is 100) Issued to parents on Saturday 30 January 2016 The results are standardised as per other Primary School tests that you would be familiar with. You might ask why we do not simply use these other results from Primary Schools? Whilst the results may be standardised; how the tests are conducted and the level of support given can vary greatly from school to school and you can end up where two children, of the same ability from different Primary schools achieve two different scores. For AQE all the children sit the tests under the same conditions throughout NI and they are marked externally. A standardised score of less than 100 does not mean your child is not suitable for a grammar stream as the standardised scores used in Primary Schools use all the pupils in NI whereas AQE use only the children who sit the AQE exam, which is a much smaller cohort and typically of a much higher ability.

4. Access Arrangements 1. Access Arrangements (see notes) Learning difficulties: 25% extra time Visual impairment: enlarged question booklet First language different: bilingual dictionary Test papers available in Irish As for all external school exams, there is provision made for children who need additional support during the exams. E.G.see above

4. Access Arrangements Disability ( on application form ) Access form will be sent following completion of Registration form (Section B) Decision by a Access Panel Decision sent to parents Decision sent to test centre Appropriate arrangements are made AQE are responsible for the administration and you simply fill out the registration form which are available on the website

5. Special Consideration Based on the Joint Council for Applications (JCQ) as used in GCSE and A level examinations 5% e.g. extra marks for exceptional circumstances (terminal illness, recent death ) 3% e.g. extra marks for a recent domestic crisis. 1% e.g. extra marks for incident like a minor accident on the day As well as access arrangements there are instances of incidents that occur during the time of the exams which take place over a month, so there is a lot which can happen in this time which could affect how you child performs on the day of the exam.

5. Special Consideration After final CEA, parents will be informed about how to apply Regulations, as on the website, will be applied AQE Ltd would not inform parents unless requested A standardised score will be issued After the final exam you can apply for special consideration. You will receive instructions from AQE on how to apply and again it is AQE who are responsible for the administration.

6. Registration Process Registering to sit the AQE CEA From 5 May 2015 , application forms available from AQE website and from participating schools Forms also sent to Primary Schools Completed forms returned to AQE no later than Friday 11 September 2015 Fee £46 although free if entitled to FSM So the application forms have been available from the website from 5th May and we have some here this evening and if you wish staff will be only to happy to help you fill these in.

6. Registration Process Registration Form asks you to Nominate your preference of 3 test centres (no bearing on Transfer) Identify any special access arrangements Submit 3 passport photographs If applicable, provide evidence of entitlement to Free School Meals On the registration form you will be asked to

7. Transfer Process 2015 Based on current process Interview with Primary Principal February 2016 Complete a Transfer form nominating schools in order of preference (Attach CEA result) Forms submitted by primary schools to the Education Authority Schools receive first preference forms etc. Parents informed of allocated school by end of May 2016 This is the process when the assessments finish in November; you will have – It is important that you do not complete the application form until you have had the opportunity to visit all the schools so that you can make an informed decision So that’s the process. I will now hand you over to Stephen who will give you an insight into his experience last year. Thank you Stephen. I would also like to ask Pam Canning to saw a few words as a parent who has now gone through this process twice. Thank you Pam

8. Key Dates and Information 5 May -AQE forms available 11 September. last date for AQE registration 17 October. Familiarisation morning 7, 21 and 28 November. Assessment dates December 2015 -January 2016, visit schools 30 January. 2016 publication of results February. –March complete Transfer forms End of May 2016 -notification of allocated school In conclusion, it is important to stress that we will strive to get the absolute best out of your son or daughter no matter what the result of the test. I hope that this presentation has gone some way to answering any questions you may have but if not please feel free to ask any member of the Senior Leadership Team who are here tonight The test and the mornings are carried out to be as child friendly and stress free as we can make them and we have had very positive feedback from both parents and children over the last number of years.