1. Transfer Meeting 2017
Welcome

2. Purpose of the Meeting To inform you about the transfer process
To explain the role played by the school
To explain your role in the process
To give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the process

3. What is transfer?
Transfer is the transition from Primary School to Post-Primary School
All P6 pupils will be involved in the transfer process next year
Some parents may decide to register their children to complete the GL or AQE tests as part of the process

4. Post-Primary Schools
There are a number of different types of Post-Primary School in NI
One difference between them is ‘Admissions Criteria’
Grammar Schools use a test as a basis for admission

5. Grammar Schools
Grammar Schools use ‘Academic Selection’ as their first criteria for admission
To complicate matters, some Grammar Schools use the GL test while others use the AQE test
A few use both

6. GL Grammar Schools
Catholic Grammar Schools & Lagan, Campbell and Victoria (35 in total)
GL test takes place on Saturday 18th November
Registration available until 2.00pm, 22nd September 2016 (Free)
or (Post Primary Transfer Consortium)

7. GL Grammar Schools
There will be a Supplementary Entrance Assessment on Saturday 9th December The Supplementary assessment will be held at specified regional Assessment Centres and not necessarily the Assessment Centre initially assigned to a child.

8. GL Grammar Schools
The Supplementary Entrance Assessment is only available to a child who was registered but absent on 18th November 2017 or was not well enough to be present for any part of the second assessment paper. If

9. GL Grammar Schools
If your child takes the Entrance Assessment in any of the Assessment Centres you may apply for a place in any of these schools irrespective of where your child has taken the Entrance Assessment.

10. Access Arrangements GL
When you complete the Registration Form, please indicate that your child has particular requirements and complete the Access Arrangements claim form.
It is important that you provide sufficient detail of your child’s needs when completing the Registration Form.
Consult the Guidance Notes

11. Special Circumstances GL
If your child experiences illness, injury or indisposition at the time of the Entrance Assessment, you must inform the Assessment Centre no later than 15th December 2017 (2.00pm) by registering a claim for Special Circumstances.
Your claim should provide brief details of the illness, injury or indisposition that your child has experienced.

12. Special Circumstances GL
Later in the application process, you will need to provide documentary evidence from medical and other professional sources to substantiate your claim for Special Circumstances.
Full details are provided in the Claiming Special Circumstances Pack available after the assessment.

13. AQE Schools Non-Catholic Grammar Schools (34 in total)
AQE tests take place on Saturday 11th , 25th Nov & 2nd December
Registration available until 8th September(£48 fee, unless your child is entitled to free school meals)

14. AQE Assessment
The school that you select is for sitting the assessments only.
Once the assessment is over, you may apply for a place to any other AQE school.
Applications for school places happen in February, through the Education Authority.

15. How to apply? It’s up to parents to register their child
Packs are available through the participating schools
School websites are the best starting point for information

16. AQE Access
Parents should tick the appropriate box in Section B of the Registration Form and complete the Access Application Form (ACC/17) which should be attached to the Registration Form along with all appropriate evidence.

17. AQE Access
You should send any evidence that supports your claim. This can include, where appropriate:
Any medical evidence
Educational evidence from an educational psychologist (Key Stage 2)
Evidence from the primary school of the pupil’s normal way of working.

18. AQE Access Extra time up to 25% Supervised rest breaks
Invigilator to prompt candidate to stay on task
Separate invigilation within a CEA centre
Accommodation suited to a child with limited mobility
Accommodation away from the CEA centre
Coloured overlays

19. AQE Access Coloured paper Low vision aid Enlarged Papers
Scribe(An adult approved by AQE who will write for the child in the assessment)
Word Processor
Child to read aloud

20. Special Circumstances
For after the tests
If you believe your child hasn’t performed as well as expected due to illness, bereavement etc
Evidence is required to support your case – Nfer GL Scores for example
The school may adjust a score based on evidence

21. Transfer Form
After GL or AQE results (27th Jan 2018)are published, parents are invited to complete the pupils’ Transfer Form with the Principal. (Feb 2018)
On this form, you list your school preference and supporting comments in relation to their specified ‘Admissions Criteria’
Please take school advice when completing the form

22. School Allocation
You will be notified about your child’s school placement in May 2018
There is an Appeal’s Procedure if you feel a school hasn’t applied their ‘Admissions Criteria’ correctly

23. Timetable Tue 2nd May 2017: Registration Opens for AQE
15th May 2017: Registration Opens for GL
Fri 8th Sep 2017: Registration Closes for AQE
Fri 22nd Sep 2017: Registration Closes for GL

24. Timetable Nov 11th, 25th Nov, 25th Dec 2017: AQE Assessments
November 18th GL Assessment
Sat 27th Jan 2018: Results
Dec – Jan – School Open Days

25. Timetable February 2018 – Transfer meeting with Primary principals
May 2018 –Parents are informed by the Education Authority which school that their child has been allocated to.

26. Role of Parents To adopt a sensible approach
Encourage pupils but don’t make a ‘big deal’ of the process
Carefully consider the school that best suits your child
Be realistic and set attainable targets for your child
Register your child if you want to sit the tests
Attend Open Days (Dec-Jan)

27. Role of the School
We will provide you with support and advice throughout the process
Pupils are taught up to and including Level 5 in Maths & English and cover the topics as specified in the NI Curriculum
Conduct regular assessments in both subjects
Set relevant homework assignments

28. The Tests GL Assessment (18th November 2016)
Consists of 2 tests on one morning – English (50 mins) and Maths (45 mins) with a break in between
Multiple choice style test
Test content and questions are referenced against the NI Curriculum
Results given as grades (A, B1 etc) and standardised scores (69-141)

29. GL Assessments
There will be a short practice session before each of the papers and, between the papers, the children will have time for a snack and a toilet break.
The children will record their answers on a separate computer marked answer sheet.

30. AQE Assessments AQE (11th & 25th Nov, & 2nd December)
Three tests on English and Maths
1hour long
Only best 2 scores count
Test content and questions are referenced against the NI Curriculum
Results given as standardised scores within 5 quintiles

31. AQE Assessments Tests are held in participating grammar schools
The test does not necessarily need to be taken at the school you wish your child to attend.
During the application you list schools in order of preference and based on availability you will be notified which school your child will sit the test at.

32. AQE Assessments
After the registration process has been completed, all candidates will be contacted by their Assessment Centre, and invited to attend a familiarisation day in this school.

33. AQE Assessments
All 3 assessments begin at 10 a.m. and last for 1 hour (with the exception of extra time candidates). AQE recommends that candidates attend ALL 3 assessments, however as the final age-standardised score is achieved through ‘best 2 out of 3’, it is only compulsory to attend 2 assessments. This allows for an ‘off day’ or illness etc.

34. AQE Assessments
There is no subsidiary paper available. If a candidate is only available to attend 1 assessment, you should contact the AQE Office via telephone - (028)

35. Questions?

36. Many thanks