information evening for p6 parents 7 may 2013 bangor grammar glenlola collegiate regent house school

Information Evening for P6 Parents

7 May 2013

BANGOR GRAMMAR GLENLOLA COLLEGIATE REGENT HOUSE

SCHOOL

SCHOOL

SCHOOL

What will tonight be about?

Admissions

to

selective

grammar schools

in 2014

What will tonight be about?

‘Tests’Who sets and marks them?

What will they be like?

When will they take place?

Where will they take place?

What will the outcomes look like?

How will the outcomes be used to determine entry to a grammar school?

What will tonight be about?

Process What do I need to do?

When will I need to do it?Where will my child sit the ‘tests’?Where can I find the information

I need to know?How do I apply to

post-primary schools?

What will tonight be about?

Process

What are

‘Access arrangements’

and

‘Special Cases’?

Do I need to know about them?

AQE

Association

For

Quality

Education

AQEParents’ Groups.

Former Pupils’ Associations.

Governors and Principals of

Grammar Schools.

Operated by a consortium

34 Grammar Schools.

Funded by parental fees

supported by

the Grammar Schools.

.

PPTCPost

Primary

Transfer

Consortium

CEA

Common

Entrance

Assessments

Assessments

In almost all AQE grammar

schools, absolute priority

will be given to pupils

who sit

the AQE CEAs.(Campbell College,

Victoria College and

Wellington College

will also accept PPTC grades.)

Assessment2013

• Three Assessments

• Each one hour long

• Three Saturday Mornings at 10.00 am

• November 9

• November 23

• November 30

Assessment• Best two marks out of

three count.

• Children do not have to sit all three CEAs.

• Based on Revised Curriculum.

• English / Mathematics.

• 8 Maths items

• Poem + 7 items

• 8 Maths items

• Basic skills + 5 items

• 8 Maths items

• Poem + 7 items

• 8 Maths items

• Prose passage + 7 items

Why three assessments?

• Reduces the ‘high stakes’ pressure;• children can have an ‘off-day’;• allows children more opportunity

to become used to a strange environment;• reduces the disadvantage for children

who are not coached or prepared by their primary schools;

• increases the technical reliability and validity of the assessments.

Markers?

• Retired teachers with experience of

external examining.

• Two marking centres.

• Each script is marked three times.

• Rigorous quality assurance processes.

Outcomes • Numerical ‘age standardised’

scores (say between 70 – 130).

• 100 = average score for cohort.

When will the results be published?

Saturday

1 February 2014

The Process

How can I arrange

for my child

to sit the

AQE CEAs?

The ProcessFill in the

Registration Form.

When will the form be available?

NOW!

Opening Date for application?

13 May 2013

Closing Date for application?

13 September 2013

The Process

Where can I find the Registration Form?

• Grammar Schools (in our pack).• Grammar School websites.• AQE website.• Some Primary Schools.

Where will the assessments take place?

In the Grammar Schools.

Invigilated by school staff.

You will be able to choose the centre

which best suits you.

The centre you choose does not need

to be the school you wish

your son/daughter to attend.

How will he/she know where to go?

• Nominate your 3 choices of venue on the Registration Form.

• Centres will run Orientation / Information mornings in October (BGS: Saturday 19 October).

• Children will sit with friends.

(The earlier you apply, the greater the chance of obtaining a place in your first choice.)

Important

• Send Registration Form to AQE.

• Fee = £44.00.

• Birth Certificate.

• Three passport sized

photographs to be

enclosed.

• List your choice of centres in order of preference.

• Children who receive Free School Meals pay no fee (proof required).

Access Arrangements(before the assessments)

• Children with specific needs who require special conditions for the tests should indicate these special needs on the Registration Form (Section B).

• A second ‘Access Application’ form will be sent out by AQE to be filled in with more detail.

• AQE Panel will consider application.

• Centre makes suitable arrangements if application is granted.

• Closing date for Access Forms:

20 September 2013

Application Process to Post-Primary Schools

• Meeting in February with Primary School

Principal.• List choice of schools in order of

preference on transfer form provided.• Processed by ELB and sent to school(s) of

choice.• News of placement received at the end of

May.

Application Process to Post-Primary Schools

Admissions Criteria

• Academic

• Non-academic

Admissions Criteria

• Apply rank order for all places available on the basis of a score (AQE) or grade (PPTC).

• Where there are more applicants on the same score than there are places remaining, non-academic criteria are applied.

Examples ofNon-academic Criteria

• Feeder primary schools.• Eldest in family.• Sibling(s) already pupils in the school or

former pupils. • Children in receipt of free school meals.• Parish or borough.• Distance from school.• Random selection.

Special Cases(after the assessments)

• Special Circumstances

• Special Provisions

Special Circumstances• Circumstances beyond the control of the child

which affect his or her performance in the assessments.

• Apply to AQE for special form, on which you may describe circumstances and provide evidence.

• Submit with the Transfer Form (Application).

• Individual schools will evaluate the claim and if necessary and appropriate…

• …adjust the score by a margin determined by other academic information.

Special ProvisionsMay apply to children:

• who live outside NI up to and at the time of the tests, or…

• who have experienced more than half their primary school education outside NI, or…

• have been unable to sit the AQE CEAs.

To take away …

• AQE Guide for Parents (strong green)• AQE ‘Implementation Process’ (cream)• Frequently Asked Questions (red)• Explanation of scoring system (lilac)• Access Arrangements (blue)• CEA Specification (pale green)• Registration Form• Copy of slide presentation

Contacts

www.bangorgrammarschool.com

(info@bgs.bangor.ni.sch.uk)

www.glenlolacollegiate.net

www.regenthouse.org.uk

www.aqe.org.uk

ContactsAQE Office

Unit 3

Weavers Court Business Park

Belfast

BT12 5GH

028 9022 4002 / aqeoffice1@yahoo.co.uk