Primary heads take Grammars to task over 'stress' of tests

BALLYMENA PRIMARY school principals have sent a joint letter to the heads of Ballymena's Grammar Schools strongly criticizing the current entrance exams for Grammar schools.

The letter signed by Russell White, Chairperson of Ballymena Primary Principals’ Association outlines a number of concerns regarding new Grammar School Entrance tests which were raised and discussed at a recent meeting of the association.

They were sent last Monday to the heads of Ballymena Academy; St. Louis’ Grammar; Slemish College and Cambridge House Grammar.

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The concerns raised in the letter focus on the interim exam system put in place by Grammar Schools following the scrapping of the 11 plus. The letter states that these concerns have come about from issues with this year’s procedures; the uncertainty over next year’s; and the strong need, from their perspective, for one unifying entrance exam utilized by all post-primary schools in the Ballymena area this autumn.

Contacting the Times, Mr White said: "At our recent meeting, the Ballymena Primary Principals expressed concerns over the post primary entrance exam arrangements.

“We have sent a letter to the four grammar schools in the Ballymena area outlining our concerns in the hope they can act now to save our current P6 pupils the same stresses this year's P7s went through."

The letter outlines a number of problems with the current system including the added pressure placed on pupils due to the amount of examinations they had to face, in some cases they had to sit exams on up to four consecutive Saturdays.

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Concerned with the lack of consistency with the current system, the letter reads: "There needs to be consistency between all schools offering the entrance exams – some schools capped their numbers able to sit the test(s), while others did not; some results were available to primary schools, while others were not; two results sheets being sent to parents would have aided primary school interview procedures; and all post-primary schools should offer the same level of communication about the procedures to all primary schools in the interest of fairness and equity."

The association also argues that the two differing sets of exam results may reveal that "in future parents may opt for the perceived ‘easier’ test."

The association suggest that this one exam system would eliminate this problem while also reducing the pressure on all involved and enabling every pupil to have the same chance.

The letter states that they are concerned about a lack of consultation from Grammar schools with primary school principals. It read: "It would be appreciated if we could be consulted prior to final decisions being made, rather then informed afterwards and expected to implement decisions we have had no input into.

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"We would greatly appreciate you giving credence to our concerns and acting upon them sooner rather than later, as our sector plays a major role in implementing your final decisions and outcomes."

To read the letter in full please turn to our letters page.

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