Transfer test causing ‘extreme concern’ for parents - but 85% of group intending to enter children into process

Around six in ten parents who responded to a Stormont survey said they were “very or extremely concerned” about children taking transfer tests this school year.
Taking an examTaking an exam
Taking an exam

The BBC are reporting the findings of a survey on post-primary transfer carried out by MLAs on Stormont’s Education Committee.

There were more than 8,500 responses to the survey, including 6,150 parents and 1,858 teachers.

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Respondents were self-selecting, so the findings may not be representative.

The transfer tests are used by almost all grammar schools in NI to select pupil - but a number have said, owing to the pandemic, they will not use them to admit pupils for 2021 due to disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The tests have also been moved back from their usual dates in November until January 2021.

The committee commissioned the NI Assembly’s Engagement, Communications and Education Service to develop a survey to collect views on the subject of post-primary transfer tests.

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MLAs from the five main assembly parties sit on the committee.

The survey - which took the form of a questionnaire - was carried out from 20 July to 7 September and the results have just been published.

A separate young people’s survey was also carried out during that period to which 753 children responded - three-quarters of whom were in primary seven.

Over half of the children who responded (55%) said they were not concerned or only slightly concerned about taking the transfer tests during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

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However, almost a third (31%) said they were very or extremely concerned about taking the tests.

Of over 6,000 parents who responded to the survey, 85% said that they were intending to enter their children for the transfer tests.

However, almost two-thirds (63.9%) said they were very or extremely concerned that children had not had enough time to prepare for the tests.

Only one in eight (12.5%) said they were “not concerned at all”.

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Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA sais there should be serious consideration given to abolishing transfer tests for post-primary admissions after a major survey showed a significant percentage of respondents felt it should be scrapped.

In a statement, the Alliance MLA said the survey showed over 43 per cent of respondents felt the current post-primary transfer tests should be abolished, 19 per cent felt they should be retained, 29 per cent felt they should be reformed and nine per cent were unsure.

“These are important figures and I thank everyone who responded to the survey,” said Mr Lyttle.

“I have previously called for the post-primary admissions tests to be abolished entirely. Research from Stranmillis University College found access to and performance in the transfer tests is mediated by socio-economic status.

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“That has been exacerbated by the impact of the ongoing pandemic on young people and their education, with the disruption having a particular consequence for those approaching this test.

“These results show a significant percentage of people feel strongly enough to call for the removal of the tests entirely and serious consideration must now be given to abolishing them. The Assembly Education Committee will now bring a motion to the Assembly calling on Education Minister Peter Weir to outline contingency plans for transfer tests this year.

“Alliance will continue working toward a sensible outcome for children and I urge the Minister to pursue alternative methods of transferring pupils.”

Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan called for the academic selection process to be scrapped altogether.

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The party’s education spokesperson spoke out after Education Minister Peter Weir said a single transfer test would ease pressure.

She said: “It’s extremely disappointing that Minister Peter Weir is still determined to disadvantage children at 11 years-old through academic selection despite its negative consequences.

“His comments are in complete contradiction to international evidence which states that academic selection perpetuates inequality and has a hugely negative impact on our children.

“To be clear, academic selection should be scrapped not reinstated.

“Minister Weir should focus his efforts on banning unregulated, unfair tests and removing the damage and stress they are placing on our children, parents and teachers.”