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Abbey Grammar School, Newry Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry

Abbey Grammar School, Newry Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry St. Colman’s College, Newry St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel English & Maths Test – GL Assessment INFORMATION FOR PRIMARY PRINCIPALS. Why the GL Assessment Test?.

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Abbey Grammar School, Newry Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry

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  1. Abbey Grammar School, Newry Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry St. Colman’s College, Newry St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel English & Maths Test – GL Assessment INFORMATION FOR PRIMARY PRINCIPALS

  2. Why the GL Assessment Test? • Have been awaiting a statement from the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education following the report of the Working Group which was established in late February to consider this matter • The Commission has now written to Trustees and they have accepted that some Grammar Schools may use testing as part of their admissions criteria. The Governors of our five schools have approved the GL Assessment Test in English and Maths • Absence of provision for use of Pupil Profile or any alternative test in DENI arrangements • Concerns about CEA (Common Entrance Assessment) • GL Assessment Test is proven, standardised and objective – no cost to parents

  3. Why the GL Assessment Test? • GL Assessment is a leading provider of independent tests and assessments • GL Assessment is the new name for nferNelson • Experts in assessment for over 25 years • We are using a Special Access / Closed test from GL Assessment in English and Mathematics • Referenced against the Key Stage 2 Northern Ireland Curriculum

  4. How will the GL Assessment Test Work? • There will be two tests, one in English for 50 minutes and one in Maths for 45 minutes. Both tests will be based on the KS2 curriculum. • It is proposed that GL Assessment will place scores into grade bands and these grades will be used as at present.

  5. English Assessment • English paper • Practice session: 1 Reading passage, 3 familiarisation and 7 practice questions which take 15-20 minutes • Assessment paper: 3 reading passages; 55 questions and 10 general questions which take 50 minutes • Maximum time required is 70 minutes

  6. Mathematics Assessment • Mathematics paper • Practice: 3 familiarisation and 6 practice questions (10-15 minutes) • Assessment paper: 45 questions which take 45 minutes • Maximum time needed 60 minutes

  7. Documents to Assist in Process • Assessment Specification • Familiarisation paper • GL Assessment 11+ practice papers (available from bookshops or from www.gl-assessment.co.uk) • ‘Progress in English and Progress in Maths’ assessments are used in many Primary Schools

  8. How will the GL Assessment Test Work? • Pupils eligible to apply will be those in P6 in the academic year 2009-10 and born between 2nd July 1999 and 1st July 2000 • Parents of pupils interested in applying for the GL Assessment Test will be able to register their child for the test from early May until a date to be decided. Guidance for parents will accompany the registration form. • All registration forms for those who wish to sit the test in one of our consortium of Newry and Kilkeel Grammar Schools should be returned to one Registration Centre. • Primary Schools will be assigned by us to a particular Centre. • All pupils from that school will sit the test together. • Pupils will sit the tests on 20th November 2010. • Pupils will be grouped together in classrooms with Primary School peers. • Supplementary test on (not known yet) December for those pupils who may have been sick or affected by significant circumstances on 20th November.

  9. Assessment Day: Likely Arrangements • Unconfirmed at this time • Arrive at school Centre at 9.00am • Children to be seated at 9.30am • English Practice and Assessment paper – 9.35am – 10.45am • Break at 10.45am to 11.15am • Resume at 11.20am • Maths Practice and Assessment paper – 11.20am – 12.20pm • Completion at 12.20pm

  10. Format of the GL Assessment Test • Two closed, standardised tests taken on the same day • Multiple choice in format • Answers will be recorded on an OMR sheet • Marked externally • As with the current Transfer Test each pupil’s age is taken into account when GL Assessment processes the results

  11. How are the results used? • To help clarify the standard required, pupils in primary schools should be attaining at least Level 4 at the end of KS2 • If oversubscribed, additional admissions criteria will apply in the normal way taking into account each grade as with the current transfer arrangements

  12. Additional Arrangements • Parental Information Guidance Pack will be available on each school’s website or from any of the school offices • Results available to parents prior to Transfer Process • Test re-mark facility available • Special requirements catered for • Special Circumstances provision must be claimed in writing to the centre in which the pupil sat his/her exam last year it was 5 working days after sitting the assessments – not confirmed for this year at this time.

  13. Involvement of Primary Schools • Test is administered by each of the five grammar schools • No change required to NI Curriculum at KS2 • No administrative burden on school • No additional involvement of Primary Principal

  14. Transfer Application Form • Administered by the ELBs / ESA • Usual Transfer Forms to be completed after consultation with Primary School Principal • Nominate preference of Post Primary Schools • School select against published criteria • ELB sends letter to parents in late May 2011 stating the school to which the pupil has been admitted

  15. Key Dates • Early May 2010: Registration opens • Registration closes: Date to be determined • Saturday 20 November ’10: Assessments held in post-primary school centres • Saturday December ’10: Supplementary Assessments’ morning – date not known • Saturday 2011: Results issued to Parents / Guardians – date not known

  16. For Further Information • If you have any questions either write to: Mr Dermot McGovern – Abbey Grammar School, Newry, Tel: 028 3026 3142 or email dmcgovern@abbeycbs.co.uk Ms Geraldine Pettigrew – Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry, Tel: 028 3026 3552 or email mpettigrew014@c2kni.net Sr Julie McGoldrick – Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry, Tel: 0238 3026 4632 or email jmcgoldrick770@c2kni.net Canon Francis Brown – St. Colman’s College, Newry, Tel: 028 3026 2451 or email fbrown709@c2kni.net Mr Kevin Martin – St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, Tel: 028 4176 2747 or email kmartin456@c2kni.net

  17. Website Addresses Abbey Grammar School: www.abbeycbs.co.uk Our Lady’s Grammar School: www.ourladysgrammar.org Sacred Heart Grammar School: www.shsnewry.com St. Colman’s College, Newry: www.stcolmans.org.uk St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel: www.stlouis.org.uk

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