THE TRANSFER PROCESS TO POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL 2016

1. THE TRANSFER PROCESS TO POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL2016

2. Department of Education Guidance Parents should also note the Department’s policy on the role of primary schools. The Department’s guidance, which all schools are legally obliged to have regard to, states: Primary schools play a distinct and crucial role in the educational development of all children. This role is to ensure that the primary stage of every child’s educational development (fundamental to all subsequent stages of educational development) is completed. 5 The vital educational role of primary schools should not be reduced or distorted into a role where primary schools see themselves as serving the academic admissions processes of post-primary schools. All primary schools have statutory obligations to deliver the primary curriculum to all children. The school should not facilitate unregulated entrance test arrangements in any way by supplying support materials, carrying out any preparation for unregulated tests during core teaching hours, offering afternoon coaching in exam technique, or by providing familiarisation with a test environment. The Education and Training Inspectorate will continue to monitor the quality of teaching and learning in primary schools in the context of the revised curriculum. Primary schools will be aware that any failure to deliver the revised curriculum can be formally reported as a complaint to a Curriculum Complaints Tribunal.

4. Current provision in Oakgrove IPS As your child enters Key Stage Two (Primary 5-7) in Oakgrove IPS they are set for both Literacy and Numeracy lessons each day. Your child was set at the beginning of Primary 5 based on their end of Key Stage One assessment results and their teachers’ observations. This has allowed your child to continue to achieve their full individual potential and maintain their self-esteem by providing them with work which is challenging but also set for their ability level. As part of our aim of promoting high achievement and learning for life for all children we feel this is the best way for catering for all of your children’s needs. The set which your child has been placed in has been monitored by teachers on an ongoing basis through class observations, the use of levels and end of year assessments.

6. Setting for English

7. Setting for Maths

9. How do we ensure children are challenged? Each year the children do a variety of assessments. They are then analysed by the class teacher and School Management Team to track their progress e.g.

11. Assessment Levels • Level Descriptors

12. Levels of Progression

13. The Oakgrove Way • So each year with teachers knowing what level children are, they can ensure: • Work set is at an appropriate level for your child • Work set is challenging your child • Your child is progressing • The school is performing in line with Northern Ireland expectation • The children are also levelled each year. Teachers set targets for each child in their class. This is used to target individual children, groups and classes for extra challenge and support.

15. Curriculum Provision In order to provide the best for all children in P6/P7 we : • Set all children into appropriate level teaching groups for Maths and English. • Give appropriately challenging homework for each child according to their ability and needs • Encourage use of the P6 and P7 areas of the school website, which now provides excellent resources, to stretch and challenge children in Maths and English as well as other areas across the curriculum in a fun and interactive manner e.g. Mathletics • In the Curriculum Area • Share with parents new assessment levels and discuss ways parents can continue to support their children.

17. Post Primary School Transfer Arrangements • Most of our children transfer to Oakgrove Integrated College which is inclusive and all ability. Currently their criteria guarantees a place for our children if they name the College as their first preference. • Admissions criteria for all post primary schools are available from WELB and directly from each school. • Many Grammar schools operate tests unregulated and unapproved by the Dept Of Education to select children. Primary schools are forbidden to teach to these tests.

19. Time frame for Transfer • Open nights for Post Primary schools .P6 / P7 children can attend January / February 2015 / 2016. • Parents then need to consider which Post Primary school they wish for their child. Further information can be obtained from each school. • P6 Oakgrove Children attend familiarisation days at Oakgrove College. • Parents may attend transfer meeting with Principal in February 2016. Transfer forms completed and forwarded to WELB by Primary School. • P7 participate in Post Primary transition activities in school from April 2016 (eg.. Discussing timetables, school maps, organisation of personal belongings, uniforms etc..) • WELB informs parents which school their child will transfer to at the end of May 2016. • Post Primary schools arrange induction days in June 2016. • P7 children graduate from Oakgrove Primary with a ‘Record of Achievement’ assembly in June 2016.