Victoria College Belfast

1
Victoria College Belfast

• Proposed Arrangements
• for
• Transfer 2010

2
Transfer 2010

• The Board of Governors have decided to continue
  with academic selection for Admission to the
  College for pupils transferring from Primary
  School in September 2010, and wish to provide
  access to the College for all children from
  across the community who would benefit from the
  academic ethos of Victoria College
• In the absence of our preferred option, a
  Department of Education commissioned test which
  is regulated for everyone, the College will
  consider applications from pupils who have taken
  either the AQE Common Entrance Assessment or the
  GL Assessment.

3
Transfer 2010

• Parents should choose the test, or tests, which
  best accommodate their daughters choices of
  schools
• Applicants are NOT required to sit BOTH tests to
  gain admission to the College

4
Which Assessment Instrument?

• GL Assessment is a leading provider of
  independent tests and assessments
• GL Assessment is now the brand name for the
  assessment products previously produced by
  nferNelson, experts in assessment for over 25
  years
• Closed test from GL Assessment in English and
  Mathematics referenced against the Key Stage 2
  Northern Ireland Curriculum
• The two tests will be undertaken in one day
• No cost to applicants
• Will be used by 28 Grammar Schools.

5
Which Assessment Instrument?

• The Common Entrance Assessment (AQE) has been
  designed by an experienced chief examiner with a
  team of revisers
• Three one hour tests based on English and
  Mathematics components of NI Curriculum KS2
• Pupils need only sit two tests but may choose to
  do a third
• Only marks in best two tests will count
• The test will be used by 33 Grammar Schools (list
  of names available on AQE website)
• Fee of 35 payable at time of registration
• No cost if applicant is entitled to Free School
  Meals.

6
Registration

• Forms may be obtained from College website or by
  post
• Original Birth Certificate required
• 3 Colour passport size photographs required for
  AQE 1 Colour passport size photograph required
  for GL Assessment
• Indicate 3 convenient Assessment Centres. It is
  NOT necessary to sit the test in a school to
  which you intend to apply for admission.
• Include any Special Access arrangements or
  Special Educational Needs of candidate.

7
Administration

• Children arrive at school Centre from 9.15am to
  be seated at 9.45am
• Parents are asked not to enter the building
• Senior pupils and Senior staff will meet, greet
  and take pupils to allocated rooms
• Pencils and eraser will be provided by school for
  each pupil
• Answer sheets are pre-printed with pupils
  personal details
• For GL tests refreshments will be provided at
  break.

8
Details of GL Assessment

• One English Assessment of 50 minutes
• One Maths Assessment of 45 minutes
• Multiple choice answers
• Held in classrooms with approximately 25
  candidates in each room
• GL Assessment supervises the setting, marking and
  standardising of tests and will provide remark
  service if required
• Results will be issued to parents on Saturday 6
  February 2010.

9
English GL Assessment

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

10
Mathematics GL Assessment

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

11
Assessment Days 21st November and 12th December

• English Practice and Assessment paper
• Break at 11.10am to 11.30am
• Maths Practice and Assessment paper
• Completion at 12.30pm.

12
Details of Common Entrance Assessment (AQE)

• Three one hour assessments on three separate days
  each including English and Mathematics
• Held in VCB in classrooms with approximately 25
  candidates in each room
• Tests will be marked in two marking centres
• Each paper will be marked by three markers and
  scores will be cross checked
• Age related adjustments will be made
• The best two scores will be taken and a
  standardised score for each candidate will be
  calculated.

13
Format of Assessment (AQE)

• Poem followed by 7 comprehension items
• 11 Mathematics items
• Prose passage followed by 7 comprehension items
• 11 Mathematics items
• Basic skills passage followed by 5 basic skills
  items
• 10 Mathematics items
• Poem 2 followed by 7 comprehension items.

14
Documents to Assist in Process

• Timetable outlines key dates in the process
• Registration Forms will be available from College
  website or AQE website or from the School Office
  from 18th May 2009
• A guide for parents accompanies the Registration
  Form for each test
• Special Consideration Policy and Access
  Arrangements will be available on the College
  website or from the School Office from 18th May
  2009.

15
Documents to Assist in Process

• Assessment Specification will be available on the
  College website
• GL Assessment Familiarisation paper can be
  provided
• Progress in English and Progress in Maths
  assessments are used in many Primary Schools
• Exemplar materials available on AQE website
  www.aqe.org.uk. Click on CEA Sample Test Items
• Paper copies of all these documents are available
  on request, as are copies in large print if
  required.

16
Special Circumstances

• Must be claimed in writing as soon as possible
  following the assessment and by Friday 18th
  December at the latest
• Will be considered by the school to which the
  child has applied
• Applications for Special Circumstances must be
  made on Form SC09
• For AQE an application form must be completed in
  respect of EACH paper where special circumstances
  apply.

17
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
• Schools select against published criteria
• ELB/ESA sends letter to parents in late May 2010
  stating the school to which the pupil has been
  admitted.

18
Admissions Criteria

• Admissions Criteria for September 2010 will be
  provided as soon as final guidance from
  Department of Education is available
• Academic selection is likely to be based on a
  banding process, similar to the current Transfer
  procedure.

19
Key Dates

• Friday 18 May 2009 Registration opens
• Friday 18th September 2009 Registration closes
• Saturday 14,28 November 09 and Saturday 5
  December AQE Assessments held in post-primary
  school centres
• Saturday 21 November 09 GL Assessments held in
  post-primary school centres
• Saturday 12 December 09 Supplementary GL
  Assessments
• Saturday 6 February 2010 Results issued to homes.

20
Key Facts

• GL-Assessment will mark the assessments
• AQE will mark the Common Entrance Assessments
• The ELBs/ESA will continue to process the
  Transfer forms
• Victoria College will retain its Admissions
  Number of 130 pupils into Year 8
• Open Morning will be held in January 2010.

21
For Further Information

• Visit www.victoriacollege.org.uk
• If you have any questions either write to
• Patricia Slevin (Principal),
• Victoria College Belfast
• Cranmore Park BT9 6JA
• OR email nmawhinney170_at_c2kni.net
• Telephone [phone]