Snow could delay NI transfer tests

The transfer test exam board has said that Saturday's AQE exams could be postponed because of the bad weather.

The unofficial tests are the third in a series and the results will be an average of the two best grades.

Sir Ken Bloomfield said they hoped to run the tests as normal, but were making contingency plans.

"We could delay the start for example, or start those who have arrived but set a room aside for others who arrive a bit later," he said.

"If there were to be a lot of absentees, the judgement we would have to make is whether we would rely on the two tests or whether to bring into play a reserve test."

Two separate organisations are operating the unofficial tests for entrance to grammar schools across Northern Ireland.

The third test in those run by the Association for Quality Education (AQE), takes place on Saturday.

It is the second year that schools have run their own tests, in the absence of the government-run transfer test.

It is estimated that about 7,000 children in Northern Ireland are taking the unofficial exams.