Transfer tests: Some P7 pupils get results a day early
- Published
Gerald Colan-O'Leary's 11-year-old daughter Tara was among the P7 pupils who received their test results on Friday
Some children who sat their transfer tests at Antrim Grammar School have received their results a day early due to a mailing error.
Transfer tests are used as entrance exams by about 60 post-primary schools.
Primary seven children who sat the transfer tests run by the AQE or PPTC testing organisations are due to receive their results on Saturday.
But some who sat the PPTC test, also known as the GL Assessment test, got results from Antrim Grammar on Friday.
In a statement released through the Education Authority, the school said that "due to a mailing error some parents will have received their child's GL Assessment results a day early".
"As per usual guidance, we will manage any questions or concerns relating to GL or AQE results on Monday 6 February."
Antrim Grammar is one of a number of schools which use the results of either test - PPTC or AQE - to decide which pupils to admit to year eight.
It is not clear how many children received their PPTC test results a day early.
When contacted, Antrim Grammar School referred BBC News NI to the statement released by the EA on the school's behalf.
'Unexpectedly early present'
Gerald Colan-O'Leary's 11-year-old daughter Tara was among pupils who sat transfer tests in Antrim Grammar late last year.
Her parents were surprised when her results letter arrived in their post on Friday afternoon.
"My wife was going to open it, but I said: 'No, they are hers.' So we waited until Tara came home from school and she opened them herself, " he told BBC News NI.
"She got an A."
The proud father described it as "unexpectedly early present," explaining that it has been a tense time in their home, waiting to find out how she did in the exams.
"It's like a sticking plaster being removed... it was off before she even realised," he said.
"I feel so sorry for the person who made the mistake [with the mail] but they have really helped all the parents."
Saturday's post will be awaited anxiously in homes across Northern Ireland on Saturday
Mr Colan-O'Leary explained that the letter contained Tara's GL results only, so like others she is still waiting for the results of her AQE test on Saturday.
However, knowing she had done well in one of the exams has taken some of the pressure off the process of trying to get her into a school of their choice.
Even with an A grade, the outcome is still not guaranteed.
"The schools she wants to go to are looking for percentiles," he explained.
"With any luck she'll get in."
As there is set to be a single common post-primary transfer test held this autumn, 2023 will be the last year pupils are admitted to schools through the results of separate transfer tests.
BBC News NI first revealed details of the new Schools Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG) test in 2021.
The common test is due to be held for first time on two Saturdays in November 2023.
It is the biggest change to the post-primary transfer system since 2008 when the state run 11-plus test ended after around 60 years.
But the transfer test is likely to remain controversial with a number of critics of academic selection and calls for change.
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