Children left 'feeling like failures'
The parent of a Derry schoolgirl going through the first transfer since the abolition of the 11 Plus has branded the entire process 'a disaster', saying it has left parents and schoolchildren alike feeling confused and unsure of how best to proceed.
Results of the first post 11 plus transfer exams were released on Saturday and parents of all transferring children will be invited to meet with their children’s school principal over the coming week to discuss what happens next.
However the Derry mother, who did not want to be named, said many parents remained very confused about what way to approach filling in an application for their children.
“Some schools have made it clear that if you put another school ahead of them in your preferences you will lose out if your child does not get their first choice.
“It is a delicate balancing act for a lot of parents, whose children perhaps did not do as well as they had hoped, where we have to study the yellow transfer book and try and work out the best way to give our children a fighting chance to get into a good school.
“When we fill in the forms we have to be accutely aware of each school’s admission criteria and be able to demonstrate how our child meets this criteria.
“It feels as if we are applying for university - in fact it is tougher. Added to this my daughter’s principal has said they are not allowed to offer advice on the transfer process - they can only assist in helping filling in the forms. I’m not expecting an awful lot from the meeting.”
The mother added that her daughter had been “devastated” to receive a D grade in the controversial exam - after performing well in practice tests.
“Our children were left in a void - capable children are left feeling like failures and for what? We aren’t even sure what to do next or how to go about it.
“Throughout the entire process we have been treated as guinea pigs and left to fend for ourselves and it is our children who are suffering.
“It’s all very well and good to talk about it but when you see your child’s face crumple at their results it is heartbreaking.”
The Western Education and Library Board has encouraged all parents to study the post primary guide carefully and to visit open days where possible.
The WELB will issue a letter on Friday 28 May 2010 notifying each parent/guardian of the post primary school which has accepted their child.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Derry
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
