Strabane Grammar school opts out of AQE transfer test

by Q Radio News

Strabane Academy in County Tyrone has announced it will not facilitate the AQE transfer test scheduled to take place next month. 

It comes a day after transfer tests were cancelled in Northern Ireland. 

However, hours later AQE (Association for Quality Education) scheduled a single test paper for 27th February. 

In a letter to parents, the school said it would instead apply contingency criteria for accepting Year 8 students. 

Full letter to parents linked below: 

https://www.facebook.com/strabaneacademy/posts/3437607712984493

Contingency Admissions Criteria 2021 includes:

1. Children who have a sibling¹ currently attending the school or who are the eldest /only² child in the family

2. Children who are transferring from Controlled Primary Schools

3. Children who are transferring from Maintained Primary Schools

4. The age of the child. This will be alternated each year between eldest child and youngest child with preference this year being given to the eldest child (established by date-of-birth on the Birth Certificate)

The principal added, "I appreciate that this is not how any of us would have wanted the transfer process to have worked this year.

"Your child has invested a huge amount of time and effort in preparing for these tests.

"However, in these exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, we have taken this decision based on; what we believe is the correct decision for children’s’ welfare, the confidence we have in our admissions process and in our ability as a school to ensure you that your child will ultimately succeed in achieving the best possible academic outcome for them at Strabane Academy.

"Thank you again for your continued support and please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or queries regarding the admissions process for 2021."