I am a parent of twins who want to sit the transfer test — please sign my petition to keep it

A letter from Caroline Nugent:
By Caroline Nugent
Published 8th Jan 2021, 07:00 BST
Updated 8th Jan 2021, 09:55 BST
If the transfer test goes and non-academic criteria are used many children will be excluded from a place at their preferred school on unfair groundsIf the transfer test goes and non-academic criteria are used many children will be excluded from a place at their preferred school on unfair grounds
If the transfer test goes and non-academic criteria are used many children will be excluded from a place at their preferred school on unfair grounds

I have read your articles on the AQE test for grammar school places (Dr William Kitchen, Jan 5: Scrapping the transfer test this year could be the end of grammar schools in NI; and Ben Lowry, Dec 19: Covid will be used to undermine grammar schools; and Editorial, Jan 6: AQE right not to give up on test)

I wanted to share a petition that I set up yesterday to support the AQE, despite the current political nonsense and Covid situation.

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I am a parent of very able P7 twins, who are still more than happy to sit the exam asap — as many are.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Should this fiasco continue, as it is most likely the case, under the non-academic (!) criteria my children would probably get a ‘pass’ to go to their older sibling’s school.

However, I feel strongly that this is wrong, and they should get in on academic merit alone, for themselves and for others too.

There are so many pupils who will get in on the ‘prep-pass’, a ‘sibling-pass’ or other equally ridiculous criteria.

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There are so many who will so unfairly be excluded: eldest children, children who are more academically able than their older siblings, children who live farther away from the school of their choice, the list is extensive.

Please visit the petition at:

http://chng.it/9fWjbZNQ

Sign the Petition

Keep the AQE tests this year

I, and many others like me have tried to get through to those in places of power, but will little success.

I am exhausted, and I am hopeful that you might be able help us generate more weight to the cause.

Thank you in advance,

Caroline Nugent, Lisburn

• Letter: This is not a vendetta against grammar schools

• Dr William Kitchen: Here is my plan to safely test

• Jan 6: Closing NI schools a disaster for children – principal

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• Hugh McCarthy Jan 6: Education is life-changing and it is shameful to deny it to children

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Related topics:Ben LowryPetitionLisburnNorthern Ireland