A View from Northern Ireland
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:08 pm
Hardly any thing is posted in Northern Ireland region, but here are some interesting views.
Transfer Test wrote:Hi, I just want to give some advice to Mums and Dads whose children are in their p5 or p6 year, and are thinking about the whole Northern Ireland Transfer Test process.
Firstly, a tutor is not required, don't feel peer pressure to get one, you can work better than a tutor can with your child at home, if your willing to put in the work. If not, then a tutor will be required.
Secondly, don't give all your tips away to 'The parents who pretend they don't know anything about the process and would desperately like your advice':- please take note, these parents are only researching their competition. Rest assured they have been researching the whole 11 plus/transfer test topic since they became pregnant and played Einstein Theories to their bump. I guarantee you that as soon as you give away all your tips and advice, they will avoid you at the school gates the next time they see you.
Thirdly, please tell your child to keep all practice test scores hey receive in the classroom private, because once again, 'Sneaky Mum/Dad', will have asked their child to sniff about like Sherlock Holmes and report all information to headquarters as soon as they arrive home at 3.10pm. You must remember this is a competition for YOUR child to get that place at Grammar School! Don't be fooled by the whole 'SILLY MUM' act, when she approaches you and says timidly "I'm not sure what papers I should be using or how many times a week I should be setting tests,"
BE WARNED....these parents know exactly what papers to use. Don't be fooled by the question "Have you started work with your little Jimmy yet? We haven't started any work with our sweet little Abby, we've only been giving her a few questions to sit here and there". Once again, this is a CON, they're sniffing about for information, checking out the competition... The parents who target you or your child for information on the transfer process know exactly what papers to use, how many papers a week to set, what tutors to use etc etc..... and I can guarantee you they have been setting those papers a good year or two before the practice tests are given in school.
Just keep your head down, you know what's best for your child and what topics they are weak on, just keep working with your child and please don't leave it all until the summer holidays before the actual tests. Too much stress for everyone involved!!!! But mostly be wary of the Mums at the school gate who relentlessly talk about their child achieving but all of a sudden they are lost when it comes to the transfer test process. Don't be fooled by this, they will plague you with telephone calls, emails, texts, whatever it takes to get sweet little Abby that place.......and then when the process is over, they will quite gladly pass you in the street and pretend they don't know you. If you do decide to give all your precious research and information away on the transfer test process, then be prepared for a bundle of lies in return. These parents will certainly not let you in on the papers they are using, or any of the research they have been storing away for the past 10 years in their sneaky little brains.
Good luck with the whole process and work hard.
