In the Very Near Future Many Hundreds of Children in Our Schools Will Be Part of the Process

Armagh / Cookstown/ Dungannon Catholic Primary Principals’ Group

To be issued to parents today, Tuesday 28th April 2009.

Principals and teachers representing Catholic Primary Schools in the Armagh, Cookstown and Dungannon areas met on Friday 24th April to discuss information received from local Catholic grammar schools with respect to transfer arrangements for the 2009/10 school year. Thirty seven Primary School Principals were in attendance. The following statement was unanimously agreed and is being issued to parents in the respective schools, relevant education bodies and to the media. (We invite responses)

Statement to Parents

In the very near future many hundreds of children in our schools will be part of the process that will lead to their placement in secondary schools in September 2010. Children and parents, along with primary schools, have waited patiently for clarification and explanation of the process that will be used for this.

Principals of feeder primary schools to grammar schools in the Dungannon /Armagh areas have last week received information on proposed arrangements through which 100% of children to be admitted to those grammar schools will be selected on the basis of academic testing. These arrangements include children sitting two tests, one in English and one in Mathematics. These tests will take place on one day in November. Saturday 21st November is proposed at this time. Supplementary tests will be held on Saturday 12th December 2009.

We, as Primary School Principals, have major concerns in relation to what has been proposed at this time. We feel that it is our duty to relay information received and concerns that we have to the parents of children in our schools. We believe that parents should know what we know at all stages in this changing situation.

There is no possibility that tests will be wholly based on the Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum. Test materials that we have been shown are based on the National Curriculum – the curriculum of England and Wales. Year 6 pupils in every one of our schools are taught on the basis of the Revised Curriculum – a skills-based curriculum that is statutory for all primary schools here.

The tests in format and structure are alien to work carried out in our school. Sample test material presented to us is completely inappropriate in terms of content, structure and format.

It is impossible for our children to be accurately tested for selection purposes using 2 x 50 minutes multiple choice style tests in English and Mathematics in November of their Primary 7 year. This is 7 months before all aspects of the Literacy and Numeracy Programmes of Study for Key Stage 2 can be expected to have been delivered.

The skills based Revised Curriculum for Key Stage 2 is a 3-year programme and the methodology of its implementation does not facilitate, lend itself to, or enable the proposed form of testing to accurately reflect a child’s ability for selection purposes.

In response to issues raised by Primary Principals, we believe that parents should be aware that, at this time:

·  No information is available on how special circumstances will be managed.

·  No information is available on how the transfer of children with Statements of Special Educational Needs will be managed.

·  No information is available on how the transfer of children for whom English is a second language will be managed.

·  No information is available on whether test marks or grades will be employed.

·  There is no information on how this process will link with the completion of Transfer Forms in primary schools in early 2010.

Our first priority is the welfare of children in our schools. We have major concerns for our children in this regard:

·  It is proposed that tests will take place in grammar schools. Children will do these tests in an alien environment. In itself this raises further concerns. They will do two tests with a short break between. In our experience children, even the most able, may arrive at school and/or emerge distressed from a first test – they are unable to return to a highly stressful test situation within minutes.

·  Proposed testing arrangements are not based on good practice and there is no precedence for this form of testing here.

·  It is understandable that parents and teachers will want the children to do their best at all times. However, it will be impossible for children to be prepared for tests that are not based on the Northern Ireland Revised Curriculum.

Our first priority has been and remains the interests and well-being of every child in our schools. In all conscience we, as Catholic Primary School Principals, feel duty bound to state clearly to parents that arrangements, as presented to us, are fundamentally unfair, educationally unsound and totally contrary to the Catholic Ethos of our schools.

In addition – we wish to state that as Primary Principals in the Catholic sector we are duty bound, committed and proud of our efforts to date in

·  nurturing all those children entrusted to our care in an atmosphere and environment that reflects the Catholic ethos and epitomises the values of our Catholic faith

·  providing a safe and secure learning environment where every child , parent, member of staff and all who visit or are involved with the school feel valued, respected, cared for and protected.

·  ensuring our pupils reach their full potential and continue to achieve the highest standards.

We want to make it clear that, at no stage of this process, have Primary schools been consulted in regard to these arrangements. We will not be involved in any way in supporting or administering testing arrangements which are totally flawed, ethically questionable and morally unacceptable.

·  We believe that grammar schools must reconsider their proposed arrangements at this time and withdraw their proposed tests.

·  It is our view that Transfer arrangements must involve the primary and secondary sectors working together in the best interests of all children.

·  We believe that our grammar schools should show leadership for the future and should begin to put in place a process of transition to end academic selection as set out in the recent statement of the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education. This process should begin with phased movement to adoption of non-academic criteria beginning in the school year 2009 / 2010.

·  We believe the time has come for the Catholic education sector, primary and secondary, to show faith in the parents of all children in our schools.

All must be aware that time is now critical.

We have urgently sought to meet with the Minister of Education, Ms Caitríona Ruane, and the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education, to voice our concerns.

We cannot allow the future of our children to continue to be placed at risk.

We all want the very best for the children in our care.

We will continue to work for this in every way we can.

Tuesday 28th April 2009 (Embargoed until 3.00 pm)

Deirdre McKee, Aughamullan Primary School

Michelle McGauley, Blessed Patrick O’ Loughran, Castlecaufield

Barry Randall, Clintyclay Primary School

Mary McNeice, Derrylatinee Primary School

Peter Cush, St Colmcille’s Primary School, Carrickmore

Anne McAlinden, Edendork Primary School

Conor McPhilips, Gaelscoil Uí Néill,Clonoe

Tony Devlin, Holy Trinity Primary School, Cookstown

Siobhan Coleman, Laghey Primary School, Killyman

Patrick Mallon, Our Lady’s P.S. Tullysaran

Yvonne Mulholland, Presentation Primary School, Portadown

Seán Dillon, Primate Dixon Primary School, Coalisland

Seamus McCreesh, St Patrick’s Primary School, Roan

Eunan McGinn, Sacred Heart Primary School, Rock

Gillian McGrath, St Brigid’s, Brocagh

Jacqueline Loughran, St Jarlath’s Primary School, Blackwatertown

Valerie McGeown, St John’s Primary School, Eglish

John Kilpatrick, St John’s Primary School, Moy

Philip O’Neill, St John’s Primary School, Kingsisland

Mario Gribbon, St John the Baptist Primary School, Portadown

Frances Hughes, St Joseph’s Primary School, Caledon

Stephen Magennis, St Joseph’s Primary School , Galbally

Catherine McKenna, St Joseph’s Primary School, Killeenan

Ciaran Loane, St Peter’s Primary School, Moortown

Paul Duggan, St Malachy’s Primary School, Armagh

Dympna Singleton, St Mary’s Primary School, Aughnacloy

Damian Cullen, St Mary’s Primary School, Ballygawley

Damian Kelly, St Mary’s Primary School, Cabra

Carole Anderson, St Mary’s Primary School, Carland

Sheila Devlin, St Mary’s Primary School, Dunamore

Jim Lee, St Mary’s Primary School, Maghery

Seán Devlin, St Mary’s Primary School, Pomeroy

Jimmy McKee, St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Ballyhegan

Patrick McGivern, St Patrick’s Primary School, Annaghmore

Dera Cahalane, St Patrick’s Primary School, Donaghmore

Mary Hampsey, St Patrick’s Primary School, Dungannon

Marie McKenna, St Patrick’s Primary School, Mullinahoe

Joe Dunleavy, St Peter’s Primary School, Collegelands