Press Release
Date: Thursday 24 November 2005 (NR/30/05)
CCEA issues Guidance to Primary Schools on Transfer Test 2 – Possible Severe Weather Conditions
CCEA, the body responsible for setting and marking the Transfer Procedure tests, has issued urgent guidance to primary schools on the conduct of the second scheduled test this Friday. CCEA has taken this action in light of the severe weather predicted by the Met Office to affect Northern Ireland on Thursday night and during Friday.
In a letter to primary schools issued on Wednesday 23 November CCEA’s Director of Operations Neil Anderson stated:
“This Friday’s test is scheduled to begin at 10.00am with pupils expected to be in their places not later than 9.45am. To ensure that the testing process is the same for all children in all schools there can be no variation in the starting time of the test on Friday. In light of the predicted weather conditions, CCEA is advising that, if possible, parents of pupils sitting the test should make adjustments to normal travel arrangements to ensure that their children are at school on time.
CCEA would like to stress, however, that at all times the safety of parents and pupils is of paramount importance. If it is not possible for a child sitting Friday’s test to make a safe journey to school then arrangements will be made for them to sit the Supplementary Test in December.
The Transfer Procedure is based on the results of two valid tests and where a pupil misses the second of the main scheduled tests on Friday, due to the weather conditions or for any other exceptional reason, the Supplementary Test must be taken.”
A helpline has been set up to deal with any queries or concerns that principals, teachers or parents might have – 028 9026 1200
On Friday 25 November 15,561 pupils in 862 primary schools are due to sit the second of this year’s Transfer Procedure tests.
The Supplementary Test will be on Tuesday 13 December 2005 and will be held under the same conditions as the main tests.
The Supplementary Test is provided:
- for those pupils who have completely missed one or both of the main tests through illness or other unforeseen exceptional reason/s; and
- for those pupils whose performance has been adversely affected in one of the main tests through illness or other unforeseen exceptional reason/s.
The tests will each last for one hour.
Out of a maximum total of 75 marks in each of the tests, English and
Mathematics carry 26 marks with the remaining 23 marks for Science.
Media enquiries to Ruth Maguire on (028) 9026 1216, Mobile 07796947993. E mail rhmaguire@ccea.org.uk
ENDS
Note to Editors
CCEA is the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
CCEA places learners and those who have a concern for their educational and personal development at the forefront of its thinking. CCEA's mission is:
"To enable the full potential of all learners to be achieved and recognised"
What we do
CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK , bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment.
Advising Government – on what should be taught in Northern Ireland ’s schools and colleges.
Monitoring Standards – ensuring that the qualifications and examinations offered by awarding bodies in Northern Ireland are of an appropriate quality and standard.
Awarding Qualifications
– as Northern Ireland’s leading awarding body we offer a diverse range of qualifications, such as GCSEs, including the new GCSE Double Award specifications in vocational subjects, GCE A and AS levels, Entry Level Qualifications, and Graded Objectives in Modern Languages.
- CCEA also offers a range of Awards and Certificates in Education, Training and Skills (ACETS) targeted at learners who want to get
the knowledge, understanding and skills needed
to hit the ground running in the world of work.
