TRANSFER FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY EDUCATION 2003

Friday 07 February 2003


Transfer from Primary to Secondary Education 2003

Within the Southern Education and Library Board’s area there are 5547 children due to transfer from Primary to Secondary schools in September 2003. A total of 2908 children did not take the tests either because they live in non-selective areas or because they and their parents have already decided that the possibility of admission to a grammar school was not being pursued.

The parents of 2639 children who took the Transfer Tests in November/December 2002 were informed of their results in letters issued on Friday 7 February 2003.

The grades allocated to pupils in the current school year and the previous 2 school years are:

2002/2003 School Year

Grade A	Grade B1	Grade B2	Grade C1	Grade C2	Grade D	Total
1087	245	260	210	193	644	2639
(41.2%)	(9.3%)	(9.9%)	(8.0%)	(7.3%)	(24.4%)

2001/2002 School Year

Grade A	Grade B1	Grade B2	Grade C1	Grade C2	Grade D	Total
1148	254	241	225	212	612	2692
(42.6%)	(9.4%)	(9.0%)	(8.4%)	(7.9%)	(22.7%)

2000/2001School Year

Grade A	Grade B1	Grade B2	Grade C1	Grade C2	Grade D	Total
1055	213	216	237	220	634	2575
(41.0%)	(8.3%)	(8.4%)	(9.2%)	(8.5%)	(24.6%)

The next step in the procedure is the completion of the Transfer Form. At the discussion with the Principal of the Primary School parents will be asked to state their preferences, drawing on information already provided by the Department of Education and Education and Library Boards and the information found within the prospectuses of secondary schools. Many parents have already attended Open Days.

As in previous years parents should be careful to provide all information on the Transfer Form which is relevant to their preferred schools. The admissions criteria of the schools concerned should be carefully studied to ensure that no information such as ‘eldest child in family’ or ‘father/mother attended the school’ is forgotten about. Where it is appropriate, information should be given about special circumstances and documentary evidence attached to the Transfer Form.

Parents should also ensure that their stated preferences are the most appropriate for the child’s interests as it may not be possible to gain admission to another preferred school if the wrong choices are indicated on the Transfer Form.

Information about the Transfer Procedure itself including the completion of the Transfer Form is available from the Board’s Pupil and Parent Unit (028) 37 512406.