Messages

1

General discussion / Re: 11-Plus Proposal

« on: Today at 01:54:36 AM »

I knew a young lad who got the top score in his primary school but was the only one not to get in. Some system.

Was this for Rathmore ?

2

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 06, 2020, 09:22:54 PM »

I appreciate that your parish school had failed your P4 child , but you should be speaking/emailing to the chair of the governors and make a complaint. Some of the things , you are reporting are a poor reflection on that particular school,but you shouldnt tar everyone with the same brush.
Most teachers are working hard to ensure the children in their care are safe and receiving work. If you PM me( i think you can do that on this platform ) , I ll do my best to get your child  a home learning pack or two , posted to you on Monday and  I ll send you some online learning links .

3

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 06, 2020, 02:33:21 PM »

For the benefit of trailer and oneill et al.
About half of 1100  schools are open in the north to provide  supervision  for all school aged children.
The schools  that are open had key workers who accepted a place in that school . There were 1200 children being supervised on Wed 3rd .
School staff supervise on a rota. Those not in school work remotely to deliver home - learning and ensure vulnerable children are okay. Whether you question that or not - is up to you.

My own school had parents who turned down the offer of a place because they were frightened of  covid 19 cross infection.

Schools that are closed - had no key workers accept a place . Staff are working remotely and attending school on a rota to complete school based tasks .

Schools were closed by the Dept of Education for health and safety of pupils , staff , parents , grandparents and childcare providers. There is a pandemic , schools had to close , you need to get over these things and move on and stop criticising the school situation. 
No school would choose to be closed , no teacher would wish to have to predict grades . They are in a position not of their making

4

GAA Discussion / Re: GAA Response to Coronavirus

« on: June 06, 2020, 12:10:15 AM »

The GAA haven't included what will happen if Stormont don't relax their lockdown in line with the Republic.

There is a note on bottom of page 13 , that the plan is dependent on both governments following the relevant dates listed

5

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 05, 2020, 10:16:56 PM »

Trailers wife is a front line worker so can avail of having kids at school allowing him to work. So no issues.

Also let’s give schools teachers and kids some credit, the education will continue when safe, they’ll not finish school at a lesser disadvantage position than the kids the coming before them or after them.

My daughters won’t lose the education they’ve received these past few years!

Thanks for answering on behalf of me and wife's behalf. But you are incorrect. Yes she is a frontline worker but we can't avail of the childcare because..... drum roll....... the teachers in our local school refused to provide it. I shit you not. We only have one at school age so it's not a solution anyway.
You'd have more respect for teachers if they came out and just said they don't want to go back because they're enjoying the time off. There is no medical reason that justifies their approach.

Can you not send them to a hub school? I am looking after children from my school and several other schools in a hub school. I think there are 7 schools availing of this service.

A 2 year old?

You are confusing childcare and primary school provision; which is for primary school aged children.

6

General discussion / Re: 11-Plus Proposal

« on: June 05, 2020, 08:31:46 PM »

Loreto and Omagh CBS have both dropped the 11 plus for next year.

They had started a phased reduction of  of academic selection this year , 25 % on Sub criteria , 75% exam result

7

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 05, 2020, 05:36:41 PM »

Aye all. Pack of dossers. Especially primary teachers. Do some sums and comprehension and send them off to big school as greenhorns.

Jesus.... I forgot to teach them quantum physics  this week ...........ah well.... they'll just have to read,  comprehend , infer information, calculate , problem solve,  use ICT, Code , write a story , paint , do a science equipment , make a lego model, do a bit of exercise......do all the things a child under 10 is supposed to do

Teach them commas fcuk ye.

Think you might need to go to specsavers , ye balloon

8

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 05, 2020, 04:06:11 PM »

Aye all. Pack of dossers. Especially primary teachers. Do some sums and comprehension and send them off to big school as greenhorns.

Jesus.... I forgot to teach them quantum physics  this week ...........ah well.... they'll just have to read,  comprehend , infer information, calculate , problem solve,  use ICT, Code , write a story , paint , do a science equipment , make a lego model, do a bit of exercise......do all the things a child under 10 is supposed to do

9

General discussion / Re: 11-Plus Proposal

« on: June 05, 2020, 04:01:04 PM »

Rathmore, Knock Aquinas & St.Malachys turned down A's this year and they had their admission number increased.

10

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 05, 2020, 12:14:02 PM »

Yes, let’s make all teachers redundant. Trailer (and other parents, according to him) really need a wee message of hope that things will go back to normal some day. This is the opportunity.

Not all just those who refuse to work. There's piles of Teachers. f**k sake there's more teachers out of work than in work.

The equilvant of 18 300  full time staff are employed  in northern schools.
About 3 000 are on the  sub register. Do the sums !

Show your working?

Short lesson for today- English Grammar

Show you are working
Or
Show you're working

I think his was a shortened version of “Show your working out” in relation to your reference to sums. Although his question mark could be dubious.

HS - That is a good observation.
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/teacher-workforce-statistics-201819

I didnt do a personal head count - too busy working ! Having lunch break now

11

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 05, 2020, 11:17:20 AM »

Yes, let’s make all teachers redundant. Trailer (and other parents, according to him) really need a wee message of hope that things will go back to normal some day. This is the opportunity.

Not all just those who refuse to work. There's piles of Teachers. f**k sake there's more teachers out of work than in work.

The equilvant of 18 300  full time staff are employed  in northern schools.
About 3 000 are on the  sub register. Do the sums !

Show your working?

Short lesson for today- English Grammar

Show you are working?
Or
Show you're working?

12

General discussion / Re: 11-Plus Proposal

« on: June 05, 2020, 11:14:46 AM »

St Michaels And Mount Lourdes in Enniskillen have joined  the list of grammars dropping the 11 plus for one year .

Why are they doing this piecemeal Sh*t, it should be a collective decision across the board either in or out. Totally unfair to have one or two areas making this call and the rest sitting on their hands.

The  grammar schools are  designated "voluntary grammar" .They are completely independent of each other,  most were set up by religious orders. They are financed by Dept of Education but are run by their board of Governors.

I'd imagine they are working at a local level due to variations in demographics  and levels of over subscription , they would have to deal with .
E.g  2 /5  schools in newry / kilkeel had places not filled yesterday for sept intake.

It will be interesting to see if the grammar schools across Belfast follow suit. That is were the pressure points for admission to year 8 , is most difficult.

13

General discussion / Re: Teachers get it handy!

« on: June 04, 2020, 06:30:07 PM »

Yes, let’s make all teachers redundant. Trailer (and other parents, according to him) really need a wee message of hope that things will go back to normal some day. This is the opportunity.

Not all just those who refuse to work. There's piles of Teachers. f**k sake there's more teachers out of work than in work.

The equilvant of 18 300  full time staff are employed  in northern schools.
About 3 000 are on the  sub register. Do the sums !

14

General discussion / Re: 11-Plus Proposal

« on: June 01, 2020, 10:27:49 AM »

Because it’s only for a year and will still be a grammar school
That’s why
What if I want my Johnny to go to the grammar school and he isn’t accepted next year? This is real life stuff don’t say that won’t happen because it will

Could the primary schools divulge the pupils standardised scores over P6 or whatever?

There will be a few kids who just won't be able to cope even if mummy and daddy want them to attend!

The P6 standardised scores are based on GL assessments ( not to be confused with the actual GL test ). They are generally undertaken in May/ June, in most schools, so no scores available.
There would also be differences in test application by schools , some use computer based tests and some use paper tests.
This could lead to discrepancies between the outcomes .

The scores would be subject to parents agreeing to share them as well.

Ultimately , parents complete the post primary applications , you be hoping they would listen to the primary schools advice.
The difficulty lies with the small group of children who would be borderline both in standardised scores, and they can either max out in the exams and do well or can slip down . They are the hardest calls for schools and indeed parents .

If post primary schools use non academic criteria , those kids that are the eldest/ only child and/ or have siblings at a school will be most likely to gain access to the school of their choice.

However , there will be a small group of children , who may struggle to get admitted as they dont match the criteria for schools that are heavily oversubscribed eg Lagan college was oversubscribed by 300 last year .

15

General discussion / Re: 11-Plus Proposal

« on: May 31, 2020, 04:52:16 PM »

Lagan Integrated College in Belfast has pulled academic selection for its grammar stream. It is a bi- lateral scheme . Over subscribed by 300 applications last year.

The newry schools  were oversubscribed by  38, 51, 64 and 78 applications . Kilkeel school was under subscribed by 20 places .
Depending on enrolment trends they would be able to manage s selection process based on siblings and eldest child  and some parental attachment