ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR YEAR 8 PUPILS - SCHOOL YEAR 2005/2006 In selecting children for admission, children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school will be selected for admission before any child not so resident. Criteria applicable in order stated below - [1] Pupils awarded Grade A in the Transfer Tests.In the event of the school's admissions number being exceeded at this stage then all pupils awarded Grade A in the Transfer Tests and those pupils deemed to be of equivalent ability and to whom special medical or other circumstances apply (see paragraph [4] below) will be given priority in the order shown below:-
has brother(s) or sister(s) currently enrolled in Ballymena Academy*
is the eldest or only child in the family
has a parent(s) currently in the full-time employ of the Governors of Ballymena Academy*
had a brother(s) or sister(s) enrolled in Ballymena Academy*
has/had a parent(s) who was a pupil at Ballymena Academy*
geographical proximity and this, if beyond three miles from the school, will be according to the nearest bus route.
Sub note:
* At sub-groups (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) preference will be given to pupils on the basis of the greatest or greater number of brothers/sisters, or parents.
[2] In the event that the school's admissions number is not reached with pupils awarded Grade A, pupils awarded Grade B1 in the Transfer Tests will next be considered followed by pupils awarded Grade B2, Grade C1, Grade C2 in order, and in each Grade those pupils deemed to be of equivalent ability and to whom special medical or other circumstances apply (see paragraph [4] below). Within any grade, once the number of applicants exceeds the admissions number, priority will be given to sub-groups in the order shown above for Grade A pupils.
[3] In the highly unlikely event of the school's Admissions Number still not being reached, Grade D pupils will be considered. Priority will be given to sub-groups as per other Grades (see above).
[4] Applications on behalf of children whose performance in the test was affected by medical or other problems will be considered in accordance with the “Special Circumstances” set out below. Applications on behalf of children who did not participate in the test will be considered in accordance with the “Special Provisions” set out below.
[5] For applications to Year 8 of the Grammar School after the beginning of the school year : where the number of late applications exceeds the number of vacant places available the above criteria [1] - [4] will apply.
The above is essentially the school's policy on pupil admissions to the first year of its secondary department. It was determined by the Board of Governors. The Principal, in consultation with office bearers of the Board of Governors, will be responsible for applying the stated criteria, which will, in turn, establish which pupils will be admitted to Year 8 in 2005. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that all relevant information is included on, or attached to the Transfer Form. Additional information which is subsequently received (for example as a response to a request from the Education and Library Board for further preferences) will only be considered in the event of a place becoming available after the issue of the initial placement letters. All relevant information should be made available to the Board of Governors prior to 31st March, 2005.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Grammar schools must admit pupils strictly in the order of the Transfer Grade which they obtain, subject only to the consideration of medical or other problems which may have affected performance in the Transfer Test(s) and which are supported by documentary evidence of a medical or other appropriate nature. These ‘medical or other problems’ are commonly referred to as “special circumstances”. DETAILS OF MEDICAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS:
Where it is claimed that a pupil’s performance in the Transfer Tests has been affected by a medical or other problem, independent evidence of its existence must be provided to the school. Where the problem is a medical one of short term duration which affected the pupil only at the time of the Transfer Tests the school will require the production of evidence that the pupil was examined by a medical practitioner in relation to the illness. Where the problem is of a non-medical nature the parents should set out in the Transfer Form precise details of the problem and append any appropriate evidence to corroborate its existence.
EDUCATIONAL EVIDENCE
Sufficient objective comparative documentary evidence must be provided by the parents and the Primary School and accompany the Transfer Form to enable the School to reach a decision. The following information must be provided:- - The number of pupils in his/her P7 class and the number taking the tests.
- All the pupils’ school test results in English, Mathematics, Science and Technology (i.e. internal school tests and standardised tests) from the beginning of the Key Stage 2 period (i.e. P5), compared to the results for the same tests of all the other members of his/her P7 class and the transfer grades of the other members of his/her P7 class. In the case of small schools, or schools where very few pupils take the Transfer Tests, it will be appropriate to include the same comparative information in relation to pupils who have taken the Transfer Tests in the previous year(s). A sample form (SC1) for this purpose is set out in the NEELB Transfer Information Booklet. Only the pupil claiming Special Circumstances should be identified. All other pupils in the comparative picture should be anonymous.
The Primary School Principal’s comments on the pupil’s academic achievements in comparison with the other members of his/her P7 class who received the same or a higher grade in the Transfer Tests are also requested.
It is emphasised that the onus is on the parents to ensure that the above information is provided by the primary school. Failure to provide such information may result in the school being unable to consider the application for Special Circumstances.
|