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Local head slams schools over entrance tests

BALLYCLARE High School is one of 30 schools who have defied NI's Education Minister, to announce that they will use a common entrance test to select pupils after the abolishment of the Eleven plus. The local grammar school is one of 31 schools who have now made their position clear in a statement issued by the Association for Quality Education (AQE). Representatives from 28 schools met in Belfast last Tuesday (April 22), along with three other schools who could not attend, to give their support to the common entrance tests. The tests will be used by the schools for pupils in P5 who will transfer from primary to post-primary schools in 2010. The schools are acting against the warnings of the Education Minister, Catriona Ruane who has claimed such a move could bring about many legal challenges from parents. Ballyclare High School will join with the 31 schools to form a 'Company Limited by Guarantee' to deliver a common entrance assessment designed to assess the suitability of children for an academic education. It is thought it could cost parents as much as £55, to put their children through the entrance tests. Ballyclare Secondary School headmaster Uel McCrea says last week's announcement is, 'not only disappointing but disturbing.' Mr. McCrea, the Chairman of the Association of Head Teachers (Secondary Schools), said: "Why introduce it? Do children at age 10 or 11 need this for their future educational opportunities? Are teachers in these 30 schools unable to develop the abilities and skills of certain children? "This minority have decided that they will set up yet another period of trauma for children, their primary teachers and their parents so that they can have a pecking order for entrance into their institutions. "This is despite all the damming education research into the effects on children and their primary school curriculum of this type of selection process at 11, and, all the examples of academic excellence in this country of 'all ability' post primary schools." Mr. McCrea also highlighted 'international data' which indicates that those countries with the least differentiated systems have the highest standards of secondary education. He continued: "How disappointing and disturbing. Disturbing in yet another way because if you look at the present intake, grades of the children accepted in these school you find that they cover a wide range of results. "So what level of performance in these common entrance tests makes a pupil fit for the academic curriculum of a grammar school and what is the basis for this claim? "Will it depend on how 'academic' demanding each school decides to be? "What proportion of 11 year olds should transfer to grammar school and what is the basis for this figure? Or will it depend on the local area and the demographic situation? Will they fill all their empty desks regardless of the children's results or the size of the proportion admitted?" The Gazette contacted Ballyclare High School for comment on the issue, but at the time of going to print we were still awaiting a response.

 

Playing in the sand pit at Tir Na Nog Pre School Centre are Harry, Erin, Molly and Taylor am1831

 
Council rack up £28 million debt

NEWTOWNABBEY Borough Council is in debt to the tune of a whopping £27.9 million it can be revealed. Loans and financial lease agreements have been taken out by the council to finance council capital expenditure and projects, such as vehicles, property, land, equipment and facilities. The figures were released last week in HANSARD answers to written questions in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ratepayers will be concerned about the debts of neighbouring councils, as they are due to amalgamate in the next couple of years under the 'super council' proposals. Newtownabbey's proposed super council neighbour, Antrim Borough council, were also among the top four in the council debt league with a massive debt of £21.5 million. The top debt belonged to Ballymena Borough council, who totted up £34 million in bank and government loans. Newtownabbey Borough council say that ratepayers will not incur an increase in their rates as the repayment of loans, 'had already been budgeted for.' The council debt is likely to affect ratepayers in the long-term as a variety of repayment terms have still to run on the capital loans. Council loans totalling £24.7 million will have to be repaid over the next 10 years and beyond. Just over £1 million of loans have been paid off over the last financial year (until March 31 2008). While a further £2.1 million worth of loans will have to be paid off over terms varying between 2-5 years and 5-10 years. However, it is unclear if ratepayers will have to fork out for Antrim Borough council's debt when the proposed 'super council' amalgamation takes place. A spokesperson for the Newtownabbey Borough council said: "We are, unaware at this stage what formal financial arrangements may be made when the amalgamation with Antrim Borough Council takes place." Newtownabbey Borough council's Deputy Chief Executive, Hilary Brady, said: "The Council is committed to promoting and improving Newtownabbey for the benefit of all who live in, work in, or visit the Borough. "The development of an effective asset base supports the delivery of quality services to our customers." Many ratepayers will be stunned at the figures but Newtownabbey council say all loans were approved by the Department of Environment at Stormont.



 

Comrades title hopes go flat at Coagh

Coagh United ................1
Ballyclare Comrades .......1

COMRADES' slim hopes of stealing the First Division title from under the noses of Loughgall were finally extinguished after a rather tired performance could only bring one point from the trip to Coagh United. Both sides were badly affected by injury and suspension for this game, with Comrades having six players unavailable; Paul Caldwell, Joe McRoberts, Ian McGrath, Darren McKay, Kieran Loughran and Alan Reid. On the plus side however, Jamesy Kirk could call on the services of Gary Bell and Mark Patterson who had missed the previous game with Loughgall. Reserve team captain Stephen King was also selected for his first start for the senior side in the right-back position. The game started in a lively fashion with both sides showing enterprise going forward, but the first chance fell to the home side. On 12 minutes Willis found space inside the box to hit a well struck shot on target only to see his effort foiled by a great save from Ian Mannus. The loose ball however fell to another Coagh player, Ferguson, who looked set to score from 6 yards out, only to see Mannus dive at his feet to produce another fine save. After a bright start Comrades were now being unsettled by the tigerish play of the home side who wouldn't let them settle on the ball. The first half chance for the visitors didn't come until the 18th minute when a decent move involving Michael Smith and David Freyne ended with Mark Patterson getting room for a shot just outside the box, but his effort lacked the power to seriously trouble Pollock in the Coagh goal. Two minutes later however, Comrades had the lead from a rather fortuitous goal. A free-kick was won inside the Coagh half and rolled forward to Ryan Murray who took the chance to strike a speculative effort from at least 35 yards. His shot then took a wicked deflection of a Coagh player which took it into the net past the wrong-footed keeper. A minute after taking the lead and a cross from Michael Smith from the right was glanced wide off the head of David Freyne. Then, on 28 minutes a good turn and shot from Connor Mulholland on the left side of the box ended with the ball curling just wide of the far post. Despite this, Coagh continued to make things difficult for Comrades and to look the sharper side in their general play. It was therefore no real surprise when they equalised n 29 minutes. Comrades were caught rather flat-footed by a swift counter-attack which ended with Ferguson surging past the last defender and slotting calmly past Ian Mannus. The rest of the first half was rather forgettable with neither side creating anything of note and Comrades continuing to look rather flat. Comrades lack of zest continued into the second half, with their long season looking perhaps to have caught up with them. Coagh remained the side most likely to score again, only let down by some wayward finishing. On 61 minutes however, they did produce a decent effort when Wardell flashed a shot just wide from the edge of the box. From the midway point of the half Comrades began to press more for the win they needed, but without ever looking particularly convincing. Coagh on the other hand defended competently and looked dangerous on the break as the visitors committed more men forward. On 70 minutes a mistake by Gary Bell on the halfway line let the home side in for a chance, but with the Comrades defence severely stretched Willis shot rather wastefully over the bar from the left side of the box. Comrades had more and more of the attacking possession as the game neared its end but were doing very little with it. Indeed they might have conceded at the other end on 81 minutes when a good cross from the right found Johnston in a good position 1o yards out, but he couldn't direct a header on goal. Comrades had done little to threaten the home goal until the dying minutes when suddenly a couple of chances came. Firstly on 90 minutes Eddie Hill threaded a through ball into the path of an Andy Simms run, but the Comrades substitute just couldn't control the ball before Pollock dived at his feet 6 yards out. Then, 4 minutes into injury-time with the last attack of the game Comrades could and perhaps should have stolen victory. Andy Simms collected a loose ball 12 yards out and rather toe-poked a shot towards goal, which was blocked by Pollock. However, the loose ball then fell to Adam Dick who looked certain to score from 5 yards, but somehow Pollock was able to dive and smother his effort. The referee blew the final whistle second later and Comrades' faint title hopes had disappeared. This was a disappointing performance from Comrades who looked rather jaded against a keen home side. The sharpness which the team has generally shown throughout the season was missing and they did not do enough to earn any more than one point from the game. Ballyclare Comrades team: Ian Mannus, Stephen King, Evan Forsythe, Ryan Murray, Gary Bell, Michael Smith, Stuart McClean, Mark Patterson, David Freyne, Eddie Hill, Connor Mulholland Bench: Kyle Agnew (65 mins, for King), Adam Dick 65 mins, for Mulholland), Andy Simms (75 mins for Freyne), Taylor Kirk (not used)