Transfer tests: Exams put back until January 2021

The providers of post-primary transfer tests in Northern Ireland have agreed to hold this year's exams in January.

The proposed two month postponement to the AQE and PPTC exams follows disruption to schoolwork due to Covid-19.

The suggested date for the first test is Saturday 9 January, the High Court heard on Wednesday.

The Department of Education previously postponed the exams, which normally take place in November, by two weeks.

However lawyers representing two pupils due to sit the tests challenged that decision in the High Court.

They contended the decision to delay the tests by a matter of weeks amid so much disruption to children's education was unlawful.

Speaking on Wednesday following the decision, Education Minister Peter Weir said the change could benefit pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, who had experienced "greater levels of disruption".

"Therefore they will be the ones who will probably most benefit from the opportunity for a little bit of additional time to be able to prepare," he said.

On Wednesday the High Court heard Minister Weir had offered the two test providers a preference of dates.

AQE preferred moving the exams to January.

A lawyer for PPTC told the court they believed it was best to keep all tests together.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan welcomed the "positive" development.

"It's clear that the minister has taken very careful consideration of the issue and worked hard to achieve a resolution of the issue," he said.

The mother of one of the two children who challenged the initial decision welcomed the development.

"My daughter and I are delighted with the result we achieved today," she said in a statement issued through her lawyers.

"We hope that this will go some way to address the educational disadvantages experienced by some children during lockdown.

"We are both frustrated and disappointed that it took to the very last minute for this decision to be made and that we had to take legal action in the first place.

"This decision demonstrates that those involved could have taken action on this sooner and showing that all children are at the heart of the decisions made."

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme on Wednesday, the education minister said he welcomed the decision, and said the two exam bodies were responsible for the tests.

"We are in a position to at least ensure that the transfer will be smooth and be done in that timeframe," said Mr Weir.

"I can understand the concerns that have been raised in relation to that and I think it is not unreasonable to look for additional time where possible.

"There clearly has been a disruption, and while we would try and minimise it, there is always the risk of some additional level of disruption to pupils as they move ahead into the autumn phase."

In a statement, the board of AQE said it "acknowledges the diversity of views on the desirability of moving the dates of the assessment" and that it is "committed to work with the minister of education to provide the maximum possible teaching time for pupils".

It said pupils would be given an additional 10 minutes for each paper they undertake, and it extended thanks to everyone who had been involved in the process of finding a time for exams to be taken.

The AQE assessments will now take place on 9 January, 16 January, and 23 January, with the results sent to parents on 6 March.

The deadline for applications to the AQE assessments is 9 October.

In a statement, the PPTC said it was "pleased that it is possible for pupils this year to have much more time in P7 before they sit their assessment".

Its entrance exam will now take place on Saturday, 30 January 2021, with the supplementary entrance exam taking place on 6 February.

The results of these exams will be posted to parents on 5 March.