Testing times: Transfer preparation

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Primary Seven pupils Eoin Darragh and Conall Cunningham talk about preparing for the entrance tests. Eoin's mother, Emma, talks about the pressures facing her son.

In our series, Testing Times, we have been looking at how 11-year-olds are coping with the transfer from primary to second level education this year.

BBC Newsline has been hearing from parents and children about their decisions, following the end of the 11-Plus.

Tonight, our Education Correspondent Maggie Taggart speaks to two primary seven pupils from Downpatrick about how they are preparing for the first of the new unregulated entrance tests set by Catholic grammar schools.

Eoin Darragh and Conall Cunningham talk about having to study rather than play and Eoin's mother, Emma, talks about the pressures facing her son and his classmates.

We also hear from Karen Patterson and her son, Matthew, who is not undertaking any of the entrance tests.

The family, who are from the Maze area, explain their decision.

BBC Newsline website

Maggie Taggart talks to Karen Patterson and her son, Matthew, about their family's decision not to put Matthew through the grammar school entrance exam.