A quarter of P7 pupils 'bullied'

By Maggie Taggart
BBC NI education correspondent

Pupils were asked about the transfer test

Northern Ireland Primary Seven pupils have been giving their verdict on bullying and the 11-plus exam.

In a survey, 44% of children indicated they wanted to keep the transfer test, while 35% wanted rid of it.

Overall the NI pupils feel better about their school, and their physical and mental well being, than those in the whole of the UK or Ireland.

A quarter of the P7 pupils surveyed said they had been physically bullied at school.

Nearly 3,500 pupils gave their opinions to the Kids' Life and Times Survey.

On the transfer test even 20% of the pupils who got A grades want it to end but about half of those who want to scrap the 11-plus, scored D grades.

Of the children who sat the test 20% said they felt under pressure because of it, but of those 43% said the pressure came from themselves.

Girls tended to feel better about their education especially on writing.

The researchers said both those issues needed special attention from those in charge of education.