WE THE UNDERSIGNED PARENTS CALL ON THE EDUCATION MINISTERS ,AQE,  PPTC AND SELECTIVE SCHOOLS TO URGENTLY ANNOUNCE THE SUSPENSION OF THE AQE AND GL EXAMS AND TO LOOK AT A FAIR ALTERNAIVE IN THE NEW YEAR .  THE TESTS THAT P6 CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO SIT IN NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020. WE URGENTLY CALL ON THE MINISTER FOR AN ALTERNATIVE IN THE NEW YEAR .

THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT YEAR FOR ALL P6 PUPILS COMPARED TO ANY YEAR PREVIOUS.  THEY ALL HAVE MISSED SO MUCH OF THE YEAR ALREADY BEING HOME SCHOOLED .   ALL CHILDREN ARE IN VERY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS FOR EXAMPLE DUE TO PARENTS WORKING ,LOSS OF BUSINESSES , PARENTS BEING FURLOUGHED,  ILLNESS AT HOME, ALSO   SITUATIONS   WERE THERE ARE MORE CHILDREN WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD WITH ONLY ONE IPAD WHICH WOULD LIMIT THERE ACCESS.

OUR MAIN  CONCERN IS OF OUR CHILDRENS MENTAL  HEALTH AND  WELL BEING,  AND PROVIDING A EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN IN THIS RESPECT  .  THIS PANDEMIC IS CURRENTLY CAUSING  MAJOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ON OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS ADULTS FEELING  ISOLATED AND FROM  MISSING SCHOOL, SCHOOL FRIENDS,  FAMILY AND FRIENDS  .SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. THEY HAVE MISSED ESSENTIAL MONTHS REQUIRED FOR THE UP AND COMING EXAMS. APART FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO FINISH THEIR SCHOOL YEAR THEY ARE EXASPERATED WITH BEING HOME SCHOOLED .  WITH THE TESTS THAT ARE BEING TAUGHT BY THE PARENTS WHO ARE NOT ACADEMICALLY TRAINED FOR THIS CURRENT SITUATION .   

MANY CHILDREN ARE CRUMBLING IN CONSTANT TEARS ,DISTRESSED AND FEELING UNDER PRESSURE,  HOPING TO GET THEIR PLACE IN CERTAIN SCHOOLS .   THESE CHILDREN ARE AFRAID, UNCERTAIN AND FEELING OVERWHELMED BY  THE WHOLE SITUATION NONE OF US KNOW WHAT IS AHEAD   BUT TO GO BACK THESE CHILDREN NEED TO BE NOURISHED MADE FEEL SAFE AND SECURE NOT BEING PUT BACK UNDER SIUATIONS OF PRESSURE AND BIG EXAMS ,STRAIGHT AWAY IS JUST CRUELTY A TWO WEEK EXTENSION IS NOT ENOUGH .

 ALSO IF SOME SCHOOLS ARE NOW WITHDRAWING   ALL SHOULD,   AS IT IS LEADING TO ,FAR TO MUCH STRESS AND CONFUSION ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN .   THE  MENTAL HEALTH OF THESE CHILDREN MUST COME FIRST THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO FAIR CIRCUMSTANCES  .  AT A TIME WHEN  ALREADY  SCHOOLS AND STAFF ARE GOING TO BE PUT UNDER SO MUCH  PRESSURE , TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS ARE ALL UNCERTAIN OF HOW THINGS WILL WORK WHEN SCHOOL RESUMES,  WHICH IS ALSO ALOT OF PRESSURE ON ALL TEACHING STAFF .  HOW ARE THEY ALSO MEANT TO MEET CHILDRENS NEEDS BY ALSO DEALING WITH BIG EXAMS . WE SEE THIS ALL JUST TO MUCH FOR CHILDREN OF 10/11 YEARS OF AGE AND WE ASK FOR A SECURE AND DEFINTE ANSWER .  IF GCSE AND ALEVEL PUPILS CAN BE ASSESSED WHY PUT 10 YEARS OLDS THROUGH THIS MENTAL TORTURE WHICH IS EFFECTING THEM BADLY AND WILL EVEN MORE , WHEN THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL  .  WE NEED FOR OUR CHILDREN TO FEEL NOURISHED AND NOT PUNISHED AT THIS TIME .

PLEASE SHOW US YOUR SUPPORT AND SIGN OUR PETITION.

PARENT GROUP ALISHA BRIGGS ,VICKY SHIELDS, JOANNE BRADFORD KATIE MCCLENHAN, LEANNE MATEER, HEATHER MURPHY AND JASON