Elementary School Certificate Examination 1947

[pallain]

In going through some old papers I came across the Elementary School Certificate Examination paper for my mother. She took the exam in 1947 and apparently passed with honours in English, Geography, Drawing and Arithmetic. On the back of the paper it states that "This Examination was open to pupils of Public Elementary Schools, who were enrolled and had received instruction in the seventh or higher standard from a date not later than 1st January, 1947." Name of school is given as Argyle. 

I am interested in learning more about what went into this type of exam (she was about 13/14 when the certificate was issued) and anything about the school and/or school system back then. As far as I know my mother left school and went to work after this.

I would discuss with mum but sadly she passed away in 2018.  I know she was born and mostly lived in Belfast but also spent time and lived with family members in Carrickfergus so I am really not sure where she finished her schooling.

Any information will be gratefully received and I will be happy with simply some direction as to where to look further as my google searches have not been very productive.

thank you in advance for any assistance

Pat

[gaffy]

Argyle P.E.S. was in North Howard Street, Belfast, it was listed in the 1947 Belfast street directory between some commercial premises (nos. 5-15) and a house (no. 17):

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/hcomplete1947.htm

The school is gone (it was demolished), but the street is still there, you can 'streetview' it on google maps.  In 1947 the school was still fairly modern, it having only opened in 1936 (there's a poor quality picture of it in the Belfast Telegraph that year, it was a typical R.S. Wilshire 'neo georgian' school design of that inter war era, comprising 2 storeys built in red/rustic brick, with very tall multi pane windows).

Some numbers from the 1947 exam (Belfast News Letter, 25 June 1947): The elementary school certificate examination for pupils in standard VII was held this year at 67 centres in Northern Ireland. Of 3,836 candidates 2,707, or 70.5 per cent were successful, and of these 618 passed with honours.

[pallain]

Thanks Gaffy for this information. We always knew mum was special, nice to have confirmation that she was in the upper group