11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi
We have submitted letters from headteacher, class teacher in current yr, previous yr 5 teacher, deputy head and also school report all stating that our son is of grammar ability and was unwell during the kent test. On reading other threads on this site we realise that being unwell may not hold much weight but for us it was a huge issue for the shortfall in the marks. We also have a doctors letter confirming this, does anyone know, maybe Peter, what else we need to mention when sitting our appeal, we have predicted level 5's, top sets in all subjects and we are worried that we may not be able to put forward the best picture of our son. His school is adament that he is, and has always been, very academic and that a grammar environment is best for him. How do we convince the panel?
Thank you

The panel will probably ask why you let him sit the test - you need to think about what you are going to say.

You sound as if you have good academic evidence - so good luck! Let us know how it goes.

I agree with Guest55 about your academic evidence. It's a great when you read about schools supporting appeals and it sounds like you have them right behind you.
Will the head or class teacher be at the appeal with you? From the Q&A Appeal section it seems to be a bonus if they can.

The best of luck to you.

Jenny

Kent Mum 2,

It all sounds very good. You don't mention the school you are applying to. In Kent there is enormous variation on appeal expectations. Is it a Foundation School with a Kent Panel, is it a Foundation School with its own Panel, is it a community (County run) school. Is the school short of pupils (Harvey, Chatham House, Borden, etc), or is it heavily oversubscribed (Langton, Maidstone Grammar, Tunbridge Wells))? In Bexley there is almost no way through to a successful grammar school appeal. I find it very difficult to give general advice. Sorry that's less helpful than you would want.

County Panels are briefed not to take note of KS2 forecasts.

Peter - We are appealing to three grammar schools - Simon langton boys, barton court and chatham house which was our favourite!
We know that Simon L is oversubscribed but it was first on our caf form and we decided to go for it just in case. We also know that Barton Court have 65 appeals so perhaps that may be a long shot too. Chatham house was our sons favourite and we know they are undersubcribed so perhaps we stand a chance, who knows! All we can hope is that we get the chance to put forward the best case for our son who, we feel would thrive in a grammar. Do you have any further advice for us with regards to the above schools and what is best for us to do?
Thank you so much.

I don't know whether it's true, or if it helps, but the rumour going round our school is that Barton Court has 40 places to fill.

Kentmum 2

Glad you have applied for Chatham House, it sounds promising on the information you have. What you haven't supplied are your son's scores, which may be the deciding factor. Extenuating circumstances are fine, alternative evidence is fine, but what is the gap you have to make up?

Certainly you have the right to appeal to all three grammar schools, the panels are independent of each other, so there is no disadvantage in pursuing all three whatever the odds - you also have some experience after the first!

A recent decision by the local government ombudsman which will influence Kent Panels is to confirm that the Panel's role is to establish if the child is of grammar school ability, not merely to benefit from a grammar school education. This will have relevance where there are empty spaces.

Whilst I am happy to supply general guidance on this website, specific advice is more difficult, as I have other people to think of (sorry to be enigmatic). However, there is ample advice elsewhere on this website.

Peter
scores were 124,114.108. I understand that you can't advise anymore, sorry to bother you.

If you registered you could PM Peter - sometimes it's difficult to be too specific on here and individual cases and reasons are best kept confidential.

Thank you guest 55