11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi we have our appeal date and all our ducks in row so to speak apart from one . We have one problem which I am wondering if anyone else has faced. My DD's teacher is really unhelpful and obstructive. I have asked for a list of DD's scores in practice SATS(all solid level 5's), she has not provided this. I asked if I could have some of her practice SATS papers and she destroyed them saying she had "forgot" even though I did remind her , and now she is refusing to let me take DD's books in to the appeal. These are full of good work and comments but she will not let me have them for one day, for no good reason. It just seems like she to wants us to fail. I have asked the head if he can get these books for me as they are such good examples of her work. Have I done the right thing going to the head? Has anyone else had such a response to a teacher. I do not think she approves of the 11+ but it is our choice to appeal and the school information would be so useful. What do I say in the appeal if the teacher is being like this?

HI,

not sure if this will help, we didn't take any of our sons work to the appeal. the panel will not have time to go through the books.... maybe a good report or letter from the school head teacher would be more useful. our son had some cert's in maths for high achievement we took those along. we sent everything before the appeal, giving the panel plenty of time to go through it all.

good luck
Dal

You did the right thing in going to the head - hope he/she will do something about it.

Appeal panels do understand that problems like this sometimes occur .

Put together as much academic evidence as you can: above average KS1 results and excellent school reports will all help. If you need further evidence of ability, an educational psychologist’s report might possibly provide valuable additional evidence, although it's very expensive.

Sounds like you have the same problem as we do, except that in our case the teacher was very keen to write a supportive letter, but the Head vetoed it & said that anything had to come from her.

After much persuasion (no, make that begging) she agreed to write something - that was 2 weeks ago, son has spoken to her 3x times since, each time, she says yes she will do it - today when he left message to say we have appeal date (8 June, but all must be with appeals people by 2 June & half term + Inset days intervene)we find she is away & no one knows anything about it.

We explained that we did not want any exaggerations, just confirmation of facts - GD is in top sets, is very able, came top in English (over 5 who made it to GS) and so on...yet Head has done nothing. Teacher said that she wanted to write that GD was a 'natural fit' for the GS and would do very well there, but Head said 'If we were going to write that, we would also be obliged to say that in the KS1 SATS (aged 7) although she was in top eight there was still a distance between her and those who got in.'

We can't understand this - GD has come on in leaps and bounds over the past year so how is KS1 SATS relevant? Heads against brick wall time...son wants to withdraw appeal...

this is all awful. I am so sorry to hear of this brutal obstruction. Is there a Governor you could go to?? I know it's sometimes difficult if one has younger children still at the school but you'll want to know that you pulled out all the stops and to be thwarted like this, so *loody-mindedly, is outrageous. I am furious on both of your behalfs! Don't let the *uggers get you down. It seems at best incompetence and at worst some sort of witch hunt. Good Luck!

Thank you - that is much appreciated. I don't think it's incompetence, as Head is usually v. efficient, but it may have to do with the fact that the school may well be enthusiatically supporting another appeal - girl got 3 marks nearer than my GD but is not in top group for anything. Can't prove it, just grandma gossip. Tricky as girl & mum well known to me via swim club...girl does not want to go to the GS (wants mixed) but parents will move H&E to get her there.

all this cut and thrust kind of spoils the last months of ones children's time at primary, not to mention the strong internal stuff you have to draw on not to get personally drawn into other people's stories. Having said this, am already itching for my son to leave his current school, and he's only in year 5! it's all kind of got on top of me a bit, this restless desperation and lack of control And all the boy wants to do is play cricket ... which is what he should be doing at 10. And so another day drifts by. Bit off topic but germane to the sort of pressure this whole business puts parents under (better than the children being under it I suppose).

Well the head got hold of the book for me so if I need it I have it with me. It is only there for us to use if they ask. I have lots of other academic proof so hopefully I will not need it. I will not be taking the letter she has written to go with it though. It is all a bit wishy washy with tries her best etc etc. The past scores on practice SATS are good so will use those.

I am getting a bit churned up now. DD missed a lot of school from October to December due to Chicken Pox, Gastric Flu and Winter Sickness bug. She was sick straight after the exam and was off for a full week afterwards. Her attendance was down to 87.5% and she still only needed to get two more questions correct to be in, so unlucky. She said the words were all fuzzy because she felt so poorly. It will be a nightmare if DD ends up at a different school. They are open at different times, on different bus routes and Hubby leaves the house at 6.30am each day. I am up and down the country due to redundancies at work and having to cover a larger area. This means that DD will home alone at 11 years old for hours on end, not good as we have no local family and my friend who helps me out can not help as her DD will be at a different school. If she was with her brother it would be fine at he is 4 years older. Can not sleep with it all at the moment.

aren't practicalities such as the travel issues and the very real (and presumably provable) fact of the run of illnesses exactly the sort of things you need in your appeal. And only 2 points, sheesh that's bad luck ...

I hope these things help. I have an absence list, a doctors note and my diary which shows in one week I was in Preston, Maidenhead, The Lake District, Liverpool and Nottingham. Thank Goodness for SAT NAV!