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Academic evidence supporting appeals

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:22 pm
by Tankey
Please could anyone tell me what sort of evidence is best when appealing at a GS. Is it just the school work?
I ask because my DD got 140, 140 and 113 in maths.
At the HT appeal, they wouldn't take the 140s into account as they said she could have been coached heavily for it ( the fact is, that she wasnt and used to do the NVR for fun !!)
Anyway, they also said that they didnt see enough evidence of higher maths, so the HT has offered to do some with her so we can take that to appeal...will that help or is it a waste of time?

Thank you in advance :)

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:21 pm
by Etienne
It could help, Tankey, but there's no easy answer because it's up to each panel member to decide how much weight to give to the evidence. Different panel members (even on the same panel) might take a different view.

The Code of Practice states:
The panel may then need to consider any clear evidence presented by the appellants to support their claim that the child is of the required academic standard e.g. school reports giving Year 5/Year 6 SAT results or a letter of support from their current or previous school clearly indicating why the child is considered to be of grammar school ability. The panel must not devise its own methods to assess suitability for a grammar school place unrelated to the evidence provided for the hearing. In determining to uphold an appeal, the panel must be satisfied that there is evidence to demonstrate that the child is of grammar school ability
My advice is always to throw at the panel every possible bit of really good academic evidence that might support your case:
And what academic evidence might impress?

As many of the following academic indicators as possible:
* Good 11+ test scores (i.e. as close to the pass mark as possible).
* A head teacher who is very supportive and credible (his/her words will probably be scrutinised to see whether there is some sort of reference to “very high academic abilityâ€

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:52 pm
by Tankey
That's a great help, thank you :) *runs off to find school reports*