What else will I need?
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Hi.... i have been following this thread all day but only now have 5 mins to comment - before rushing off again!
I feel we are in a similar situation to you both, t12acy and twinkles. My DC missed by a few points for various reasons but i feel another day he would have managed far better - so now we have to prove "a blip" on the day and manage all the heartache etc etc associated with appealing. As i think t12acy mentioned back at the beginning its the having to over prove the academic side that is the most unfair of all i feel. There are no doubt other children out there who are slightly in reverse of our children.
Anyway,if it helps, i have drafted my appeal letters and other than the acedemic side of things i have focused on the schools specialism (one of which particularly suits my DC),the pastoral care available to suit my DC needs -looked at various policies/prospectus' and quoted them, the clubs (again for social needs one school is particularly suitable). Maybe a bit exteme but one school has food tech facitilies but this is relevant to my DC. I do have to mention my DC has some special needs so its probably easier to highlights certain areas of "need".
Good luck to you both.
Fluffy
I feel we are in a similar situation to you both, t12acy and twinkles. My DC missed by a few points for various reasons but i feel another day he would have managed far better - so now we have to prove "a blip" on the day and manage all the heartache etc etc associated with appealing. As i think t12acy mentioned back at the beginning its the having to over prove the academic side that is the most unfair of all i feel. There are no doubt other children out there who are slightly in reverse of our children.
Anyway,if it helps, i have drafted my appeal letters and other than the acedemic side of things i have focused on the schools specialism (one of which particularly suits my DC),the pastoral care available to suit my DC needs -looked at various policies/prospectus' and quoted them, the clubs (again for social needs one school is particularly suitable). Maybe a bit exteme but one school has food tech facitilies but this is relevant to my DC. I do have to mention my DC has some special needs so its probably easier to highlights certain areas of "need".
Good luck to you both.
Fluffy
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Seaside Mum
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:04 pm
hello all, I am also in the same situation (DS missed by a couple of points and apparently failed the HT appeal due to his writing).
I have now written the statement of appeal (2 sides of A4) outlining academic ability and extenuating circumstances; I have the letter of support from the HT and also a confirmation letter from my doctor. I have only just realised I need to add a paragraph as to why I particulary want the schools I am appealing to (we are in SE Kent and I am appealing to 2 GSs) but am unsure of what to write, especially when one of the schools is quite a long way. However it is so much preferable than our local failing school. Great idea to look at the prospectuses and gain some info from there so here I go!
Good luck to everyone
And yes, thank goodness for this site!
I have now written the statement of appeal (2 sides of A4) outlining academic ability and extenuating circumstances; I have the letter of support from the HT and also a confirmation letter from my doctor. I have only just realised I need to add a paragraph as to why I particulary want the schools I am appealing to (we are in SE Kent and I am appealing to 2 GSs) but am unsure of what to write, especially when one of the schools is quite a long way. However it is so much preferable than our local failing school. Great idea to look at the prospectuses and gain some info from there so here I go!
Good luck to everyone
And yes, thank goodness for this site!
Hello all!
So much to do and seems like not much time to do it in.... I have been checking the Ofsted report and trying to link in with areas the GS we are applying to is most suitable for in meeting this need (eg. languages / maths). Also something I hadn't thought of is the value placed on single sex education, DS is a very sociable young man and feels life is not complete without a girlfriend (at the age of 11!!!) so I will obviously word it in a suitable way but am selecting the school with this distraction avoiding tactic in mind.
Good luck everyone, oh and by the way I have been able to bin my original appeal statement and re write it with the help of the hints and tips on this site
So much to do and seems like not much time to do it in.... I have been checking the Ofsted report and trying to link in with areas the GS we are applying to is most suitable for in meeting this need (eg. languages / maths). Also something I hadn't thought of is the value placed on single sex education, DS is a very sociable young man and feels life is not complete without a girlfriend (at the age of 11!!!) so I will obviously word it in a suitable way but am selecting the school with this distraction avoiding tactic in mind.
Good luck everyone, oh and by the way I have been able to bin my original appeal statement and re write it with the help of the hints and tips on this site
Am I being dim? The CAT scores were taken almost a year ago and are not the 11+ results, just a working towards indicator. Are these scored adjusted to suit a childs age? These are effectively almost a year out of date but if they are linked to DS age then I could understand your comment.Tracy wrote:You just need to show that your son is of grammar ability.DS is not a genius, but I am left trying to prove his ability over and beyond original expected level....
Honest opinion - the Cat scores you have given show that he scraped through by one mark on just one paper. If these are revealed to the panel, I don't think it would be strong enough evidence.
The 11+ results were 126 VR / 116 NVR / 113 M. I wouldn't say being 9 points over the lower limit is just scraping through on one paper, and being 1 point below on NVR could be argued with the evidence HT has given. My arguing point though is mostly the Maths, as on the second day of the test there were extenuating circumstances. Although I think I need to find out how much evidence is needed to support this. I can't imagine anyone making up what happened just to try and make an excuse for their child failing!
Evidence of practice SAT's at 5A surely is good enough? I was always led to believe it is not possible to score higher than this in KS2?
Hi twinkles - i am appealing for 2 GS, so have prepared 2 different appeals drawing out relevant points for both. However one is so very much more suitable as a school.
T12acy - i personally think the gender of the school is probably significant, some children won't be bothered. For example my DS is not at all interested in girls but for that reason would he be better off in a mixed school for the future? - so girls don't become an alien species! For us at this point we wouldn't use it an appeal as i don't know which way its going to go - i think we will wait til sixth form for a decision on that!
Fluffy x
T12acy - i personally think the gender of the school is probably significant, some children won't be bothered. For example my DS is not at all interested in girls but for that reason would he be better off in a mixed school for the future? - so girls don't become an alien species! For us at this point we wouldn't use it an appeal as i don't know which way its going to go - i think we will wait til sixth form for a decision on that!
Fluffy x
Yes, CAT scores have been standardised for age. Grammar school standard would generally be considered to be in the 120s (preferably mid-120s or higher). 11+ tests may well be standardised specifically for the cohort sitting them, so a direct comparison with CATs (which are nationally standardised) is not reliable.Are these scored adjusted to suit a childs age? These are effectively almost a year out of date but if they are linked to DS age then I could understand your comment.
It may be difficult to prove a need for single s e x education on social grounds!
Etienne
Thanks for your message, T12ACY.
Another poster was asking whether she should prove that the school was indeed the first preference on her CAF. See my reply here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 750#168750
Take the document you refer to with you to the hearing, and casually mention you have it if anyone should wish to see it.
Personally I think your extenuating circumstances are relevant. I also suspect your son could have felt under pressure to emulate his siblings.
Another poster was asking whether she should prove that the school was indeed the first preference on her CAF. See my reply here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 750#168750
Take the document you refer to with you to the hearing, and casually mention you have it if anyone should wish to see it.
Personally I think your extenuating circumstances are relevant. I also suspect your son could have felt under pressure to emulate his siblings.
Etienne