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question for Etienne

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:15 pm
by karen
this is a bit long winded, but I hope you can help. On the day of the 11plus back in November my daughter came home saying she hadn't done very well as she had been sat next to an open window which had made her nose constantly run. Subsequently she had to keep blowing her nose and rummaging in her drawer for more tissue. At the time my heart dropped as I knew this could have well affected her, she missed by three points. I also realised that this wouldn't hold much ground in an appeal process. I sent my appeal letter off without any details of this, I did also write to her doctor to see if she could help but as she has not receiveed any medical treatment for this in the past she could not comment.Although why would she have any treatment for this ?! On investigating further I have discovered that there is a condition called vasomotor rhinitis which is an allergic reaction to sudden changes in temperature and causes the same symptons as hayfever. It also causes nosebleeds in the summer , my daughter will often have 3 or 4 a week when it's hot or humid. In normal circumstances it is not a problem for my daughter to get a runny nose when she goes out in the cold, she just has to keep blowing it, but in the case of her 11 plus I feel it has affected her. Also I would not have expected her to be sat next to an open window for an hour. She did not ask the teacher to shut it as she was walking up and down the classroom and it would have been difficult to atttract her attention and also they were only meant to say something only if it were urgent. Would a 10 year old have thought this to be urgent? Please can you let me know whether you think this will be worth mentioning. I have untill March to send in any other evidence to support her case, or will this seem like a desperate afterthought. Thankyou for your help.

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:43 pm
by darren
Hi Karen,

Sorry your daugther did not make the pass mark. I can only personally say what I would do in this situation.

The answer is I would NOT mention this. Although it could have distracted your daugther I don't think it holds up well with an appeal.

Your daughter missed by 3 points which is not a lot. So therefore you should be seeking as much assistance from the school to support your appeal . You daughter is of grammar standard so I would be focusing on this getting the backup from the head to confirm she would do well in a grammar school.

mentioning about blowing her nose will not make any difference,

That's my view anyway, it could be wrong. My daughter's results are out March and if she fails by 3 marks like your daugther i have no excuses other than she wasn't good enough on the day, and hope the school wil back me up on a appeal.

Good Luck with yoru appeal.


Darren

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:16 pm
by Guest
Dear Karen

This is clearly somethings that concerns you, and I see no reason why you shouldn't mention the open window at the hearing. Keep it fairly low key (don't overegg the pudding!), and let the panel make of it what they will.

However, if you can get your GP to confirm that your daughter has, or might have, vasomotor rhinitis, this would carry much more weight (than your doing your own diagnosis!), and it would be worth submitting the evidence in advance. It wouldn't seem like a desperate afterthought - you didn't fully realise the significance at the time.

Having said that, I agree with darren that it's the academic evidence that is likely to be decisive.

Regards

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:20 pm
by Etienne
My post above. Sorry, seem to have got logged out while writing!

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:53 pm
by karen
thanks for your help, I have got the Head's support and she will be level 5s for all core subjects. I think there is an allergy test that can diagnose it, is it worth having it carried out? thank you

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:17 pm
by darren
Hi Karen,

I haven't been to an appeal (yet!!)
If you can get this diagnosed from the doctor then yes, mention it. Otherwise allergy tests are not conclusive...And certainly wouldn't stand up in an 11+ appeal.
We are all allergic to something... I'm allergic to 11+ tests ..;-)

Honestly my brother is an allergy tester and If I went by what he has tested me for and confirmed I should avoid,,, I wouldn't be able to eat or be near anything...

You've got the Heads support (which is a big +) . Level 5's for core subjects,,, 3 Marks below the pass mark.

I really don't think you can do any more... It's just convincing them your daugther would be better off in a Grammar School and this is where she should be.


I wish you Good Luck,

Darren
p.s Any idea how many other kids in the school did not make the cut ?? My friends boy was the only one who failed his 11+ last year in a group of 20 and surprise surprise all effort was made to get this boy through appeal by the school which he did.

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 10:49 pm
by karen
I think most of the 60 children took it and about 50% passed. Interesting about the alergy testing. Thanks.

Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:44 pm
by Etienne
Dear Karen

Let's prioritise! I think a positive allergy test would be better than just your own diagnosis ........... I think a GP's diagnosis would be even better!

As far as the academic evidence is concerned, you'll find some "indicators" in section B24 here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/11plus ... nswers.php
I should have added to the list a good year 5 report (especially if the emphasis is on high achievement).

Three 5s are encouraging, but there are presumably degrees of headteacher support - and the stronger it is (provided it is not over-optimistic), the better!

The school doesn't have to have a high passrate. What matters, I think, is whether the panel know from past experience that the head is realistic. Not something you can do much about!

Regards

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:44 pm
by Karen
Dear Etienne, as per previous threads re my daughter's 'allergy', I took her to the doctors today who subsequently diagnosed her as having sinusitis. Unfortunately, he could not say whether she had this when she took her 11+ as I had not gone at the time. I didn't go then because I thought it was an allergy and didn't feel time was relevant other than for the appeal date in April. Today at school she took a test and again was by an open window, this time she asked the teacher to close the window, but she suffered a runny nose again and ended up with a nose bleed. Can I go anywhere with this or shall I just forget it and go with my previous appeal. thank you

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:46 pm
by Etienne
Dear Karen

I think you've gone as far as you can with this, apart from asking the school to confirm in writing what happened today.

Keep it fairly low key, but report all the facts at the hearing, up to and including today's nosebleed.

It's certainly worth mentioning, but as was said before, it's the academic evidence that is likely to be decisive.

Good luck