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Complicated! Anticipating an Appeal

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:14 pm
by drummer
Following our successful appeal to test BCC has finally written to us regarding a late 12+ test for our dyslexic and dyspraxic son.

"In order to start the process we would write to your son's school to ask them what measures they put in place for your son as part of his curriculum. Once we have this information we then present this, along with your evidence, to a special access panel who will then make a decision as to whether your son should receive any adjustments for the test.

Owing to the imminent summer break the next Panel does not meet until the 1st September and we would therefore not be able to test your son until later that month. However, if you feel that you would like to have your son tested without any adjustments then we could fit him into a planned test date on 26 August."

We are applying via the Late Transfer Procedure because of the great distress my son is feeling at being in his present school and not being at Grammar School and this appears to have been accepted by county (it is more complicated than I am stating here and there is evidence). My point is that TIME is a really big issue.

Do you think we should risk putting him forward for the test now and then appeal if he doesn't pass? My thoughts are:
1) it is very important to try and move my son as soon as possible and
2) that Bucks is very 'mean' about extra time so he is unlikely to get much, certainly not enough to compensate for the particular difficulties he has (working memory, spelling, writing speed all significantly below average) and that there would be a good chance that he would fail anyway. I am assuming that the fact that a child had had extra time could weaken a qualification appeal.

Please note I am not a Grammar School fanatic, the secondary school he is at is perfectly good but he really really would much better suit a GS education and has the ability to do perfectly well enough academically at GS (and the Ed Psyche agrees) and he would be MUCH happier.

I am hoping that Sally-Anne and Etienne amongst others might have some good advice

Re: Complicated! Anticipating an Appeal

Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 7:36 pm
by Morning Glory
As you already know BCC is not generous with their extra time. We applied for extra time for our DS for the 11+ with a EP assessment which states " a least extra time should be given, at best a verbal interview would show DS's true intellectual ability". Our request was refused. I have since seen a paper from the appeal decision panel that states EP reports do not support extra time - all I can say is they either didn't bother to read the report or choose to ignore it. He went on to fail his 11+ with very low scores and very little chance of winning an appeal. To cut a long story short, we did appeal, we did win and in hindsight maybe the refusal of extra time helped our case (but I don't believe it was solely that factor that swung it).

For KS2 Sats we also applied for extra time and a scribe, with same evidence (different board) believe they asked school for addition information but this was granted and I am extremely proud to say my son go 5's across the board. Without adjustments he was predicted to get 4's.

The decision is ultimately yours facts are:

~ BCC aren't generous with extra time
~ An appeal is stressful and emotionally draining
~ Either way there are no guarantees

Hope this helps

MG

Re: Complicated! Anticipating an Appeal

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:45 am
by Etienne
I am assuming that the fact that a child had had extra time could weaken a qualification appeal.
Possibly - although it can always be argued that the arrangements were insufficient.

No easy answer to your questions, drummer. I think I'd go for August, provided you think you can explain convincingly why time is so critical. It's a question that will certainly be asked in the event of an appeal.