Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

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sillyjolly
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:35 pm

Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by sillyjolly »

I requested a headteacher review for my DS and it took place in December and was unsuccessful. I am now scared that I will be refused an appeal due to the change to the code that has been referenced in the forum. The LA Admissions dept said they would pass the request to appeal directly to the school as they run their own admissions being VA. I am worried they will now refuse me an appeal.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by Etienne »

They can't refuse you an appeal, but they might try to limit it to whether or not the review was carried out in a fair, consistent and objective way.
Etienne
sillyjolly
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:35 pm

Re: Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by sillyjolly »

Thanks Etienne but how would I know if the review had been conducted in a fair, consistent and objective way? Lots of schools conduct automatic reviews so are they all potentially limited in their appeal?
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by Etienne »

Lots of schools conduct automatic reviews so are they all potentially limited in their appeal?
I've not actually seen any evidence that lots of admission authorities are conducting a review and then using it as a justification to limit the cope of an appeal. We deal with numerous appeals on the forum, and only occasionally are reviews mentioned.
how would I know if the review had been conducted in a fair, consistent and objective way?
It ought to be part of the authority's case (if they want to try and limit the scope of the appeal). It's just as much up to the them to prove that the review was fair, consistent and objective, as it is up to you to show otherwise. Indeed, they are meant to justify to the appeals panel what has happened.

The appeals panel, and you, have the opportunity to question and challenge the authority's case. For example:
  • What specialists were on the review panel? If the tests were curriculum related, were the members of the review panel specialists in the subjects being looked at, with recent teaching experience of year 7 at grammar school?
    What were the guidelines under which they were operating?
    Did the same panel members consider every case, and, if not, how was consistency ensured?
    Was the review panel operating a quota?
    Was there any restriction on the evidence that the review panel could consider?
    How thorough was the review? - What was the average length of time they spent on each case?
The appeals panel then has to make a judgement about whether or not it accepts the authority's case.
Etienne
sillyjolly
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:35 pm

Evidence Of Reasoning Ability

Post by sillyjolly »

I have read that panels tend to like to see some evidence of really good reasoning ability on the basis that the 11+ is not a curriculum test, it is a test of reasoning ability. I do not have the breakdown of scores for my ds but suspect that the VR result let him down. When I appeal I will obviously be given the breakdown then but in the meantime wonder if there is any alternative evidence that shows good VR skills. The 11+ did not include NVR.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by Etienne »

I'm afraid the only possibilities are:
1) Your school does CATs or the occasional NFER VR test (only some schools do them).
2) You pay for an educational psychologist's report (very expensive).
Etienne
sillyjolly
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:35 pm

Re: Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by sillyjolly »

I have looked into an EP report but at £650 it's not something I want to rush into if I can provide alternative evidence. My school does not do NFER VR tests but I do have the 'whole-hearted support' of the HT and I am sure that she would allow a test to be taken in school. However, is a panel likely to look unfavourably at this if they ask are VR tests done in my school?

Could I suggest to the panel that I believe fact ds has been disadvantaged against pupils from schools that study VR and against the preps?
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Appeal Despite Headteacher Review?

Post by Etienne »

I do have the 'whole-hearted support' of the HT and I am sure that she would allow a test to be taken in school.
Not sure they would have the necessary materials. These probably have to be purchased for a whole class.
However, is a panel likely to look unfavourably at this if they ask are VR tests done in my school?
No, I don't think so.
Could I suggest to the panel that I believe fact ds has been disadvantaged against pupils from schools that study VR and against the preps?
State schools are not meant to 'study' VR, although some might do a yearly test for diagnostic purposes. It's their choice. Prep schools do sometimes study VR, but at appeal many of them have the disadvantage of not having SATs levels. I very much doubt this sort of argument will carry any weight.
Etienne
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