Bucks Appeal 117/118

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Everythingcrossed
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:32 pm

Bucks Appeal 117/118

Post by Everythingcrossed »

Have spent past week reading all the fantastic advice on here and now ready to detail our tale. Thank you all for providing such great support at what is a very difficult time.

DD got 117/118. Have spoken to HT and she is recommended 2;1. Awaiting recent CATs and predicted SATs - year 5 data was VR 118, Quant 107 and NVR 113. We are told (and her last school report backs this) that she has made big progress since these (Jan 2011). Optional SATs last summer reading 5, writing 4c, numeracy 4a.

We dont really understand why she missed it - her familiarisation tests were all mid-high 70s/80 and practice at home was in line with that. She does get very nervous (she has dipped grades in ballet exams because of this - know its not academic but we do have info from Ballet Principal supporting this and that is the only other exam setting she knows) and she puts herself under pressure to do as well as DD1 already at grammar. Night before paper 1 was disrupted more than we had hoped because of my work.

Waiting on HT statement but vibes we are getting is that support will be strong and am getting impression we should major on the academic stuff and just put the nerves as poss extenuating circs as a one-liner?

Any advice welcome, good luck to all others in same boat and thank you again.
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: Bucks Appeal 117/118

Post by Sally-Anne »

Everythingcrossed wrote:Have spent past week reading all the fantastic advice on here and now ready to detail our tale. Thank you all for providing such great support at what is a very difficult time.
Glad to be of help.
Have spoken to HT and she is recommended 2;1.
Good.
Awaiting recent CATs and predicted SATs - year 5 data was VR 118, Quant 107 and NVR 113. We are told (and her last school report backs this) that she has made big progress since these (Jan 2011).
I am slightly concerned at your understanding of CATs, and wonder if you are confusing them with SATs? CATs test (if you believe in such things) innate ability, rather than learning. Although the results between two sets of tests can vary because of all sorts of factors, such as the way a child felt on the day, all things being equal the tests are likely to deliver fairly similar results each time. However, I am pre-judging the results of the recent tests, and let us hope that they are a little higher - ideally above 120 in one or two areas.
Optional SATs last summer reading 5, writing 4c, numeracy 4a.
Good. Provided she makes steady progress with her writing, she should be on target for Level 5s. What is the Head predicting for her? Has s/he given you predicted sub-levels? They would be helpful - 5a or 5 b is firmer evidence than just "Level 5".
Waiting on HT statement but vibes we are getting is that support will be strong and am getting impression we should major on the academic stuff and just put the nerves as poss extenuating circs as a one-liner?
Yes, keep the extenuating circumstances very brief - "nerves" is not a strong point, and disruption the night before the first test doesn't help to solve the mystery of the score on the second paper. The risk is that the panel may think that the two similar scores of 117/118 represent the limit of her ability, and you must seek to overturn that thought with the academic evidence.
Everythingcrossed
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:32 pm

Re: Bucks Appeal 117/118

Post by Everythingcrossed »

Thank you for such a swift reply.
HT has promised recent results and predicted SATs on Mon. Based on what we have read here we have asked for sublevels. Will post once we have report.
Re CATs, her results in year 5 were much higher than in year 4 so hoping that will continue. If thats the case are you suggesting we should only use most recent data and not attempt to show progress? Compared to our elder daughter DD has been a slower burner, in school and in her 11 plus work and it has been last 6 months or so in which she has really shone, 11plus has i think just come a bit too soon (April birthday).
Take your point re consistent results tho if one had been lower would we not have had a hard time explaining that away? Its like you just cant win!
Thanks for giving up your weekend for us all
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: Bucks Appeal 117/118

Post by Sally-Anne »

Everythingcrossed wrote:Re CATs, her results in year 5 were much higher than in year 4 so hoping that will continue.
Some children do take time to get into their stride with CATs, because they will never have done anything quite like them before, and their scores can therefore increase (or decrease if they are having a bad day). However, after two or three sets of tests the scores will tend to stabilise.
If thats the case are you suggesting we should only use most recent data and not attempt to show progress?
Yes, because CATs don't measure "progress". Think of them as being like an IQ test - you cannot increase your IQ because you only get what God gave you! What you can do is test several times to ensure that you have as accurate a measure of IQ as possible. The highest score will represent your IQ, lower scores will represent an off day, a test that wasn't quite right for you, etc, etc. (A little like the 11+ really ... :roll: )
Compared to our elder daughter DD has been a slower burner, in school and in her 11 plus work and it has been last 6 months or so in which she has really shone, 11plus has i think just come a bit too soon (April birthday).
"Recent progress" can be a useful argument at an appeal, particularly for children born later in the year who may be less mature. After all, the 11+ is taken in early October and appeals take place in January and February, a whole term later. Stay close to the class teacher and check regularly if the children are doing things like SATs papers as tests. Papers or other work over the next few weeks showing good Level 5s could make all the difference.
Take your point re consistent results tho if one had been lower would we not have had a hard time explaining that away? Its like you just cant win!
Every combination of scores presents its own challenges, even 120/120!
Thanks for giving up your weekend for us all
I should be doing many other things, but right now I am hugging a fan heater. :lol:
Everythingcrossed
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:32 pm

Re: Bucks Appeal 117/118

Post by Everythingcrossed »

Thanks S-A.
"Recent progress" can be a useful argument at an appeal, particularly for children born later in the year who may be less mature. After all, the 11+ is taken in early October and appeals take place in January and February, a whole term later. Stay close to the class teacher and check regularly if the children are doing things like SATs papers as tests. Papers or other work over the next few weeks showing good Level 5s could make all the difference.
How should we show her recent progress in our letter, or is it best to leave that to the actual appeal hearing itself?
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: Bucks Appeal 117/118

Post by Sally-Anne »

Everythingcrossed wrote:How should we show her recent progress in our letter, or is it best to leave that to the actual appeal hearing itself?
You should obviously ensure that your letter covers her current level of achievement. What you are hoping for is that the school may do some past SATs papers in the first couple of weeks of term, and that they will show that she has moved up a sub-level since the assessments made this term.

You can then mention that at the hearing itself. On the day you can hand over copies of very small amounts of evidence - a one page letter from the class teacher stating an improvement in her levels, for example, or you can take a completed SATs paper with you, draw attention to it in your presentation and then hand it over at the end with any school books.
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