Appeal help please!

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Romeha3
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Appeal help please!

Post by Romeha3 »

Hello and thank you for any advice you can give. Our daughter missed the pass mark for our local grammar school by 3 marks. She didn't finish the paper. The problem is all her friends got in. We have already submitted our appeal evidence - academic on the gifted and talented, great SATS results etc and also appealing on social and health grounds of her being shy and needing friendship. However, she has since had a viral infection, possibly glandular fever (though test results were negative) and although she is feeling better (with up and down days) she has only attended school for 3 days since March 1st (day we got the Grammar school results). She says it's because she was sick 3 times in school - once in January very violently in the corridor and twice since one being 1st March. She says in class she can suddenly feel sick and doesn't want to ask to leave as it's embarrassing! She visibly pales, cries, and shakes at the thought of going to school. She has lost weight and is on the waiting list to see pediatrics at the hospital. We believe she is also embarrassed by 'failing' to get into grammar and feels everyone is talking about her. She has basically changed overnight from the confident fun little girl she was. The school have been brilliant and we are trying to get her to go to school - at home she is doing school work with no problems. In school there are certain lessons she refuses to go to as the teacher shouts/boys are too noisy etc...lessons in the afternoon are better as she doesn't want to be there for lunch - she says it makes her feel sick. What I would like to know is would you tell the appeal about how she has changed - would it benefit her l such as in the case of bullying, as although we believe she did have a viral infection now it's become psychological. We believe that if her appeal was successful she would go back to being her normal happy self. OR would it damage her chances as they may feel she is too fragile?
Any thoughts would be very appreciated as we don't know what to do....thanks you
Atilla
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 12:36 pm

Re: Appeal help please!

Post by Atilla »

I would tell the appeal panel. Our child had rather detrimental self esteem effects as a result of the eleven plus and we were open and honest about everything that happened. In our case, the effects began before taking the test, but became a lot worse after (even before we were told the results). CAHMS got involved and the reports were used as evidence to explain why she had done so poorly on the eleven plus. That combined with strong academic evidence allowed us to win the appeal.

By the time we had the appeal, as interventions were taking place, her problems lessened (although she was still not 100% back to normal) and we were able to present evidence that with proper intervention she can handle stress.

In our case, there was also the mitigating factor of diagnosed ASD (years before the eleven plus), which again, strengthened the case.

You will be surprised about how sympathetic the appeal panel can be. They will not take anxiety issues as a reason to not be suitable for grammar. They will take them into consideration to explain why the child did not receive the requiring score.

However, all this being said, you need to determine if you feel she would be able to handle a grammar school. You know your child best. If you feel she can, then go for it. If you are unsure, get an opinion from a professional. If you know she is unlikely to handle it, then even though she is capable of grammar, it might not be the best place for her. better to grow up happy than stressed all of the time.

Another thing I would reccommend before going through with the appeal is talking to the SENCO at the grammar school to see how they handle children with anxiety issues. Some grammar schools will be great with it, others not very good. You want to make sure that if you do send her to a grammar school, you send her to one with staff who are understanding and experianced with this kind of situation.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Appeal help please!

Post by Etienne »

I agree with the above, although Atilla's case would have been considerably helped by the fact that "By the time we had the appeal, as interventions were taking place, her problems lessened (although she was still not 100% back to normal) and we were able to present evidence that with proper intervention she can handle stress".
all this being said, you need to determine if you feel she would be able to handle a grammar school. You know your child best. If you feel she can, then go for it. If you are unsure, get an opinion from a professional. If you know she is unlikely to handle it, then even though she is capable of grammar, it might not be the best place for her. better to grow up happy than stressed all of the time.
Sound advice!
Another thing I would reccommend before going through with the appeal is talking to the SENCO at the grammar school to see how they handle children with anxiety issues. Some grammar schools will be great with it, others not very good. You want to make sure that if you do send her to a grammar school, you send her to one with staff who are understanding and experianced with this kind of situation.
Another good point - and I think an appeal panel would be impressed if you'd taken the trouble to seek reassurance from the SENCO.
Etienne
Romeha3
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Re: Appeal help please!

Post by Romeha3 »

thanks for your help - we went to the part one appeal hearing yesterday and only 40 appeals and we are guessing 12 places (as in previous years). We have our part 2 next week and they said they will phone everyone next week with the yes and nos! We are going in positive with good academic evidence and see what happens. I have rang the school and spoken to SENCO and they are supportive and existing school are writing letter to point out her recent problems medically and anxiety are probably 'one' off and that she can cope with Grammar.

Any further advice appreciated :D
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