11 Plus Exams Forum

Knowing that hardly anyone has survived, let alone succeeded in the Redbridge Appeals process.....

In VR ,my DS's average GL score over both packs was 90%. In the Redbridge 11+, he got 81%.
In NVR, my DS's average GL score over both packs was 86%. On the day, he got 71%.

With GL (which is the best benchmark I can think of) he even exceeded 95% on 5 occasions.

He thought the test went smoothly and was, if anything, slightly easier than a standard GL test.

I am thinking the unthinkable, that something was mismarked or he completely misnumbered the answers (on both papers?).

We are not expecting to get much joy out of this, but we'd love to know what has happened.

He is equal top of the class in his primary school for Maths.

Any advice?!?

Would be really grateful.

I am thinking the unthinkable, that something was mismarked or he completely misnumbered the answers (on both papers?).

Are you going to see if they will do a re-mark?

The last time I was involved in an appeal with this authority, the parent had quite a good case, but the panel rejected all the alternative evidence (curriculum levels, educational psychologist' report) on the basis that it ..... well ...... wasn't the same as the 11+. (Unfortunately they can do that, because no one can challenge their judgement, provided they first consider the evidence.)

This was several years ago. I wonder if things have changed?

Well, I have to get through to them first! I will ask for a re-mark.

Redbridge have agreed to look into it with GL. It's not an appeal as such, just a check on DS's mark.

Finally heard back from Redbridge. 17 parents had their papers remarked and none changed.

It seems that you can be top of your year, average 89% over 80 practise papers, be sitting level 6 SATS and still get 10% below the Redbridge pass mark with effectively no grounds for appeal. Oh well.

John d, I really do feel for you. We find ourselves in exactly the same position as you. VR was the problem for us. In practise papers my dc was achieving between 90 to 95% and on a few occasions achieved 100% - on the test day just over 60%.

We have one cat vr score on the 91st percentile and practise papers.

The upside for us is that our local comprehensive is very good.
Unfortunately convincing out dc is proving to be difficult as he had his heart set on this particular gs. we have had to change our natural journey into town as when we drive past this gs his head goes down and he becomes withdrawn. His self esteem has taken a nose dive since test day and no amount of praise seems to lift him. I really do regret allowing him to take 11+ and feel that I have failed him in some way. So, our appeal date looms closer but, we have no expectation of success, just need to know we have done everything within our power to try to deliver his wish.

I wish you the very best of luck, fingers crossed.

Oh dear

I have one like this, and it is very hard to take, especially when you, the parent knows exactly what they are truly capable of.

It's time then to build up the alternative school, and they will do very well with supportive parents who are on the ball, whether they are at Grammar or somewhere else. It does get easier, just takes time.

Thanks for the messages! Didn't expect that!
I think he is OK about it, he understands that there is a silver lining in that it will be a bit more relaxed and he will have more time for his music and other interests.
For us generally, I guess we just feel that any selection system like Redbridge's, which ignores Maths and English and is highly prone to over-coaching and freak results, just sucks and its an ugly side of selective education.
We should never have put all our eggs in the Redbridge basket, we should have spread them around or not done it at all.
Short of some terrible behavioural disaster, he will do a blinder at the comp.

Anna, he will do well, maybe he will need more home support with homework, he has a point to prove and he will! It's so baffling isn't it? Mad!

Cheers all!