11 Plus Exams Forum

Hello,
My son appeared for Reading Boys school exam and apparently has missed the wait list by just a couple of standardised marks, got the raw scores and quite dismayed that he did well in English and Maths however very poorly in Reasoning paper. Dismayed because he had prepared quite exhaustively for VR / NVR for the Bucks and Slough exam and did well in both of these exams and cleared both of them.
We have asked for remarking which has been done and has made no difference, we asked to see the answer sheet and paper however were refused.

We are confused right now as to what is the right war to proceed, is it via an appeal ? and specifically we want to see the papers and understand why he did poorly if he did or is there some mistake like marking in wrong sequence etc.

Do the Reading Boys give a chance to parents to view the exam papers and marksheets ?
Please advice.

Thanks,

We are confused right now as to what is the right war to proceed, is it via an appeal ?

Yes, if you feel you have sufficient alternative academic evidence:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and good reasons for wanting a place:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would caution you, though, that the occasional appeal I've been involved with for this school has been difficult to win.

and specifically we want to see the papers and understand why he did poorly if he did or is there some mistake like marking in wrong sequence etc.

Under the Data Protection Act, I'm afraid you have no legal right to see the papers.

Do the Reading Boys give a chance to parents to view the exam papers and marksheets ?

I don't know, but if they say 'No', then unfortunately that's the end of the matter. You could try offering to pay for an analysis, but I don't know whether they are prepared to provide this facility.
(Bucks, for example, charge £25 for an analysis: http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 12&t=12629" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

Thanks Etienne, We will try the appeal route, though looking at the appeal guidelines related to oversubscribed school, which Reading School is, does not fill with any confidence.

My son has already secured a place at his second choice grammar school, so do you think this information is also not in favour of our appeal ?

As the LA isn't involved, the panel probably won't know this - although they might ask you.

It seems reasonable enough that someone should be appealing for a higher preference school - but clearly, the stronger your reasons for that preference, the better!