mamabear appeal bucks

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Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by Etienne »

Ps. The appeals team last year would not accept any childrens work to look at
IIf they did, they would have to photocopy exercise books etc. and send copies to everyone involved in the appeal.
This is time consuming and really isn't practical!

But there's nothing to stop parents bringing exercise books and other work to the appeal hearing.
Etienne
southbucks3
Posts: 3579
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:59 am

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by southbucks3 »

They did also mention it wasn't really considered due to the fact that only good quality work could be selected for the team to look at, or that school books were hard to use to interpret the child's ability in a short time looking. Not verbatum, but implied during group hearings when people asked about appropriate evidence.
However whole books showing consistently good work must imo be of some merit and could be taken along anyway.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by Etienne »

Our general advice is clearly set out in the Q&As:
Different areas may vary in the way they approach school work. Generally speaking, I would have thought most appeals administrators will not want to be deluged with school work submitted in advance of the hearing.

Photocopies of school work might be discouraged, although it depends on local practice (the panel might not even be interested in school work!). The problem with photocopies is: (1) it might look as if you are carefully selecting specific pages while concealing others, and (2) photocopies are not always clear, and the teacher’s comments (which are what ought to matter), if made in red, may be less obvious.

If the work for key subjects such as English and maths is of high quality (with very good marks and/or very positive comments), take it with you to the hearing, and ask the panel if it would be helpful. They may not be very interested (perhaps taking the view that they already have a letter from the headteacher or SATs levels summarising the quality of the work), and they may not even have time, but at least you will have given them the option.

Another reason why some panels may prefer not to look at school work is that it’s not their role to assess it. However, I doubt that anyone is really asking them to do this – all they should be asked to do is look at the evidence of the teacher’s marks and comments! They are under a duty to consider any academic evidence the parent wishes to submit, and a panel should think carefully before refusing to accept relevant evidence, especially if it is pointed out that they are not being asked to assess the work.

Having said that, I would accept that there’s little point pressing the matter if the panel are not interested – except in situations where parents are short of evidence (perhaps because the primary school will not co-operate). or where parents are seeking to demonstrate the impact of extenuating circumstances at a particular point in time. In these situations, school work – depending on what it reveals – would be an essential part of the case.

Otherwise, the suggestion that exercise books for the main academic subjects could be taken to the hearing, and made available only if they would assist the panel with their decision, would seem a very reasonable approach.
They did also mention it wasn't really considered due to the fact that only good quality work could be selected for the team to look at,
I wouldn't normally recommend carefully selected pieces of work (which may have been re-done and 'polished' specifically for the appeal!).

However, mamabear could be short of evidence, and owing to her particular circumstances I think that, if she has some examples of high quality work, she should consider taking them to the appeal.
or that school books were hard to use to interpret the child's ability in a short time looking. Not verbatum, but implied during group hearings when people asked about appropriate evidence.
It is a fact that some panel members quite like to see school work, whereas others don't - but it must be for the individual panel to decide what weight to give to any school work.
Etienne
mad?
Posts: 5621
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 6:27 pm
Location: london

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by mad? »

Mamabear sorry to hear this and cyberhugs. God luck in your appeal xx
mad?
MamaBear
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:17 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by MamaBear »

Thank you mad, your kind words are much appreciated.
Sally-Anne and Etienne have been so helpful. We have applied for a review, booked an appointment with an educational psychologist and have begun drafting a letter to the gp to try and show that ds2 was poorly with suspected glandular fever.
we shall have to wait and see. Thankyou to everyone for all the kind messages, it means a lot.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by Etienne »

We have applied for a review
Hope you've weighed up all the pros and cons.
    • on May 02, 2013 Sally-Anne wrote:the figure of 6.9 minutes relates to the average preparation time per case ahead of the Review Panel meeting. My estimate for the average length of time spent on each case during the actual meetings was sub-10 minutes, with some cases receiving no more than 3 minutes attention.
Etienne
MamaBear
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:17 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by MamaBear »

Thank you etienne, yes we have weighed up the pros and cons and have decided to go for it.

it will be really interesting to hear what the ed psych says when she assesses ds2, it will be helpful whether he goes to a gs or not.

the selection review papers came today in the post, very prompt! Now our main focus is to show that he is able and was still suffering the after effects of his illness.

I hope this will be enough.
jabba7
Posts: 263
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:26 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by jabba7 »

Lots of luck Mamabear :D
MamaBear
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:17 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by MamaBear »

Thank you so much jabba7, we need it!
jabba7
Posts: 263
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:26 pm

Re: mamabear appeal bucks

Post by jabba7 »

I really hope it all works out for you, it is all such a horrible process :(
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