11 Plus Exams Forum

Please can you help we received a letter from the school 1 week before the exam expressing we are not entitled to extra time. I feel this is very unfair as did not receive proper though. We filled in all paper work in the required time frame, but expressed as my daughter has just been diagnosed and is trailing medications etc.. they should read all relevant letters and contact the school etc.. I believed they would have at least contacted the school, medical specialist involved. She has ADD and suffers severe anxiety and we fear although she is extremely able she is going to work slower under the pressure. As we had heard nothing I contacted the school to be told the educational psychologist was away and the letters would be with us by the end of the week hopefully. The next day we received the letter stating she can have a smaller room.

Is there anything we can do? I feel they just rushed into a decision

Welcome!

Have you had a copy of the admission authority's procedures for considering special arrangements?
Have they followed those procedures?

I'm doubtful whether admission authorities would normally make enquiries of medical specialists. They're more likely to take the view that it is for parents to obtain and submit their evidence.

They might perhaps contact the current school for information - but it depends what is set out in their procedures.

I get the impression that, generally speaking, they tend to be quite strict about allowing extra time (stricter than for other concessions).
Did any of the evidence you submitted specifically support the granting of extra time?

No, but several medical report and school form stated that she works slower because she lack attention and that with increase anxiety this gets even worse. The school have granted her 25% extra time but as she is so young they haven't done any test yet to give it to her, she will certainly receive it for KS2 SAT's (equivalent). It all feels very hopeless. She is predicted straight level 6's and is at level 5b, 5c, 4a now and that's what she has managed without help from the school or medication. She is on sleep medicine for her anxiety and is trailing low quantities of medication for her ADD and we have ever hope she will improve, but not soon enough for the exam. The entrance exam is just to much for her at the moment and she can cope with the pressure. The school have actively discouraged us from applying saying it not the right school for her. But it what she desperately wants. It is a small school, girls school and she is of the same ability as other that will inevitably get it. I can't understand how they can not even level the playing field a bit when there is so much evidence of need. Just to mention as I am sure you are aware we have been in the process of being diagnosed and treated for years now, it's very slow. She is in an independent school and we can't afford all the educational physiologist reports so we just had to wait we are getting there now but it feels like there no hope when the school will not consider and of this. We just want to help her.

Have you had a copy of the admission authority's procedures for considering special arrangements?
Have they followed those procedures?

You've not answered this - but, unless the answer to the second part is a definite "No," then I don't think there's anything you can do at present.

The entrance exam is just to much for her at the moment

As to whether there's anything you can do later on (when you have the result), can I just check - are we talking here about an 11+ test for a grammar school?