not sure whether to appeal

[Sally-Anne]

I've had news from the Head today that they strongly believe we have grounds to appeal. We have a meeting after half term.

When you meet with the Head, please ensure that you raise the fundamental problem of "F,C,O" with them.

Unless your Head is very proactive in trying to understand the Review and Appeal system, or even happens to be a Review Panel member, few Heads really have any idea of just what a huge mountain it can be to climb.

As you will have gathered by now, your whole case (non-qualification and over-subscription, if applicable) will be heard by the panel, but unless you can overturn F,C,O, those cases will not be considered.

Just "righteous indignation" and strong support from the Head will not be enough. Also, panels are very wary of changes to recommendations after the event, so the Head would need to provide concrete evidence of the improvement and growth in maturity that allows them to recommend your son as a 1:1.

[jpclgerard]

Thanks both for your input. I really appreciate it. It's a minefield out there, and I had no idea what I might be letting myself in for, when I first thought of appeals a week ago!

Indeed I do have to wait to see what the Head has to add, particularly wrt what grounds we have to appeal the 'FCO'. It is somewhat complicated as she actually retired in July, but as our current head has no experience with dealing with appeals, they are in liaison with each other

And I will most certainly share my paperwork in the inbox once I get it sorted!

In my opinion as a maths specialist I cannot think of any fair way they can extrapolate to get a score - it would affect every child differently.<br abp="759"><br abp="760">

Could this be used as part of my 'FCO' argument though, as it was before the fact of the review? I'd certainly like to argue that the marking was FCO, but is that really anything to do with the review?

[purplerabbit]

Hi there,

I'm sorry to hear about your ds' situation. My dd got 113 2 years ago followed by an unsuccessful review and then 2 unsuccessful appeals so I do know how painful this is. Although both of our appeals were ultimately not successful we did win the fco argument both times.

For what it's worth I agree that the appeal process is horribly stressful but I'm glad we did it all the same. There is a chance of success and for me that was worth pursuing. The only thing I would do differently is not to tell my dd. She asked if we were appealing so I told her the truth. With the benefit of hindsight I would lie(!) if this happened again.

I'll dig out some of the avenues I used on the fco arguments over the weekend and send some suggestions to you next week.

I wouldn't personally worry too much about what your head says on the fco. Our head was one of the review panel and had no idea what the fco problem was at all!

[jpclgerard]

The only thing I would do differently is not to tell my dd. She asked if we were appealing so I told her the truth. With the benefit of hindsight I would lie(!) if this happened again.

I'll dig out some of he avenues I used on the fco arguments over the weekend and send some suggestions to you next week.

Too late! I already told him we are thinking of appealing Thanks for your help. And input gladly received!

[jpclgerard]

Finally have found my paperwork . will get it scanned and sent to inbox. Head thinks we can show review not fco. can you tell me ow I know if I need to appeal oversubscription too? I'm presuming I would be as it will be so late in the day. If that is the case, do I set out case against fco review, then appeal non-qualification then appeal oversubscription all at one hearing?

[jpclgerard]

Hi

Have emailed documents relating to extenuating circumstances and selection review. My questions:

1. The review does not accept that the extenuating circumstances would have had an effect on scores. How can they decide this without having been present and seen the effect it had on my child? How can this possibly be objective, as it would depend on how each child reacts?
2. If review panels are trained to know that CAT scores are not always indicative of a child's ability, why have they cited this as the reason for my son not being suitable?
3. On p5 of the review paperwork (scan4), can the backwards tick be used as argument that not enough careful time was spent, thus not FCO?
4. On the same page, (according to my headteacher's advice) if the panel agree with the head's recommendation and that they have considered academic evidence that the child is performing significantly above the age expected training in 3 areas, how can they then say he is not suitable for grammar? Is this consistent?
5. On p6 of the review documents (scan4), there is no detail as to how they have discounted the extenuating circumstances as having had an effect on the qualification?
6. On p7 of the review documents (scan4), Section D states they have considered other academic evidence, which states the child is performing significantly above the age expected training in 3 areas, yet they do not consider suitable. How is this consistent and fair?
7. With regard to documents for the qualification appeal itself (the 2nd part, after FCO), the interim spring results do not show adequate evidence of improvement as i) the new curriculum was only introduced to the school at the start of 2016, and ii) results are no longer displayed using 'levels'. How will this affect our presentation of our child's academic suitability?

Sorry this is a lot. I hope it's ok to ask so much!

[Amber]

On p5 of the review paperwork (scan4), can the backwards tick be used as argument that not enough careful time was spent, thus not FCO?

Left handers tend to tick backwards; if by 'backwards' you mean with the rising stroke on the left.

[Guest55]

point 7 - you'll get no allowance for the school introducing the NC a year late ...

Have you read the FCO thread and the sort of evidence you need to overcome that hurdle?

Amber is correct about left-handers often ticking with the upstroke to the left.

[jpclgerard]

point 7 - you'll get no allowance for the school introducing the NC a year late ...

Have you read the FCO thread and the sort of evidence you need to overcome that hurdle?

Amber is correct about left-handers often ticking with the upstroke to the left.

Understood re: point 7 and the left hand comment.

Yes I have read the FCO thread, and will be using all of that information in my arguments. Are my questions above on FCO not pertinent then, in your opinion?

[Guest55]

Wrong CD and predicted score are relevant I think - is that part of the test the lower score?

Is their just one set of CATs? Do they 'mirror' the Transfer Test scores?

Is your son at a high achieving Primary? Predicitons are likely to carry more weight if he is. Also the HT recommendation accuracy will play a part - do you know if other 1:2s qualified?

We can't see the paperwork so you'll have to wait for Sally-Anne to comment on your other points.