Page 1 of 1

To take or not to take!

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:59 pm
by Moscow
Hi all. Hope you are all well and not too stressed. Well we have our first appeal next week and are getting ready with our presentation and collating our copies of all the evidence we have sent in. I assume the panel members will be given a copy of all our evidence (heads letter etc) but will take extra copies in case.

Anyway, I need some advice on whether to take in examples of DS books. His teacher gave me his current Maths, English and Science books but I am not sure whether to take them becuase, although the work is good in the majority of cases, some of the work is untidy and not up to his best ( what a harsh nother I am!). The Headteachers' appeal failed on his presentation of work and I am afraid that although I can direct the panel to look at good examples of work, with post-it notes etc, they may well look through the whole book.

He also has a folder of mental arithmetic tests and achieves Level 5 on all of these bar 1 or 2 but they are marked by him so I assume they will not be taken seriously.

Anybody else had experience of taking in books and whether they count as good evidence. We have all his predicted SATs, CATs, approval letters from the school etc, so this may be enough.

Any advice greatly appreciated. :roll:

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:14 pm
by heronsfly
Hi, yes we are all gearing up now,I have also wondered about books,as our ht appeal was turned down on level of attainment in books.
Im probably not taking any as one of the appeal leaflets we have been sent, advises you not to do so ,also most of these children have only missed the mark by a small amount that in its self speaks for ability

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:20 pm
by Moscow
Thanks. Have not had any appeal leaflets from the schools we have appealed to although one sent a letter practically begging us not to appeal as they would then have classes that are too large and we would be disadvantaging all the other children!

Talk about emotional blackmail! Can I get hold of these leaflets and do they give any other advice that would be useful? Thanks heronsfly

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:28 pm
by perplexed
I have no first hand experience of this, but I am sure that I have read in another thread a contribution from an appeal panel member. Their advice was not to take exercise books as you cannot expect a panel member to judge whether a child is in the top 25% of the population or not from their exercise books. Therefore it may be of no use, and could even take time away during your discussion of hard data which will show that your child is in top 25%.

Good luck

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:41 pm
by heronsfly
The info ive got did not come from the schools,I think it must be a general kcc advice leaflet, nothing more on it really. just says that if poss send all info before the day of appeal and if you have something extra on the day that is really applicable to take in several copies.
The question of the schools being oversubscribed is worrying us all ,if you check the kent appeal thread some posters have given really helpful advice,but im really shocked at a school asking you not to appeal.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:53 pm
by Moscow
I guess I did not receive a leaflet from this school because the appeal was dealt with by the school and not KCC. The letter I received with the appeal date is the statement that the school will read out before the appeal starts and is titled as being from the governors. It does not actually tell us not to appeal but really plays on the class size issue and lack of accomodation etc. It is a standard letter I assume sent to all who appeal.

I wonder if any other schools have sent something similar?. They all seem to be different in their approaches to appeals and the KCC deal with theirs in a more formal way.

Hey ho, we will just have to wait and see. I think we won't take the books but rely on his academic attainment and evidence already sent in. On the rare chance that we are successful, we will not go ahead with the other two appeals. We are hedging our bets, hoping to win at least one appeal but my DS really wanted this school.

Thanks for the messages of good luck. i wish the same to you all. Will let you know next week one way or the other as we should know by Friday the school said.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:02 pm
by heronsfly
Good luck Moscow,
None of mine are till may, think I would rather get it over and done with.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:22 pm
by Sam's Mum
The letter I received with the appeal date is the statement that the school will read out before the appeal starts and is titled as being from the governors. It does not actually tell us not to appeal but really plays on the class size issue and lack of accomodation etc. It is a standard letter I assume sent to all who appeal.
I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like this is just the school putting their case as to why they can't admit any more children due to oversubscription, which they obviously need to argue quite forcefully. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:23 pm
by Sam's Mum
BTW - Good Luck!

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:20 pm
by Bougalou
Good luck to all. We should hear the outcome of one appeal on tuesday and have another scheduled for Thursday.
:)