How valid are CAT scores in an appeal?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:18 pm
We have our second appeal in Kent next week, having lost our first. My DS missed maths by 1 point and NVR by 2 points - very unexpected. We did have a couple of mitigating circumstances, but I didn't make too big a deal of those - we felt his other academic evidence was very strong, and would have been enough.
Maths seemed to the sticking point in our 1st appeal. He was Level 5 in optional SATS for reading and maths in Year 5 (4B for writing), so well above average (he had obtained high optional SATS in years 3 & 4 too)
On the back of this, and also to satisfy ourselves, we have since had CAT's done by an Ed. Psych. To summarise: Maths = 96 percentile, Verbal ability - 95th percentile, and NVR - 88th percentile. He also did a reading test, covering accuracy (94th percentile), comprehension (92nd percentile) and reading rate (95th percentile)
Our main basis of appeal is his consistent high academic ability between yrs 3- 6 (of which we have plenty of objective evidence)
My understanding is that these scores are good, with maths and english levels being classed as 'high'.
I have looked at the who the tests are devised by, and they are by NFER Nelson (also the 11+ testing authority in Kent), so I'm happy that they are respected tests.
But, I'm not sure how I present these at the hearing - or even if I should do? I intend to use them to back up his academic success, not as 'primary' evidence - is this the right thing to do? Should I try and get this report to the panel before our hearing? I'm terrified of 'hacking' them off, and therefore this evidence becoming counter-productive!
Maths seemed to the sticking point in our 1st appeal. He was Level 5 in optional SATS for reading and maths in Year 5 (4B for writing), so well above average (he had obtained high optional SATS in years 3 & 4 too)
On the back of this, and also to satisfy ourselves, we have since had CAT's done by an Ed. Psych. To summarise: Maths = 96 percentile, Verbal ability - 95th percentile, and NVR - 88th percentile. He also did a reading test, covering accuracy (94th percentile), comprehension (92nd percentile) and reading rate (95th percentile)
Our main basis of appeal is his consistent high academic ability between yrs 3- 6 (of which we have plenty of objective evidence)
My understanding is that these scores are good, with maths and english levels being classed as 'high'.
I have looked at the who the tests are devised by, and they are by NFER Nelson (also the 11+ testing authority in Kent), so I'm happy that they are respected tests.
But, I'm not sure how I present these at the hearing - or even if I should do? I intend to use them to back up his academic success, not as 'primary' evidence - is this the right thing to do? Should I try and get this report to the panel before our hearing? I'm terrified of 'hacking' them off, and therefore this evidence becoming counter-productive!