11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi

I wonder if you could advise on our situation. DD got 117 / 111 in the 11+. She has a 2.1 recommendation from the school, is strongly supported by the head. Has predicted Level 5s and 121 in Year 5 test.

She has been diagnosed as having a mideline problem(Mid 08). As she also wears glasses it ws recommended she have a full assessment with a specialist optician. The optician said (July 08) that as her prescription was so different to the previous prescription (Nov 07) she couldn't perform the test!!

8 week later when DD was used to the new glasses the test revealed her eyesight to be okay, but her tracking to be "average".

Does this support the midline diagnosis? What is the best way of relaying this information to the appeal panel?

Many thanks

*Dad*

Hi

Not sure what they mean by midline problem - have you got any other info? wonder if it as functional ie perceptual problem or anatomical eg astigmatism. Re the Tracking quite a lot is written about that ... haven't looked to see how it specifically affects attainmnt.
One thing to consider is whether it can have affected her 11 plus results to a greater extent than her day to day workas predicted by the school

Hi *Dad*

Good points from herman (who is a medic, BTW).

The SATs & Head's recommendation are both fine, and if you have other good evidence (reports, school work, CATs, etc) then you should definitely go for the appeal. Your chances of success on 117 are statistically around 40%, but with strong evidence that will rise.

You need to do two things:

1. Ensure that you can explain this condition clearly and concisely to the panel, and provide evidence from the specialist.

2. As the new glasses had improved her sight by September, I am assuming that her schoolwork improved in September, if anything? If so, and as Herman says, you must be able to show how the condition would have directly affected her performance in the tests, as opposed to regular school work.

Sally-Anne