colyton grammar, devon - appeal help

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moosh
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:01 pm

colyton grammar, devon - appeal help

Post by moosh »

Hi just wondering if anyone can help me get started with the appeal process.
Have been advised by CGS that DS only just missed qualification in maths paper but passed other two. He was in borderzone group and decision was made on the basis of work submitted by primary school. I am not happy that school submitted the best available examples and I am considering an appeal. However I have been advised by CGS that they do not give out the scores achieved on any of the papers whether passed or otherwise, nor do they give out what the qualifying scores were this year for those that passed and they do not give any access to the papers.

How do I know whether he was way off or very close to qualifying which I would of thought would have been my starting point in considering whether to appeal or not.

Has anyone else appealed for this school, did you have any access to the marks and were you sucessful.

Any info gratefully received. :?
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

Hi moosh

There was an appeal for Colyton last year - this thread:

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... ht=#112324

The circumstances were not the same, and the appeal was not successful, but there is a fair bit of useful information on it that you may find helpful.

Appeals for single schools such as this can be problematic and any scrap of information is useful. I do find it poor that the school will not release the scores to you - for all you know your child could have achieved exceptionally high marks in the English & VR papers, and you could then argue that "maths is perhaps not quite such a strength?" As it is you have your hands tied behind your back.

I wonder where they stand under the Data Protection Act on refusing to disclose scores? (Etienne?)

I note on the Colyton website that they state "the planned admission number for 2010 is 120 (grammar schools are not allowed to expand)". That is a correct statement in itself, but not a valid argument against allowing your appeal. The school can still admit an extra child provided you win the case and you will see on the other thread that they have gone over PAN in the past.

Sally-Anne
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Post by Etienne »

I wonder where they stand under the Data Protection Act on refusing to disclose scores? (Etienne?)
Mmm ...

They do have the right to refuse access to the test papers.

As I read it, however - and it's heavy going, so worth checking with the Information Commissioner's Office to make sure I'm not missing something! - they would have to comply with a written request for the marks within the standard 40 day period.
Schedule 7 - Miscellaneous exemptions.

Examination marks

8 (1) Section 7 shall have effect subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) in the case of personal data consisting of marks or other information processed by a data controller—

(a) for the purpose of determining the results of an academic, professional or other examination or of enabling the results of any such examination to be determined, or

(b) in consequence of the determination of any such results.

(2) Where the relevant day falls before the day on which the results of the examination are announced, the period mentioned in section 7[8] shall be extended until—

(a) the end of five months beginning with the relevant day, or

(b) the end of forty days beginning with the date of the announcement,

whichever is the earlier.
(The 'relevant day' is the date on which the data controller at the school has both a properly submitted request for information and the information itself.)

The Data Protection Act can be read here
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/uk ... 80029_en_1
if you have plenty of time to spare ........ :)
Etienne
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

Thank you Etienne! I knew that you would sniff something out. :D

Whether or not 40 days would prove to be long after the appeal is heard is another matter of course.
happymum
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:02 pm

Post by happymum »

Someone in my son's class at primary appealed two years ago and won - I don't know all the details but I do know the decision was made after the results of his year 6 SAT's.
moosh
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:01 pm

Post by moosh »

Thanks to all. Decided to speak to school again as without any indication of results I really don't know whether it is worth an appeal. Have been advised that although they cant tell me on the telephone when I get the bundle of appeal papers through the post it will give me a ranking and an indication of what the pass rank was. So I shall just have to wait and see what i receive.
pilchard
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm

Post by pilchard »

Just to say best of luck with the appeal and hope that the information will be useful and hopefully show that your DC wasn't far off the 'qualifying score'.
moosh
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:01 pm

Post by moosh »

Many thanks. No doubt will be back to the forum when information is to hand. In the meantime will follow the progress of others with interest. Good luck to all with their appeals.
PJ
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:33 pm

Post by PJ »

"I wonder where they stand under the Data Protection Act on refusing to disclose scores"

I went into this in detail with the information commissioner’s office. The bottom line is that you should put a request in under FIO and they have 40 days to respond.

They may claim exemption - however - point out to them that the release of pass/fail result is seen as the release of marks, therefore, you have a clear right to the scores.

If they don't provide the information they will be in breach of the legislation and just refer them to the information commissioner.

I would also point out in any letter that a slow release of your marks would predjudice your appeal, therefore, you would like to request a rapid response from the school.
moosh
Posts: 33
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:01 pm

Post by moosh »

Hi

I am supposed to submit my case by tomorrow ready for the appeal early May. My ds teacher is stuck abroad due to all the recent volcano problems and i haven't received the academic evidence that I have requested. I am led to believe from the school that she will be back on Monday and that it is only her that can and should deal with it.

Am in the process of finalising my appeal letter. I see from reading other posts that is ok to put in a later submission of evidence before the actual date. Would it be better to submit what I have (very little) or just explain to CGS the situation and wait for the academic evidence and submit the lot together.

Also am really struggling to justify why only this school will do. Although it has a maths and science specialism ds failed the maths part of the exam and allocated school also has a science specialism.

ds very talented at art and CGS has outstanding GSCE results in this area. Would this be considered good enough reason to use or would it not be 'academic' enough to justify a grammar school place.

All this is sooo stressful
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