Information to supply to panel?

[panickingmum]

Hi,

Just a bit of background my DD failed the 11+ on 118 119 and we went to appeal and we failed that too! So now having flown the 12+ with a great score but still offered nothing we are going to appeal for oversubscription. Giving our past failure I truly am a "panickingmum" and very worried about the whole process! I have a number of questions that I would like to ask 2 of which are of a more confidential matter and so I will put the information in the appeals box as I believe it is then only available to a select few.

We currently have got a place for our DD at a private school, we see it very much as a last resort if all else fails as the logistics are not good and we cant really afford it. Sending her private would put a huge strain on the whole family but.. The school is holding the place for us at the moment as they still have spaces, this could change tomorrow and we could lose it but at the moment we do have an escape route. One question I have is should we mention this at appeal if we still have it? Would the panel think oh well they dont need a GS place or would they see it as our determination that DD must leave the school she currently attends and hates?

My other general problem is what evidence can we supply? We currently do not have a school report from the current school and wont get one until a week before the appeal so obviously wont have time to send it in as an addendum and all we have is a list of targets and her position against those, I will send some of this detail to the appeals box.

Thanks for any help you can give

Panickingmum

[Looking for help]

Oh dear, panickingmum, sorry to hear about your situation. I really hope that you win this appeal. My advice, whether of any good or not, is not to mention the other school if possible. As it is private, the panel cannot know about it, but if you say this, then they may well think that you have a suitable alternative, and whether consciously or not,it may sway their decision. We had the question in our appeal, and I feel it counted against us that we answered truthfully that the school we had been offered was good, and I'm sure if we had not told them our result would have been different.
In my opinion it is wrong for the panel to consider the school that you would otherwise go to, but I guess if it is oversubscription you are dealing with, they may use this as a reason to decline your appeal.

HTH

LFH

[Etienne]

Hi, panickingmum

Thank you for the message to the Appeals Box. If this is purely an oversubscription appeal, you seem to be going down the wrong track. The fact that your daughter has qualified speaks for itself. Academic evidence is not going to be relevant, except in a few limited circumstances (e.g. the child excels in a particular subject, and the school in question specialises in that subject).

Focus instead on reasons for wanting a place at the school:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/11plus ... ers.php#c2

I think an appeal panel would be wrong to take the private school into consideration, but one never quite knows what might be going on at a subconscious level. I agree with LFH - best not to mention it.

[panickingmum]

Hi LFH and Etienne,

Thanks for the advice re the private school, think we will definitely keep mum on this one.

Also thanks Etienne, I have read the link you sent me and understand that she has qualified and therefore we dont need to prove that she is worthy, but we were hoping to stress academic prowess in Maths and Science which are specialisms of the school we are appealing for and hence felt the need for some sort of academic evidence to back up our claims. We are finding it difficult really finding any evidence to support our case. Reading our appeal letter it all sounds very convincing as long as you take our word for it and this is where my problem lies!

PM

[tiredmum]

Hi LFH and Etienne,

, but we were hoping to stress academic prowess in Maths and Science which are specialisms of the school we are appealing for and hence felt the need for some sort of academic evidence to back up our claims. We are finding it difficult really finding any evidence to support our case.
PM

Can the school provide you with maths and science evidence letters? High SATS predictions maybe? My dd's school wrote a letter saying how my dd attending clubs after school in the appeal schools specialisms.

[tiredmum]

opps sorry just read that its 12+ - so SATS predictions wont help but clubs will

[Etienne]

Ideally, as you realise, you ought to have the KS3 targets for Maths & Sc.

If the school is not being helpful, it might be worth looking back at what you had from primary school. Did any of those reports highlight Maths & Science as a strength? Is there any chance the year 6 teacher would write a short letter of support mentioning these subjects (and perhaps even saying how suitable the grammar school you have in mind would be)? You could always explain to the panel that you're still waiting for a full report from the current school. You could also let slip that they haven't rushed to write anything specially for the appeal - if this is what has happened - as they may not be too keen on late transfers .......

[panickingmum]

Hi Etienne and Tiredmum,

I do have the KS3 targets as posted in the appeals box, it is just I was worried about some of the others being not quite as impressive as the Maths and Science.

I cannot contact the primary teacher as she has retired and actually although she said she would support us 100% a rather luke warm letter from her was I think the clincher in the 11+ appeal so wont go down that route!

Thanks for the advice about the clubs. Interestingly enough though my DD tried to join the school science and drama clubs but found they were full and couldnt!! I might mention this though as it shows her strengths (science) are not being fully supported by the school!

PM

[Etienne]

I do have the KS3 targets as posted in the appeals box

I saw them - but noted why you didn't want to use them! It's a pity as they're so good.

P.S. The end of year report might come to the rescue. Failing that, I think I would use the targets. The issue, after all, is Maths & Science, not general academic ability.

[tiredmum]

Hi Etienne and Tiredmum,

Thanks for the advice about the clubs. Interestingly enough though my DD tried to join the school science and drama clubs but found they were full and couldnt!! I might mention this though as it shows her strengths (science) are not being fully supported by the school!

PM

That is such a shame! When a child is motivatede enough about a subject to try and join a club and then gets told they cant! How disappointing for your dc! its certainly worth a mention as clubs in accedemic subjects are a way of exploring these areas futher and often in a more fun way to keep their interest alive!