Thank you so much Dutchy for taking your time to help me, I really do appreciate it. As I have not been through this process before, I am unsure of how we find out about the waiting list - will I be contacted by CSSE with this or do I need to do the chasing when the office re-opens on Monday?

Ds's school is going to provide data, detailing levels achieved etc. Headteacher and class teacher are both providing strong letters of support (phew). Just waiting for 8th March to find out his position on the waiting list. We will be starting to draft the appeal letter this weekend. Does anyone have any words of wisdom that may help?

See the Q&As!

For example:

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b12
B12 (c)

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b21

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b40

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c18

It would be a good idea to read all the way through the Q&As - you will probably find answers to questions you haven't even thought of!

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Etienne

Etienne, Thank you so much for the links - exactly what I needed

Hi Anna

Did you not receive the Consortium email which was sent out mid afternoon on the 1st March? As well as the standardised score it lists DC's ranked position & number of applicants on your ranked list.

EG Colchester County High School
Total Applicants 530
Your ranked position 354
Applicants on your ranked list 530

We've also received through the post our 'offer' letter from Essex CC Admissions which includes a rejection slip & a 'what to do next?' information sheet.

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Clarabelle

Hi Clarabelle, I recieved the letter from Essex after posting the message and the information I needed was included within that letter. Thank you for your post.
Anna

We have decided to go ahead with an appeal. we will be appealing on the grounds on non qualification. My DS's school is incredibly helpful and very supportive and I can't thank them enough. The headteacher has confirmed his current level across the curiculum is Level 5 (class work) He will be sitting level 6 in reading this week and is predicted to do well (fingers crossed) He has been entered for Maths and English (Reading) level 6 in May. we will be submitting his reports from year 2 onwards. his quantitive cat score is 141. Although to me this sounds 'ok', the one thing that I need to back up and cannot is VR. I only have one result of 120 - equiv to the 91st percentile. I am aware this is what we hold us back.

Don't forget to make a case for wanting a place at the school in question. (I'm assuming it is - or will be - oversubscribed.)

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c2

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Etienne

Thanks Etienne, we will be supporting the application with the fact that this particular grammar school specialises in Maths (ds's strength) along with the fact that he will be in a school with likeminded children who want to learn (and whom do not regard this negatively) also that my ds thrives in calm environments which the school prides itself on and the school is within walking distance (approx 1 mile) which is perfect for him. is there anyhing I have missed?

Maths might be your strongest point as you have some hard evidence to back it up.

'Walking distance' - worth a mention, but unexceptional because of course everyone who lives within walking distance will be making exactly the same point.

'Thrives' is quite a strong word. Is it just a feeling that the environment would suit him? Or is there actually evidence that he hasn't thrived in a school with a very different sort of environment? (No need to answer that here - just alerting you to the fact that an appeal panel might probe to see how much substance there is to any points being put forward.)

'Likeminded children' usually comes across as a weakish argument. (Not necessarily saying don't use it, but keep it minimal - unless there's more substance to it, e.g. he's been teased or bullied for 'wanting to learn'.)

I'm afraid I can't tell if anything is missing, because it depends entirely on your own circumstances.
However, it might help (if true) to mention that this was the school your child really wanted to go to, and how heartbroken he was not to have achieved his goal. Of course, it invites the question - why does he want to go to this particular school?

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Etienne