Bucks - 108/118 out of area appeal
Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators
Bucks - 108/118 out of area appeal
Hello all
Thanks for some very useful advice on these pages; would appreciate thoughts on our case, which is nothing special but couldn't find a relevant post already up here.
We're in Herts, but entered Bucks 11+ with Chesham High applied for. It was a fairly last-minute decision, as a backup against failure in the Watford consortium tests. Anyway, final results were 108 and 118 - very frustrating (probably one more test and he'd have passed!). He is near top of his class in most subjects and am confident he'll get 5's in SATs (though probably not 5a's), as he got at least one at the end of Y5 (the rest were 4As). I'm sure his head will be very supportive, but am not sure what other evidence we can present, as there are no official predictions, as there would have been from Bucks schools.
My main questions:
- Though the 118 puts us in the 'worth a go' category, will the 108 blow us out of the water?
- Does being out of area make any difference? Can we mention lack of in-school preparation, for example?
- Does the fact we're only applying for what (from most reports) will be an under-subscribed school make any difference?
All help gratefully received!
Thanks for some very useful advice on these pages; would appreciate thoughts on our case, which is nothing special but couldn't find a relevant post already up here.
We're in Herts, but entered Bucks 11+ with Chesham High applied for. It was a fairly last-minute decision, as a backup against failure in the Watford consortium tests. Anyway, final results were 108 and 118 - very frustrating (probably one more test and he'd have passed!). He is near top of his class in most subjects and am confident he'll get 5's in SATs (though probably not 5a's), as he got at least one at the end of Y5 (the rest were 4As). I'm sure his head will be very supportive, but am not sure what other evidence we can present, as there are no official predictions, as there would have been from Bucks schools.
My main questions:
- Though the 118 puts us in the 'worth a go' category, will the 108 blow us out of the water?
- Does being out of area make any difference? Can we mention lack of in-school preparation, for example?
- Does the fact we're only applying for what (from most reports) will be an under-subscribed school make any difference?
All help gratefully received!
Hello, hertsdad
Good luck
No, but the panel will have to take a view - based on the evidence - of which score is a better indication of ability.Though the 118 puts us in the 'worth a go' category, will the 108 blow us out of the water?
Yes, although it probably won't carry huge weight, otherwise everyone out of county will be seeking positive discrimination! In any case, the official view is that the familiarisation + practice tests are sufficient.Does being out of area make any difference? Can we mention lack of in-school preparation, for example?
No, particular schools are not considered at this stage.Does the fact we're only applying for what (from most reports) will be an under-subscribed school make any difference?
Good luck
Etienne
-
- Posts: 9235
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
- Location: Buckinghamshire
Hi Sally-Anne,
It was good to note your information about practice papers. It's a great shame that more people from Torbay don't view this site. There are no practice papers for the school our children are at (and that the youngest failed to be admitted to). On the day of the actual test they do a VR familiarisation lasting 10 mins - that's all there is. The school set their own tests - so it's impossbible to know what they will be like or how they might even be laid out!
It was good to note your information about practice papers. It's a great shame that more people from Torbay don't view this site. There are no practice papers for the school our children are at (and that the youngest failed to be admitted to). On the day of the actual test they do a VR familiarisation lasting 10 mins - that's all there is. The school set their own tests - so it's impossbible to know what they will be like or how they might even be laid out!
Sally-Anne
Yes, we registered just in time to get the preparation pack, and he did the familiarisation papers. I can't imagine the results would be admissable, though, as he did them at home. Can't remember the exact numbers but there was a definite upward trend through the 3 practice papers, and the 2 actual tests. Hence my comment that he just needed one more test
Thanks
Yes, we registered just in time to get the preparation pack, and he did the familiarisation papers. I can't imagine the results would be admissable, though, as he did them at home. Can't remember the exact numbers but there was a definite upward trend through the 3 practice papers, and the 2 actual tests. Hence my comment that he just needed one more test
Thanks
-
- Posts: 9235
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
- Location: Buckinghamshire
Hi hertsdad
It was worth asking, because if you had registered so late that he was unable to do any of the official preparation, then 108/118 from a cold start would have been quite interesting to a panel.
You are quite right that the results are not admissable, as the practice papers are the same ones used every year.
Sally-Anne
It was worth asking, because if you had registered so late that he was unable to do any of the official preparation, then 108/118 from a cold start would have been quite interesting to a panel.
You are quite right that the results are not admissable, as the practice papers are the same ones used every year.
Sally-Anne