Non qualification review

[Hellybeds]

Thanks for that inspirational post, you have now spurred me on!!!

[PumpLaneDad]

I know what you are going through but my advice is don't give up.Appeal in March and try to keep snae and positive until then.

Thanks for the post - it's good to see that there can be happy endings though at the moment they seem miles away.

[honey1]

Its great to hear a success story following an unsuccessful review so thanks for sharing that, it gives me some hope! Im certainly not giving up, especially as ive heard 2day of children at my dds school getting through on review with lower sats levels and 11+ score than her (dont get me wrong, im genuinely pleased 4 these children and their parents but its definitely not a fair system). Its down to the grammar schools to recognise the flaws in this system and ignore the review findings so that parents can go to full appeal in march. Some grammars did do this last year so we can only hope!

[Etienne]

I've no particular knowledge of Medway, but I would have thought that at an appeal there should be a statement from the authority explaining exactly how the review was conducted.

It would then be open to panel members and to parents to ask questions (e.g. Was the review done by subject specialists in English, Maths and Science with recent experience of year 7 at grammar school? Did the same specialists consider every submission, and, if not, how was consistency ensured? Was the review panel operating a quota? Was there any restriction on the evidence that the review panel could consider?

A letter from the current headteacher challenging the validity of the review panel's conclusions might be useful ammunition for parents.

[mumgonemad]

That's excellent advice, Etienne. I spoke to the Admissions Team and it's up to individuals to establish at their appeal hearing whether the admissions authority for that particular school finds the review process fair. If the admissions authority find it is not fair, consistant or objective in some way, you can then proceed to submit your evidence as to why you think your child is of grammar school ability. Last year, admissions authorites from all Rochester & Chatham schools found the review process to be unfair and all appeals were heard. (Not sure about other Medway areas).
Foundation schools, such as Chatham Grammar for Boys, have their own admissions authority, rather than using the LEA, so for this type of school, it may be worth contacting the school direct to see if you can find out how they feel about the process.
I spoke to my DSs headteacher who is totally supporting my further appeal. She could not see from the review panel's findings why they deemed him not suitable. She felt that the comments re. his maths, which were quite negative, do not reflect his ability or ring true to the work she submitted which was of a very high standard.
Chins up everyone. Keep fighting to the bitter end!!

[Etienne]

Well done, mumgonemad, on eliciting this information. Where you refer to 'admission authority' above, I think the Admissions Team meant to say the 'IAP' (independent appeal panel).

I don't quite see how parents can be expected to 'prove' that a less than transparent procedure was conducted properly (a point which, in itself, might be worth putting to an appeal panel!), but I feel sure a questioning approach is the right way to go. Get the presenting officer who represents the admission authority at an appeal to justify what happened!

I'm not sure how well-equipped a foundation school presenting officer will be to field detailed questions about the review process, if they're not from the LA. That's a problem for them, however, and if they start saying "I don't know" in response to specific questions, I hope that an appeal panel will be suitably unimpressed!