11 Plus Exams Forum

HI EVERYBODY,I,M NEW TO THIS AND WAS WONDERING IF OTHER PEOPLE COULD GIVE ME THIER OPINION ON MY SCHOOL PREFERENCE FORM PLAN. WE LIVE IN GREASBY AND MY DAUGHTER REALY WANTS TO GO TO WIRRAL GRAMMAR FOR GIRLS,BUT I,M AFRAID WE MAY FALL FOUL ON THE DISTANCE WE LIVE AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL IF IT IS OVER SUBSCRIBED.SO I WAS THINKING OF PUTTING WIRRAL GRAMMAR FIRST,WEST KIRBY GRAMMAR SECOND FOR ABOVE REASON,AND PENSBY THIRD.IS THIS A REASONABLE STRAGEGY???
ALSO WHAT ARE REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR AN APPEAL IF SHE DOES NOT MAKE THE PASS MARK? WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY JUST SUFFERED THE DEATH OF A VERY CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER WHICH HAS AFFECTED MY DAUGHTER BADLY.AS WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE EXAM I AM WORRIED SHE MAY NOT PERFORM TO HER BEST ABILITY AS SHE IS STILL GREAVING.ANY ADVICE VERY WELCOME.

Hi Stressed Dad,

I really wouldn't worry to much about over subscription, the schools have indicated that they are happy to go with the current intake (under subscribed) if that means there not prejudicing the current standard.
To me that means the exam isn't likely to get any easier and it was tough last year.

Most people don't worry about appeals until they have to, but having been through one and never ever thinking we would need to I understand were you are coming from.
In short Yes you would have good grounds for appeal if the current situation you are in is upsetting or bothering your daughter. I would urge you to go in and speak to your head teacher now regarding this matter so they are fully aware of your situation. They will also be able to appeal on behalf of your daughter before you are even aware of the results, should you need it I might add.

We have a lady on here that was absolutely certain that her child hadn't passed and looked into appeals and so forth, luckily she never needed it. But her advice was priceless to me. (The parent who thought her child was a dead cert.)

By all means learn all you have to about the procedures and do all you can to help her, but don't hedge anything on the results until you know for certain.

You have a lot of people on this site that will help you too.

Take care and good luck!

AM

By the way Wirral Grammar Girls is fab!

Hi Stressed Dad,

There are Children in Wirral Grammar this year from as Far as Ellesmere Port. So I think unless oversubscribed you will be fine putting Wirral Grammar as your first and only Grammar choice.

I don't see any reason why you need to put West Kirby second..

I'm sure she will get in Wirral G if you put this first choice and she passes with the required score.

I would not even think about the appeal process until at least the exam is over and your daughter gives you feedback...

You as Appeal mum says may want to discuss the death with your head to make her/him aware it has affected your daughter.

The head does have a say on the independant assessment Board,

You have two months to go.. You need to focus on the practice,,,

You may be surprised,,

I wish you good luck,,

NBS

Hi Stressed Dad

We live in Upton and distance wasn't an issue for Wirral Boys - I think the Girls were just as unsubscribed last year. We put Wirral 1st, Woodchurch 2nd, Ridgeway 3rd. My son missed the pass mark by 5 points and was allocated Ridgeway -luckily we got through on appeal. I actually think it strengthened our appeal case when I said my son loved the school so much and it was are first choice and only grammar choice.

Good luck with it all, its a TESTING time (oh i apologise what an awful pun!)

hi

we went throught his last year live in wallasey daughter very happy in yr 7 at Wirral. As others have said distsance shouldn't be as much of an issue as it used to be do to drop it birth rate places at wirral and west kirby last year

I am sorry to hear about your loss we where ina very similar position last year my dad died during the october half term following a short battle with cancer. It was a very upsetting time for all of us.

My daughter missed by a few marks but we got through on appeal - happy to give you more detail if you want.

One thing I would reccommend is to put in a letter of mitigating circumstances we recieved a letter from primary school prior to eleven plus asking anyone who thought they may have circumstances which may effect performance to put in writing before a certain date in december - may be worth asking your head about

thinking of you


marie