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missed by 5 marks - Gloucestershire

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:00 am
by daisydoo
Hi, my DD scored 102 and 103 for VR for Ribston Hall. As she got 205 and the pass was 210, unfortunately she has not qualified. She had been suffering from migranes, I put down to stress of exam and homelife issues. After the test the migranes continuued so got her eyes checked and has since been prescribed with glasses.

She is predicted 2 level 5's and high 4 for maths. Her mock VR at school 2 weeks prior was 115 and her CATs at year 5 were 114. She is talented and gifted in one of the schools main areas (which I could send more info through appeals box if needed).

Being so close to pass score and with slight mitigating circumstance, do I have a case for appeal or should I leave it? many thanks for help

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:13 am
by hermanmunster
can't comment on the scores but perhaps the migraines which would only really be relevant if she was having one at the time or jst before the exam (can take a while to go).

herman

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:22 am
by daisydoo
Thanks for response. My key question is about the glasses - I wrongly thought it was stress but she was straining to read the text.

Neither school nor family had picked up her eyesight issues prior to the test but clearly was an issue for DD that we were unaware of at time.

Any feedback most appreciated as have read on forum how stressful appeals process can be and I need to decide whether to pursue?

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:39 am
by Looking for help
Hi daisydoo,
Sorry to hear your news.
We went through the appeals process last year in a different area to you. We were unsuccesful. I cannot pretend it was not a stressful time. It is very scary and really you are at the mercy of the Appeals Panel, who seem to have your child's future in the palm of their hand. We also went to the ombudsman, so from getting our result until the ombudsman had finished wiht us a whole 8 months had passed :shock:

So my advice would be to go in with your eyes open, really consider how you might deal with further disappointment if unsuccesful ( I don't think I did this bit very well :( ) but if you think your daughter is GS ability, you should have a go. I would do it again if I had to.

One year on, I'm still really annoyed when I think about it, but son is happy at his new school, and we are getting over it all :lol:

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:53 am
by daisydoo
thanks looking for help. I want to do what is best for my DD as she was so close, however, I don't want to put our family through a stressful process if her eyesight is not a strong enough claim for lower than expected score. I hope Etienne or Sally-Anne may have heard of similar cases or if any other parents have gone thru same situation? many thanks for responding as am so confused as what to do.

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:08 pm
by Etienne
Straining to read text would be a valid extenuating circumstance. You would need to provide evidence such as a prescription from the optometrist dated after the test. A letter from the GP confirming migraines before the test would also be useful.

For a successful appeal, though, the academic evidence would have to be good. I'm not sufficiently familiar with the standard in Glos., but generally speaking the CAT scores are lower than I would like to see. (They're standardised nationally, so are not directly comparable with the 11+).

It's possible that the CAT scores were also affected by eyesight problems, and that your daughter has been disadvantaged to some extent whenever 'working against the clock'.

The G&T evidence may or may not be useful. I think that schools have targets, and within each school pupils are identified as gifted or talented on a percentage basis. The extent to which it carries weight, therefore, may depend on the quality of the school.

People with local knowledge are better placed than I am to comment on the chances of a successful appeal, but, in general terms, I think it would be worth having a go - despite the obvious stress - provided you can put up a strong academic case. See this link for some alternative indicators of ability:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/11plus ... rs.php#b11

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:39 pm
by daisydoo
Thanks Etienne, she scored 4b in reading in year 4 and then again in year 5 which I questioned that she hadn't progressed. I'll feel bad to think she has been struggling to read text quickly and not connected it to eyesight problems.

She has been commented on her report for excelling in languages, for which Ribston is a specialist. She also represents Great Britain in a specialist sport which would be encouraged by the scheme at RH.

I have read your appeal info (very useful) but do I need to send a letter direct to school due to medical issue or do I put RH on choice list an lodge appeal after March allocation day?

thanks again

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:52 pm
by Etienne
In most areas you can only start the appeal process after 1st March (when you've been refused your preference), but someone local will have to advise you with regard to Glos.

Good luck!

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:11 pm
by capers123
daisydoo wrote:do I need to send a letter direct to school due to medical issue or do I put RH on choice list an lodge appeal after March allocation day?
I've replied to you new post in Glos forum, but to answer this, keep the medical letter for the appeal. The school can't act on the letter; only an appeals panel can decide if the contents of the letter would have meant your daughter would otherwise have qualified.

eye tests re exam

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:46 pm
by dejavu
Hi Daisydo

We are in Bucks. But last year at my DD's old school I know of someone that passed - think score was 111/112 and 117 (pass mark 121) who had a successful 11+ appeal. Her DC had been wearing glasses for a couple of years before the exam. Think they only found out that her prescription was totally wrong 3 or 4 months before the 11+. They were able to prove that now their child could actually see and read properly, that they came on leaps and bounds (and could prove it re- class work and optician's back-up)- and won their appeal! Perhaps you could do the same now - and try and find out "before and after" results".

Is there any way that you could have you DC do a reading test - Etienne advised me that 2 years above the chronological age of the child is what the panel are looking for. So if you have some pre-glasses results before and after - it should really give some weight to your case.l

And yes, S-A and Etienne - I really will post details of my 2 successful 12+ appeals on the site - just had an awful lot on my plate for the last 6 months - will promise to do it shortly - and anyone is welcome to pm me. But I can't emphasise how grateful I am to the forum and S-A and Etienne - particularly to Etienne re the 11+ ombudsman appeal - we nearly got there. Anyway Dd is now in year 8 at gs - top maths sets, 7c for science and 7b for geography (where did that one come from?).