11 Plus Exams Forum

DC was 4 marks below cut off for a super selective GS. Has scored full marks in the Kent exam, was in the top 180 in the Bexley, has done extremely well in the Medway and has offers of scholarship from 2 indies. HAs been consistently in the top 95-97% in the class. The Primary Head is very surprised at this result and is strongly urging us to appeal. I have the follwing questions.

1. I know outcome of appeals is not guaranteed but is it worth a shot own this route (I am prepared to put in all the work needed and Head is extremly supportive)

2. DC has been offere 2nd choice school (also a super selective). Will my case be prejuiced in any way by which school I accept (indie or GS) while I wait for the appeal?

3. Do we have a right to see her papers or have them re marked?

Thank you

For what it's worth, here's my thoughts:

1.Yes appeal although you are in a win-win situation, nice place to be.

2.Accepting a place elsewhere will not predjudice your chances at an appeal although you may lose out financially with the indie.

3.Yes, you can see the papers and have them re-marked if needbe but the scores can move both ways.

Finally, you mention other exam outcomes and class performances. Other children also manage this. It might be that on this occasion she fell slightly short of what you were expecting and that is why she missed her first choice. Could it be that there was more pressure that day because it was her first choice?

Go for that appeal, you have nothing to lose.

Thank you for posting that Tracy. Etienne and I make no claims to specialise in the Kent system, so your local knowledge is very valuable to us.

Wanting the best - I agree with Tracy. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Sally-Anne

No probs SA, I just didn't want to step on anyone's toes.

For what it's worth we appealed for DD last year although had a great Indie back up. Just decided to have a go as we'd always wonder what if...It made life a lot easier knowing we had an alternative, so we were quite relaxed.

Tracy wrote:No probs SA, I just didn't want to step on anyone's toes.

Not at all Tracy - the other Mods and many of our long-standing members are invaluable to us at this time of year with their local knowledge.

It is very tedious when we have to post not only the general advice needed for an appeal but also search the relevant area of the Forum to try to find out whether a case is worth pursuing in the first place, or if there are unusual admissions criteria that we are not aware of.

Sally-Anne

I am in a similar situation - if I appeal I have strong academic evidence but no other mitigating circumstances will this make my case weak?