over-subscription appeal - academic evidence?

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tiredmum
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

over-subscription appeal - academic evidence?

Post by tiredmum »

Hi
I have sent back ground info to the appeals box.

My questions are :

can i appeal on the 3 points i have raised?
Should i leave any out?

Sould i mention her sister at another grammar?

Should i mention kent blunder?

Also i read in a thread that rank order admissions schools need academic evidance on over subscription appeals ? my head mentioned a while back that this was NOT the case, so bit confused.

Thanks so much for all your time and effort. Am sure i have forgotten something!

Becoming very tiredmum :lol:
capers123
Posts: 1865
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 9:03 pm
Location: Gloucestershire

Re: over-subscription appeal - academic evidence?

Post by capers123 »

tiredmum wrote:Hi
I have sent back ground info to the appeals box.
By sending it to the drop box, there are only the two moderators who can see the information. It is for information (to quote) "that would cause upset or embarrassment if your family were to be identified." As we're all anonymous here, most information can be posted to the forums safely.

There are quite a few of us who would be able & happy to help (for instance, I sit on appeals panels), but without seeing the information, we can't answer some of the questions!

Sould i mention her sister at another grammar?
No reason you shouldn't, but the appeal is about this daughter, not her sister, so it wouldn't carry any weight.
Should i mention kent blunder?
?
Also i read in a thread that rank order admissions schools need academic evidance on over subscription appeals ? my head mentioned a while back that this was NOT the case, so bit confused.
If your daughter passed the test, so it's purely oversubscription, then technically she's proved herself academically suitable and no academic evidence is required. But I would include some just to reinforce that she's bright enough!
Capers
tiredmum
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Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

Post by tiredmum »

thank you so much capers for replying. The reason i was wondering about her sister being at a differant grammar to the one we are appealing for is - i wondered if the panel would think of this as a positive as the dd i am appealing for does not want to join her sister at that school, she wants this school only - as she feel she will fit in etc.

My dd recently won a poetry competition judged by a local author - could i summit that as accademic evidance as well as her "working at" sats levels?

Also does the fact that it is my nearest grammar - my council provide a free bus service because if selected its is the nearest appropriate school - hold any weight in an appeal?

Many thanks
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

Hi Tiredmum

I have consulted one of our other Moderators who knows more about your area and I have sent you a PM with more information that I hope will be helpful.

Sally-Anne
tiredmum
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

Post by tiredmum »

hi sally anne
i know we not surposed to but have sent you a pm as was not understanding the one you sent to me
thanks :oops:
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

No worries TM - a mistake on my part, but nothing too serious thankfully!

Sorry to get you all excited about the PM though! Either Etienne or I will do our best to get on to your case as soon as we can. I am afraid the queue is a bit lengthy at present.
tiredmum
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

Post by tiredmum »

thats ok -i know you are busy, im grateful for any help at anytime :)
Alex
Posts: 1097
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:10 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Post by Alex »

Hello tiredmum,
I am not at all familiar with your particular area but will try to answer some of your points on a general basis.

When you appeal for an oversubscribed school you may use any arguments which demonstrate why that particular school is the most suitable for your child. You will find plenty of examples in the Q&A.

Talents and interests which fit well with the curriculum, extra-curricular activities, specialism and ethos of the school are relevant and it is useful to include some documentary evidence though perhaps not to the extent sometimes used when people submit every certificate their child has earned from toddlerhood onwards...

Try and concentrate on what your child will get at this school which they will not be able to get at the allocated school. Are there subjects they can study which would not be available otherwise; does the school have facilities not available elsewhere, offer opportunities for particular activities etc, etc? Is the journey easier? Will there be a friendship group there that will not be at the allocated school?

Whilst letters of commendation from primary school or others are very nice, they really need to say something which is relevant to the child in relation to the school being appealed for to carry any weight.
Sould i mention her sister at another grammar?


I can't see that in itself this would be significant. You might, however, give a mention to the fact that your child was determined that she wanted THIS school and why even though she was familiar with another.
Should i mention kent blunder?
I don't think a mistake in a different exam would add anything to your arguments.
Also i read in a thread that rank order admissions schools need academic evidance on over subscription appeals ? my head mentioned a while back that this was NOT the case, so bit confused
I think this is rather a difficult one. Whilst they are oversubscription appeals I think there can be a place for specific academic arguments and/or for mitigation arguments where you feel the child would have scored higher but for particular circumstances. For example, it might be that the child has not scored particularly highly overall because their talents are rather one-sided and they are a genius at maths but not so good at English; and a distressing personal circumstance may have affected a child and depressed their score.

However, it is not necessary to present general arguments about academic ability when the child has already proved it by passing the exams.
tiredmum
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

Post by tiredmum »

Thanks alex thats been very helpfull.
My main point for my appeal is that she enjoys one of the schools specialisms and is very talented in an area the school holds a good reputation for.
Wondered if the fact that it is our nearest appropriate school - as said by the LEA - so get a free bus service is relivant too?
Many Thanks.
Alex
Posts: 1097
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:10 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Post by Alex »

Wondered if the fact that it is our nearest appropriate school - as said by the LEA - so get a free bus service is relivant too?
It is certainly worth a mention, more particularly if you will have to pay to get your child to the allocated school.
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