117 - Bucks - Advice Needed

[melodycool]

DD scored 117 on both papers for Bucks. This was very unexpected as she had been scoring in the 90%+ in practice papers beforehand.
As she is at an Indie school I don't have SATS but in the weeks before the 11+ she had NFER tests at school with the following scores:
NFER Mental maths 119
NFER Non Verbal 135
NFER Verbal 139
Reading Age 13.6
Spelling Age 12.1

She was 10yrs and 11months at the time of these tests.
HT has said she will do what she can to support an appeal.
Help.

[tiredmum]

Those NFER scores look good - particularly the verbal which shows she underperformed on the day.

Do you have the head teachers recomendation score?

[melodycool]

No; we're OOC so I guess I would only get that score once I go and see the HT with the appeal form for HT to fill out.

[melodycool]

HT filled out summary today which was really positive. HT gave her 5 for her SAT scores and a 2:1.
It's filled it out a little incorrectly in that where DD 11+ scores should have been written, her NFER scores from school have been entered. I guess I can explain that in my letter.
I can't really explain why her marks were low in the real test apart from nerves/exam pressure.
Would it be enough to just explain her academic ability without extenuating circumstances?

[Sally-Anne]

Hi melody

NFER Mental maths 119
NFER Non Verbal 135
NFER Verbal 139
Reading Age 13.6
Spelling Age 12.1

She was 10yrs and 11months at the time of these tests.

She is a bright bunny! VR and NVR are right at the top of the range and place her in the category of "Gifted", and the Mental maths score is "Well Above Average". All three scores place her comfortably in the top 25% nationally (112 - 141). The top 30% of children qualify in the Bucks 11+ test, so statistically she should have been one of them.

A panel would usually like to see a spelling and reading age around 2 years ahead of the average, but the spelling age is still a very respectable score.

HT filled out summary today which was really positive. HT gave her 5 for her SAT scores and a 2:1.

Excellent. Does she specify Levels for the SATs? It would be helpful because if they are a's and b's that makes your case even stronger. Do you have any Year 5 Optional SATs results? What were the KS2 results? Anything that shows high ability will help. Are her books up to scratch? What sort of marks are there on her school reports?

It's filled it out a little incorrectly in that where DD 11+ scores should have been written, her NFER scores from school have been entered. I guess I can explain that in my letter.

Hmmm ... You have two choices. You can get the Head to correct it, or explain it in your letter. In the latter case the LA Rep assigned to the Appeal should then call the Head to clarify the point. That can have its advantages, because it gives the Head a chance to talk about your DD, and it has been known for an LA Rep who has had a conversation with a really supportive Head to start supporting the parents' case at the hearing. On the other hand, if the LA Rep is a touch sloppy and doesn't do that before the appeal, it could result in an adjournment on the day if the panel want the LA Rep to clarify it by phone. If the Head or other senior member of staff isn't around your appeal could be adjourned to another day. It's tricky, but on balance I would probably get the Head to put it right now.

I can't really explain why her marks were low in the real test apart from nerves/exam pressure.
Would it be enough to just explain her academic ability without extenuating circumstances?

You do not necessarily need extenuating circumstances when you have some good NFER scores, the HT's support and predicted Level 5s. Your argument is that, for whatever reason, the Bucks VR test did not allow her to demonstrate her full ability, and does not reflect her very strong academic record. ("In fact that might be why she achieved the same score on both papers ...?")

The gap between her NFER VR/NVR scores and the 11+ is so huge that a panel will certainly be asking themselves that very question. Should a panel member fall in to the trap of saying "Well, those are only two tests" you reply sweetly "And so is the Bucks 11+"! CATs or NFER scores in the high 130s simply aren't a fluke, particularly when there are two of them, and the 3rd score is very respectable as well.

Sally-Anne

[melodycool]

Thank you for your reply, it has given me some encouragement in all this darkness. I will ask the HT to correct the form and be more specific on the SATs.
Her previous years' reports have been consistently high, so I shall dig those out too.
Does all this evidence get sent out at the same time with the Appeal form, and is it originals or copies?

[Sally-Anne]

You can send just the appeal form and the HT summary sheet for the deadline.

Everything else can be submitted up to 10 days before the hearing and should be copies, not originals.

S-A

[melodycool]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what does 90th percentile relate to and how do I go about obtaining this evidence?

[Etienne]

No problem. We often use percentiles with reference to CATs and NFER tests (administered by schools) and educational psychologists' tests such as WISC and BAS.

If someone scores at the 90th percentile, it means they're in the top 10% (and in many areas this might be considered an indication of grammar school standard).

If you look at the table in the Q&As at the end of B28, you can see how the percentiles relate to standardised scores.
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/11plus ... rs.php#b28" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[melodycool]

Thank you Etienne and Sally-Anne.
Would the appeals panel have seen DD 11+ papers?
I'd be interested in seeing them myselves. If I requested a re-mark, would that be possible? (Can I request the re-mark or must it come from the school?)