11 Plus Exams Forum

HI Etienne
not sure how this forum works but I have been given your contact name by a very grateful mum that you helped!
My daughter failed Kent test with a score of 318, v poor for her, must have had v bad days. Have full support from class and head teachers (although she failed head teachers appeal).
Seems very unfair that I now have to start the appeal for her, not sure where to start and it all seems very daunting! Especially not keen on the idea of having to present her case myself. I will be v nervous and not sure what to say. Headteacher not being much help as unsure of process himself
please help!

Hi WOODY - welcome to the Forum

The starting point is to read the "Appeal Q&As" - link at the top of this page.

You can then post back on this section of the forum for any further help you need, or on the Kent section for more school-specific advice.

It sounds as though the Head could do with reading the Appeal Q&As as well!

Good luck
Sally-Anne

Dear Woody

I would usually warn everyone going in to the appeals process that the odds are against them. The majority of appeals do not succeed. It's just being realistic. Having said that, if you don't try, you'll never know what might have been. You've already got the school's support, so you're over the first hurdle.

What next?

Ask the admission authority for an appeals pack as quickly as possible. Watch out for the deadline for submitting an appeal.

Read the appeal Q&As (follow link at top of page), as Sally-Anne suggests.

Try and pin your headteacher down with some specific questions:

• Is he willing to use words like "I very strongly support this appeal ....... We fully expected this pupil to pass ........Considerable academic potential that would best be developed in a grammar school ......... "?

• Secondly, will he predict level 5s for KS2? Even better, high level 5s?

• Does the school have good results for any standardised tests such as CATs that could be used as evidence? (Scores approaching the 90th percentile would be ideal.)

• Would it be in order to ask the class teacher for an additional letter of support?

You should also have a look yourself at recent school reports and see if there are references to high achievement that would support your case.

As Sally-Anne says, if you then need any further help, come back to us with your specific questions.

Good luck