11 Plus Exams Forum

Why do some appeals have an 'independant' panel rather then an LEA panel?

They're all meant to be independent!

A local authority will arrange for an independent panel to hear appeals for LA controlled schools.

Schools that manage their own admissions are responsible for arranging for their own independent panel - or they could hire a panel from elsewhere (e.g. from the LA).

Do appeals to super selectives potentially only succeed on the proof of medical certificates that the child was ill? Would mention of distress just be dismissed?

Just to add that although panels are arranged by the appropriate admissions authority (AA), they must have no connection with that authority.

In my area for non-LA schools, it's often the Clerk who is contacted by the AA, and he or she then books the panel members. For the LA schools, the clerking & booking is done by the Democratic Services department (whose main job is running council meetings & helping councillors) - they have no connection with the LEA department in the council.

Even in the few cases where the AA 'books' the panel members, the only contact we have with the school is the 'phone call or emails to check when we're free & confirm the dates, then handing in our travelling expenses form at the end (if it's not a local appeal).

In Gloucestershire, panels are truly independent and have no connection with the schools we're hearing for, just as the Admissions Appeal Code says we should be.

Any appeal to a selective school for no qualification ie not acheiving a high enough require solid evidence of academic ability. Extenuating circumtances / illness / family problems etc play a small part in the process and should in no way be the main part of the appeal. If the distress was over the exam alone I think it is unlikely to be helpful as a lot of children probably felt much the same on the day - of course if anything specifically happened to your child then may worth a brief mention

brightstuff wrote:Do appeals to super selectives potentially only succeed on the proof of medical certificates that the child was ill? Would mention of distress just be dismissed?

If the child was really distressed during the exam, it's likely to be mentioned in the invigilators log - and they may well have been removed to another room to continue the exam (both for their own sake and for the rest of the children in the room).

If the child was 'just' very nervous, the panel might think that many of the children taking the exam would be in the same boat - including many who passed.

I remember waiting in the school hall for DD2 to come out of her exam - one of her friends came back earlier - pale, crying, exceptionally stressed. She'd broken down a couple of times and was removed to a separate room to continue. Come results day, she had one of the highest scores possible.

Does anyone know what the lowest standardised score to get into CCHS this year was (roughly)

About 348.00 as rank 154 definitely got a place.

are level 6's required for an appeal ?

brightstuff wrote:are level 6's required for an appeal ?

no they are not necessary!

PS I have now merged this thread with you previous one - it is easier if it all stays in one place