Advice please re extenuating circumstances in non-qualifying
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Advice please re extenuating circumstances in non-qualifying
Hello, thank you all so much for the fabulously helpful (and calming!) information on these pages. Sorry to post but I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information and just wondered if someone could be kind enough to point me in the right direction please - I'm trying to put together an appeal for my daughter who missed the pass mark by 2 points - did well in the first paper then needed the loo but didn't organise herself to go in time before the non-verbal papers and bombed them, resulting in being 2 under.
I have academic evidence that she is level 5 SATs in Eng/Maths/Science and possibly/school predicts level 6s.
In the lead up to the exam her dad and I had a few rows about money (we're divorced, he hadn't worked or contributed anything for 2 years at this point)- he resented that I expected him to contribute towards her bus fares if she were to get a place at the grammar school, and told her he would rather she went to the local secondary school because he would not have to pay (county council provide free transport to this school).
Daughter was tearful over this time which we thought was probably exam stress (and parent stress, I'm sure I played my part here) - she did have a couple of episodes of night time bedwetting around this time, most unusual.
I feel she did poorly in the second papers because she needed a wee and didn't go but was uncomfortable and distracted. This is my extenuating circumstance to explain why she did not do as well as we anticipated.
Would anyone put about the difficult family pressures and bedwetting around the exam as an extenuating circumstance as well? My friend thinks maybe she was afraid of wetting herself in the test and this could have put her off?
I can see short and to the point is the best approach... very grateful for any advice, thank you so much.
I have academic evidence that she is level 5 SATs in Eng/Maths/Science and possibly/school predicts level 6s.
In the lead up to the exam her dad and I had a few rows about money (we're divorced, he hadn't worked or contributed anything for 2 years at this point)- he resented that I expected him to contribute towards her bus fares if she were to get a place at the grammar school, and told her he would rather she went to the local secondary school because he would not have to pay (county council provide free transport to this school).
Daughter was tearful over this time which we thought was probably exam stress (and parent stress, I'm sure I played my part here) - she did have a couple of episodes of night time bedwetting around this time, most unusual.
I feel she did poorly in the second papers because she needed a wee and didn't go but was uncomfortable and distracted. This is my extenuating circumstance to explain why she did not do as well as we anticipated.
Would anyone put about the difficult family pressures and bedwetting around the exam as an extenuating circumstance as well? My friend thinks maybe she was afraid of wetting herself in the test and this could have put her off?
I can see short and to the point is the best approach... very grateful for any advice, thank you so much.
Re: Advice please re extenuating circumstances in non-qualif
Welcome!
You could mention all the extenuating circumstances very briefly - you put it extremely well when you write "I can see short and to the point is the best approach"!
However, in terms of the effect on the child, the best extenuating circumstances can be proved by independent evidence. For example, were things so bad that the GP was involved, and will the GP write to confirm this?
Or were things so bad that the school noticed your daughter was not her usual self, and will they confirm this?
See:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b10" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Having said all that, academic evidence is infinitely more important - the more, the better!
See:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In case the school is oversubscribed (or will become oversubscribed in due course) you should also give reasons for wanting a place:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You could mention all the extenuating circumstances very briefly - you put it extremely well when you write "I can see short and to the point is the best approach"!
However, in terms of the effect on the child, the best extenuating circumstances can be proved by independent evidence. For example, were things so bad that the GP was involved, and will the GP write to confirm this?
Or were things so bad that the school noticed your daughter was not her usual self, and will they confirm this?
See:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b10" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Having said all that, academic evidence is infinitely more important - the more, the better!
See:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In case the school is oversubscribed (or will become oversubscribed in due course) you should also give reasons for wanting a place:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
Re: Advice please re extenuating circumstances in non-qualif
Thank you so much for your reply - it's so kind of you to take the time, I really do appreciate it. I've looked again (and again!) at the links and hope I've written a much more focused letter, taking into consideration your advice.
There is no corroborating evidence at all for either of my extenuating circumstances, but my feeling is they certainly affected her performance on the day. Maybe the school will feel she/we are too ambivalent, in light of the rows? My parents weren't wrong when they used to say "Just you wait til you have children...!"
Thank you.
There is no corroborating evidence at all for either of my extenuating circumstances, but my feeling is they certainly affected her performance on the day. Maybe the school will feel she/we are too ambivalent, in light of the rows? My parents weren't wrong when they used to say "Just you wait til you have children...!"
Thank you.
