Qualified at IAP due to school error for SRP paperwork
Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:19 am
Morning everyone. This forum has been so useful - thank you to everyone who posts. It does help to know we are not alone. Here is an outline of where we are - any thoughts/comments very welcome.
Our situation - very bright child (aren't they all?) - completely crashed and burned at 11+ (111) despite having achieved level 5 Sats at end of Y5. Huge shock to everyone - expected to sail through SRP to get qualified with academic evidence. However, got refusal with letter stating "*** does not meet required academic standard".
Again, complete shock - decided to go with Upper School allocated (we are in Bucks) and took child to school tour whilst singing its praises, building up her motivation. Tour was good, very impressed with school - lots of talk from Y7 Head who took us round about G&T, top 10% etc as she was aware of child's achievements to date.
In car after tour, child told me "I won't be in G&T or any top groups in future - I am tired of being known as 'the clever one', tired of answering all the questions and tired of helping others with their work when I am finished. I am going to stay in the bottom groups in this school". I tried not to overreact but obviously was hugely upset.
Got home and spoke to husband about going for IAP despite our experience to date with SRP process.
Went for appeal, got case papers one week before the appeal hearing and found a small (very small, tiny font used) sentence in the clerk's notes from the SRP stating "inconsistent evidence". Couldn't understand this so went through every line or every piece of paper submitted at SRP and found the school had made a typing error on the Headteacher's Summary sheet (transposing child's results) which contradicted the evidence written - hence it was thrown out at SRP
Short IAP hearing - not rushed but didn't need lots of discussion. Academic evidence was clear of child's ability and we got letter shortly thereafter saying child had qualified and outlining the incorrect evidence which the primary school had sent in at SRP
Next day got letter giving us a date for appeal for place at GS as school now full - we have missed three allocation rounds so far
Next day got letter giving us information on where we were on waiting list for GS.
Telephoned Admissions team (who have always been so helpful, empathic and clear - I am hugely impressed with all the staff at Bucks despite this horrible process) and they emailed me after talking to them to state that "Child XX would have been allocated a place at the chosen GS at first round of allocation had she qualified earlier".
Looking forward to IAP hearing next week now - surely as school made the mistake it is reasonable to assume child should have qualified at SRP, therefore before first round of allocations and so we should have a place for her?
I understand completely that everyone has to go through the process fully to ensure a level playing field for all and that everyone has the same chance. However, has anyone thought through the sheer amount of time and work involved for parents who take this on? It becomes elitist in itself because it relies on parents having the nerve to go in front of an appeal panel, having the wherewithal to wade through all the websites, letters, information out there to know what is needed and, as said earlier, relies on parents having the time to do this?
Haven't thought up an alternative process yet but will work on it.
Anyone got any thoughts on our situation? Thanks for all and anything written.
Our situation - very bright child (aren't they all?) - completely crashed and burned at 11+ (111) despite having achieved level 5 Sats at end of Y5. Huge shock to everyone - expected to sail through SRP to get qualified with academic evidence. However, got refusal with letter stating "*** does not meet required academic standard".
Again, complete shock - decided to go with Upper School allocated (we are in Bucks) and took child to school tour whilst singing its praises, building up her motivation. Tour was good, very impressed with school - lots of talk from Y7 Head who took us round about G&T, top 10% etc as she was aware of child's achievements to date.
In car after tour, child told me "I won't be in G&T or any top groups in future - I am tired of being known as 'the clever one', tired of answering all the questions and tired of helping others with their work when I am finished. I am going to stay in the bottom groups in this school". I tried not to overreact but obviously was hugely upset.
Got home and spoke to husband about going for IAP despite our experience to date with SRP process.
Went for appeal, got case papers one week before the appeal hearing and found a small (very small, tiny font used) sentence in the clerk's notes from the SRP stating "inconsistent evidence". Couldn't understand this so went through every line or every piece of paper submitted at SRP and found the school had made a typing error on the Headteacher's Summary sheet (transposing child's results) which contradicted the evidence written - hence it was thrown out at SRP
Short IAP hearing - not rushed but didn't need lots of discussion. Academic evidence was clear of child's ability and we got letter shortly thereafter saying child had qualified and outlining the incorrect evidence which the primary school had sent in at SRP
Next day got letter giving us a date for appeal for place at GS as school now full - we have missed three allocation rounds so far
Next day got letter giving us information on where we were on waiting list for GS.
Telephoned Admissions team (who have always been so helpful, empathic and clear - I am hugely impressed with all the staff at Bucks despite this horrible process) and they emailed me after talking to them to state that "Child XX would have been allocated a place at the chosen GS at first round of allocation had she qualified earlier".
Looking forward to IAP hearing next week now - surely as school made the mistake it is reasonable to assume child should have qualified at SRP, therefore before first round of allocations and so we should have a place for her?
I understand completely that everyone has to go through the process fully to ensure a level playing field for all and that everyone has the same chance. However, has anyone thought through the sheer amount of time and work involved for parents who take this on? It becomes elitist in itself because it relies on parents having the nerve to go in front of an appeal panel, having the wherewithal to wade through all the websites, letters, information out there to know what is needed and, as said earlier, relies on parents having the time to do this?
Haven't thought up an alternative process yet but will work on it.
Anyone got any thoughts on our situation? Thanks for all and anything written.