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Bucks review or appeal?

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:07 pm
by MumX3
Hello, I'm new to the forum although have been reading some very helpful posts over the last few weeks. I'm in similar situation to Gilly10 in that unsure and slightly confused about Selection Review and/or Appeal as there is no exceptional circumstances for us to detail. My DS scored 120...actually 120.68 but annoyingly it's rounded down! So close but the impact so big! He scored about average on Numerical, very high in the NVR but the VR was the weakest. We both strongly believe that he suitable for GS, his SAT predictions, results to date, gifted & talented, school reports etc are all strong. We live OOC and not many kids from our school go down the 11+ route so not sure or have seen how the Head Teacher deals with appeals (asking for appointment this week).

My concern is if we go down the Appeal route then whilst it sounds more detailed and engaging .....most of the allocations have been filled. Being OOC we are hoping to be the lucky few who might secure a place if any spaces left so feel if we not in first round allocation then even more unlikely. The Review approach whilst having the decision earlier seems a bit of a gamble as there is no 'reason' we can say why he didn't score a higher mark as expected.

On practical side how does this affect the CAF? As we have to submit the form before we know the outcome would we still put down our choice GS in Bucks where technically DS has not qualified?

Sorry I know lots of questions and a bit all over the place....has been a weekend where so many question and what ifs and what should we do that feeling quite frazzled.

Thanks.

Re: Bucks review process questions

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:53 am
by Etienne
Welcome!
I'm in similar situation to Gilly10 in that unsure and slightly confused about Selection Review and/or Appeal as there is no exceptional circumstances for us to detail.
There's a bit more - but not much - about extenuating circumstances here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... aneous#e33" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The headteachers manual does state: “The SRP [selection review panel] will normally expect there to be strong evidence of both high academic ability and exceptional reasons for underperformance in the tests.”
not sure or have seen how the Head Teacher deals with appeals (asking for appointment this week).
We suspect most primary headteachers will be advising parents to go to review simply because “that’s the system”!
There's no difference in what headteachers have to do for a review or appeal - they have to fill in the same form. ( You will find a link to the form in E33.)
On practical side how does this affect the CAF? As we have to submit the form before we know the outcome would we still put down our choice GS in Bucks where technically DS has not qualified?
Good question - we've added this point to the Q&As:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... aneous#e35" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Bucks review or appeal?

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:30 am
by gilly10
Mumx3 - oh my goodness I feel for you because I feel frazzled too after a weekend of research. The result your DS got was excellent - must be so frustrating for you!!!!! So after reading all the links and info and advice I am still left pondering to review or to appeal?! If only I could get a resounding answer to the question - is exceptional circumstances 100% necessary for a review????? If it is, we won't go down that route but if there's any margin for review without it, we will. None of the links are this specific. Why a review requires extenuating circumstance and an appeal doesn't is beyond me - how is that a fair system if the pass criteria are totally different. I will let you know if I ever get an answer to the question because I can see you're in a similar situation as myself. Most people I would think have probably got academic evidence but no real extenuating circumstance so information should be more specific. In your situation I guess at a review common sense would hopefully prevail that your child was so near the mark why would extenuating circumstances be needed to justify what is so close to a pass. In my case my DD was so far off mark that I can see they will say there must be a good reason for her underperformance if she's as bright as I claim. There simply isn't a reason but she is working to level 6 Sats. We live in catchment for grammar but not in catchment for any Ofsted good/outstanding schools and the thought of sending her to a satisfactory school is just making me feel flat. In grand scheme of life, this is just a hiccup but I know it's all consuming at the moment trying to get them on the best track for them. My daughter goes to an MK school so only a couple sat test but my neighbour said that at her Bucks primary only 2 kids passed the test in class - historically this is usually half the class. So based on that I was wondering if more spaces will be freed up for appeals this year. Only my thoughts though. If we knew the figures it would probably make an appeal seem more sensible a choice but the thought of passing an appeal only to be told there's no place though is not a good one. Sorry to waffle!! Good luck!

Re: Bucks review or appeal?

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:44 am
by scary mum
I do feel for you all. Would it help if you said which schools your DD would get into and people might be able to reassure you? My understanding is that 30% will still pass - that it how the standardisation is organised, it would just mean a lower pass mark if everyone got low marks.

Re: Bucks review or appeal?

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:58 pm
by gilly10
Thanks for that Scarymum! Yes you're right, 30% should still pass.

Re: Bucks review or appeal?

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 2:10 pm
by MumX3
Dear Etienne, thank you for your helpful reply. Mostly you have helped clear up my confusion around the CAF as was seriously starting to loose sleep wondering how it all worked!

Gilly10 yes we are in the same boat around the extenuating circumstances...as there is nothing I can say! If DS had got a few more correct questions he would most likely have gained the magic number so not sure how to explain why he didn't.

After debate long into the night I think we are inclining towards Selection Review as the only case we can put forward is black & white facts in his academic records, HT report and his current score, we don't have any other story to tell. Will get better idea once we have met with HT, I've emailed BCC for Selection Review Pack and will look through details. Whilst we have some good comp schools near us and visited many open evenings, we all really liked a particular GS in Bucks that we feel we still have to try and not give up.

This is our first DC moving to secondry school....our DD is only one year younger so not looking forward to going through the same thing in 12 months time!

Will keep you posted on what route we take....fingers crossed for your DD. X