Oversubscription Appeal?

[dorsetduck]

Our situation is such that DS passed the 11+ but we are out of catchment.
His score was 115 (pass mark 110.5).
We feel that we should appeal but not sure what areas we need to emphasise on the appeals form?
The Grammar is a Maths, Computing and Cognition Specialist school.
Our son is certainly a good fit (Very high NVR score and good Maths score).
No other local school specialises in these subjects / +special measures ofsteds etc.

Where do we start?

Thank you

[Guest55]

Dorest duck - specialist schools stopped a number of years back (5 maybe?) when the funding stopped so I'd be cautious about emphasising this.

What does the school offer that the school you were given on March 2nd doesn't? You need to prove your child's needs outweigh the prejudice to the school but accepting an extra student.

[dorsetduck]

We are currently at a prep school which carries through to age 13.
Unfortunately the local authority have assumed we will stay there so have not offered an alternative state school.
Our local secondary school has just been given a 'special measures' ofsted.
Poole Grammar still market itself as a specialist school on their website so I'm a little confused about the funding issue and using the 'specialisms' to match our son's ability.
Historically the Grammar has exceeded PAN so I'm guessing we can use this to strengthen our case?
Thanks for help

[hermanmunster]

the LA should offer you a school if you completed a CAF .

re oversub appeal - have you read this section yet? http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... bed-school" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Etienne]

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... school#c34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wouldn't use the word 'specialism' because, as G55 rightly points out, specialisms are no longer funded.

However, if the school is noted for the strength of the departments in question, or if its website or prospectus appears to 'promote' them (or even name them as 'specialisms'!!!), you have a perfectly valid argument.

Historically the Grammar has exceeded PAN so I'm guessing we can use this to strengthen our case?

It wouldn't be part of your case, but you could question the school about it. See C1(b):
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dorsetduck]

In summary DS passed his 11+ but is out of catchment. He is on waiting list as school is oversubscribed and has allocated OOC spaces in highest mark order. We have submitted an appeal based on 'oversubscription' because he passed the 11+. Last week we discovered he needed reading glasses (medium prescription)...picked up on his first routine eye test. Is it worth mentioning this at appeal or not? In theory he may have got a higher mark and therefore got a place?
Many thanks

[Etienne]

Is it worth mentioning this at appeal or not?

It's worth a brief mention.

Would the current school write that they expected a higher score?
Would the optometrist write that performance in the 11+ would probably have been affected?
It would add more weight.

[MissTibs]

We appealed and our son was given a place. I have posted what we did (it happened yetserday) as new post. Definately worth trying.