Low Score in Bucks test - still worth appealing?

[tdmfs05]

Our son only achieved 97 in the Bucks 2015 11+. 121 in VR and 81 in Maths and 67 NVR.
We think this is due to his primary school not teaching to the required standards, the school received a 'Requires Improvement' rating from OFSTED only last year. By the time we realised our son was falling behind it was too difficult to get him up to speed.
We did not employ a professional tutor and in retrospect this was a mistake. We were also distracted from 11+ preparation by an illness in the family although this affected out ability to work with our son more than it affecting him personally.
Do you think that it is worth pursuing an appeal, either immediately with the Selection Review or later with a LA Appeal?
We would really like our son to attend a grammar school as his 2 older siblings are both at GS and have done very well and we feel that our son would be lost in the local non GS as it is a very large school.
The only other complication is that we are out of county!!!
Any advice you can give will be gratefully received.

[anotherdad]

Much of the circumstantial evidence you've quoted would not be considered relevant. Coaching/tutoring/preparation is not considered necessary and so not doing so wouldn't be considered a valid argument. You need to provide evidence that your son is suited to a grammar school based upon his academic record. There is loads of advice on here about headteacher support, reviews and appeals, so do read that first and then consider if you have the necessary evidence of academic performance and support from the head.

Being out of county isn't a complication until the point at which allocations are made. If you are successful at review or appeal, it might then become a complication depending upon where you live, where your preferred school is, and how far out they allocate places (although sibling rule may apply to you?)

[Tolstoy]

Hi tdmfs05,

In the same boat as you . As anotherdad suggests read through the advice given at the top of this section it is very comprehensive and clear.

In regards to the issue of poor teaching whilst this may account for low VR and NR scores DCs lowest score is NVR and this is not taught in any schools so that will probably work against you. For review you need current SATs scores, predicted levels, and CATs scores preferably more than one set. Also get reading levels and spelling levels if possible,

Try to be realistic about your chances of success. There is a list of scores v review success on one of the links in the bumf. Some non-selectives are very good, so concentrate on the results especially the value added of the local school. Do they set DC? How do the assess them and is there the ability to move up sets if the DC's academic performance improves? Some big schools still have a very caring and nurturing environment. Two of mine are currently at a fairly large school compared to all their previous schools and I more than happy with it. It is important that your DC, particularly with two siblings at Grammar schools, feels proud of his achievement at whatever school he ends up at.

[Etienne]

Welcome to Appeals!

If you've read the Q&As, you will have seen what your chances might have been at review last year with a score of 97:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... aneous#e34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- but in reality it depends, of course, entirely on how strong a case you can put together.
How supportive do you think your headteacher is going to be?

One advantage of waiting for an appeal would be that it gives you until early in the summer term to gather academic evidence.


Have you followed the links in Sally-Anne's post?
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 12&t=44245" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

• • Hope you won't need our help, but we will be available if you should need assistance with reviews/appeals.
    Please do some reading first of all, before asking questions on the forum.
    Start here.
    
    See also this thread.

Once you've finished reading, if you still have unanswered questions, do please let us know.