Rsinsinwar's appeal thread

[anotherdad]

I know you said that one of the reasons for not wanting Wilmington was that it isn't 'Outstanding', but be aware that Dartford, although notionally still 'Outstanding', hasn't had an inspection since 2008! That is 10 years ago and under a completely different inspection framework, so the two Ofsted reports are not comparable.

[hermanmunster]

Problem with anywhere being outstanding is that is a permanent struggle to keep up to it - there really is only one way it can go!

[Rsinsinwar]

I understand where you come from on ofsted reports, but I do feel the results speak for themselves. I do notice big difference in the two schools results. But that’s my personal choice.

Right now I want someone to help me with some ideas for academic evidences.

Ds does few academic activities out of school and was awarded for academic excellence at previous school- Equivalent to KS1. Has some serious passion which match the school we want.

Are their external agency’s to measure his reading and writing ages? Any other suggestions plz?

[Etienne]

Right now I want someone to help me with some ideas for academic evidences.

Why not read the Q&As?
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Just about everything that might possibly be of interest to an appeal panel is listed.

If you want an external assessment, see the Q&As.
https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appea ... ication#b3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See also:
https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appea ... cation#b19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and was awarded for academic excellence at previous school

Is the evidence in English? If not, get an official translation.

[ToadMum]

I understand where you come from on ofsted reports, but I do feel the results speak for themselves. I do notice big difference in the two schools results. But that’s my personal choice.

Right now I want someone to help me with some ideas for academic evidences.

Ds does few academic activities out of school and was awarded for academic excellence at previous school- Equivalent to KS1. Has some serious passion which match the school we want.

Are their external agency’s to measure his reading and writing ages? Any other suggestions plz?

Are you sure that the things for which your DS has a passion, which 'match' the school you want, are actually tangible things that the school actually offers (like a thriving 'robot wars' club when your DS has been building his own 'bots since he was in Reception)? Or do you just mean, he is passionate about something which the school just says it is a 'specialist' school in. e.g. 'a Maths and Computing school'? Because the 'specialisms', for which schools received extra funding, were done away with years ago and all schools have to teach a range of subjects.

[mad?]

I understand where you come from on ofsted reports, but I do feel the results speak for themselves. I do notice big difference in the two schools results. But that’s my personal choice.

As you mentioned that you had not been in this country for long I wanted to be sure that you understood...those results are a reflection of an intake not of a school per se. That one grammar school has a different selection policy and therefore different children and results does not mean that your child will do better there.

Right now I want someone to help me with some ideas for academic evidences.

Follow Etienne's links all the information is there.
Also, before you go too far down the mitigating circumstances route, do be sure that the information you were given at testing time makes no mention of not sending a child to sit the test if they are ill/unwell/injured. In my experience all schools/testing authorities make this very clear and it would be difficult to argue against this, the danger being that having ignored their advice, it is spurious to argue the case now, particularly if the condition was long term. But I am not from your area and maybe it is different there for some reason.

[Rsinsinwar]

Wow, Thank you all for thrashing me now for some more clarity.

Yes, different schools have different intakes and they teach differently, that’s why ofsted ratingsand other rankings are important and must not be sidelined. Again a side point to my appeal.

And yes,my son had IB curriculum at previous school and was assessed and taught very differently than standard maths and English testing that happens at 11+ here.

Although he didn’t make bots from reception ;p but yes close- Aeronautics mad about planes- so Maths and science specialisms are certainly important for his future development of his passion.

I am now very clear that his injury won’t count as mitigating circumstance. His father went through series the of surgeries for 1 1/2 yrs after we moved here. Clearly no t an easy time for us, and definitely didn’t help in preparing Ds. Would this count as long term mitigating circumstances?

As you all suggested I am prepared for the allocated school, but must still work for the appeal. Will go through as much the references as possible.

Much appreciate your involvement Mad, another dad, etienne, toad Mum and all others

[Etienne]

Would this count as long term mitigating circumstances?

Is the school willing to write that it affected his work? If so, it would be worth a brief mention.
What you need is not so much proof of your surgery as proof of the impact on the child.

Best not to talk about "preparing for the test in the preceding 1½ years". It's meant to be a test of innate ability (or so they say). Besides, motivational factors are more likely to be reflected in routine school work.

[Guest55]

Rsinsinwar - please don't use specialism as a point in your appeal as these ended many years ago. The only point that mght be relevant if there are specific clubs at one school or somesuch.

Am Ofsted 'outstanding' from 2008 is, with respect, worthless as this judgement did not look at the progress the students make as the key judgement.

You need to use the evidence from his school about levels, reading age etc and evidence why the school you want best fits him without reference to Ofsted or specialisms.

[Rsinsinwar]

Oh, I didn’t know that , HT wrote about specialisms in his recco. And it does mention how his English was below par and now he is working at mastery level.

I will omit specialisms in my appeal. I will have to get the reading age etc from outside. The school has mentioned mastery levels in all subjects - I have know idea where that stands in the maze of assessments

Can a Educational psychologist report be as valuable at CAT results?