My DS has been diagnosed with hypermobility due to which he was awarded 25% extra time in the 11plus exams. As a result while he has completed the first exam, he was unable to complete the second (after 20 min break) test which resulted in a low score for paper-2. Despite this he has passed 2 stages and is on the WL for our preferred grammar school. Meanwhile we have been allocated a different grammar which we do not wish to attend.

Truth is that the hypermobility in his hands causes extreme fatigue. Since the english paper was first, he was drained at the end of the 1st hour and was totally exhausted by the time he wrote maths. In English he has scored excellent marks which has taken him over the fence. Maths he was unable to complete, yet he has scored 85% for the part that he did complete. He has missed the cut off score by 8 marks. Hypothetically if he had typed out english or given the 2 papers on different days, his result wouldve easily improved by 8 marks.

His occupational therapist and head teacher both agree. In the past few maths exams he has scored 85% on average and 100% in the last exam.

Do we have extenuating circumstances to appeal?

I have medical evidence including a letter saying the above from the OT.

The head teacher is also willing to support.

Do we have any hope? What else do i need to be ready with?

Assumedly you haven’t just “been allocated another grammar school”....I mean, you must have applied to that one on your CAF? Why do you now not want to attend it? Why is this particular grammar school important to you? Why is this one a better fit for your child?

With any appeal you have to provide as much academic evidence as possible. Then you have to counter the fact that the school may be full, so you have to explain why this school is the best fit for your child. Then you give a nod to extenuating circumstances which may explain why your academic child did not make the grade on the day.

Welcome to Appeals!

As KCG says, you need:

1) as much academic evidence as possible to show that the 11+ result was not fully representative of his ability:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b11

2) good reasons for wanting a place at the school being appealed for:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... -school#c2

Example of an appeal:
https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals/general#a43

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Etienne

Do you have twins?

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx

I am interested in the hypermobility thing. I am hypermobile and so are two of my children - both extremely so. I had never thought of it as a SEN nor wondered about extra time in exams. No one seems especially fatigued (except me, but that is lack of sleep!). Out of interest, is this now seen in terms of SEN? Genuine question.

And yes, I guess OP has twins as DD was sitting other 11+ exams this year?

Hi Amber... I hope you don’t mind me weighing in on this one...I have recently been diagnosed with Hypermobility spectrum disorder after years of various difficulties...it is now regarded as a spectrum with asymptomatic hypermobility at one end and hypermobile ehlersdanlos syndrome at the other...no wonder I have had to retire from dentistry....was never a good choice Anyway the Hypermobility spectrum disorders association has a good website....and there are some rheumatologists with a special interest in it. Fatigue and poor sleep is often a big problem, typically we stress easily and take longer to recover after illness or injury.
Anyway there is a crossover with Dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder and also Aspergers as well...so it can be useful to ask for the sorts of accommodations usually appropriate for Dyspraxia....
To the OP...I have been through a successful appeal with my similarly maths talented son with dyspraxia....do pm me If you need any help or support

A successful appeal is potentially possible only if the school has some history of successful appeals in the past...some seem notoriously hard to win.

With this case the first thing is possibly to check that the school can meet your son’s needs...have you met with the SENCO at both schools? How interested and willing are they to support your son?
It might be worth looking at the Dyspraxia Association website for their secondary school accommodations. Can a small lightweight laptop be provided and used routinely or will you provide a laptop he can use in school?
Do you have things like CAT scores, reading age and spelling age and other academic results?
What is it about the school you are appealing to that meets you son’s needs? Practical things like the size of the school, ease of gettng to it independently, how is the school laid out? Fewer staircases to climb up and down can be helpful....in terms of reducing fatigue...these are just a few ideas to consider.....