whenwillitbeover wrote:
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?
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.....