Selection Review Panel Advice please

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Hels78
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 2:05 pm

Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Hels78 »

We are in Bucks and my DD got her 11+ results on Friday - she got a score of 119 (was actually 119.5 rounded down). I am meeting with our Head Teacher tomorrow morning to discuss going for a selection review (as requested by my DD) but he has indicated that we really need to think about any extenuating circumstances that might have adversely affected her. She had an incident of bullying/intimidation with a couple of girls in her class during the Summer Term (which the school have a record of) and we had had conversations about this prior to her going back to school in September but I don't know whether this is a strong enough reason. Her academic results prior to this are that she has been exceeding expectations and working at greater depth all the way through KS2 according to her end of year reports. Is it likely that we would get through on just academic achievements? Any advice appreciated. Thank you :)
anotherdad
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Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:33 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by anotherdad »

Have a read of the reviews and appeals thread for some guidance.

In short, you need strong academic evidence to show suitability for grammar school. It sounds as if you have a decent base of evidence for that to go along with a score very close to 121, but do talk that through with the Head tomorrow. Extenuating circumstances come into play if you have that academic evidence because they may be the reason why your daughter's score didn't reflect her academic levels demonstrated at school. They aren't absolutely necessary but you can see that they might provide a reason for the score.

Be careful though. Some extenuating circumstances can be long-standing and the obvious question a panel might consider is "why did they affect the test score but not the child's school work, which we're being told was strong throughout the period of the problems." We've seen people on here before claiming that a long-term health condition or illness has caused a non-qualifying score on the transfer test but it magically didn't cause any problems during year five when the academic evidence was strong.
hermanmunster
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Location: The Seaside

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by hermanmunster »

here is the link to the appeals FAQ https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hels78
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 2:05 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Hels78 »

Thank you both :-)
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Etienne »

Welcome! :)

And the following link will take you straight to the review section:

Start here.
Etienne
Hels78
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Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 2:05 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Hels78 »

Update - we met with our Head on Tuesday and he gave our DD a 1:1 recommendation. We have dug out her school reports for the last 3 years (Yr3,4 and 5) and they show that she has been working at greater depth and exceeding expectations for her age in all subjects as well as working at highest level of effort and impeccable behaviour. HT is going to email us his completed form by Monday so I can include when I submit our paperwork. I also have the result of a banding test from another school entrance where she scored 131/140. Do you think this is strong enough evidence? We have got something to put down for extenuating circumstances but I am not convinced as not got any paperwork to back it up. Do you think we have a chance with her having 119.5 and strong academic record? TIA
Etienne
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Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Etienne »

Hels78 wrote:a 1:1 recommendation.
Good - provided his overall recommendations were realistic, e.g. ten pupils with a 1:1, eight of whom qualified would be good - ten pupils with a 1:1, four of whom qualified would not be good!
We have dug out her school reports for the last 3 years (Yr3,4 and 5) and they show that she has been working at greater depth and exceeding expectations for her age in all subjects
Good. What about Y2? Level 3s?
.......and impeccable behaviour.
Irrelevant
We have got something to put down for extenuating circumstances
Did the school know at the time? There is a box for the headteacher to tick.
Do you think this is strong enough evidence?
Too soon to say. It will be clearer when you have the form fully completed.
Etienne
Hels78
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 2:05 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Hels78 »

Etienne wrote:
Hels78 wrote:a 1:1 recommendation.
Good - provided his overall recommendations were realistic, e.g. ten pupils with a 1:1, eight of whom qualified would be good - ten pupils with a 1:1, four of whom qualified would not be good!
Yes - he said he had a good record of being realistic with his recommendations over previous year and at his previous schools - only 2 children qualified this year and our DD was the only one he said had a 1:1 and hadn't qualified this year.
We have dug out her school reports for the last 3 years (Yr3,4 and 5) and they show that she has been working at greater depth and exceeding expectations for her age in all subjects
Good. What about Y2? Level 3s?
Yes - she had Level 3's for her Year 2 results - should we also include that year's report? The HT's form has a box for that anyway.
We have got something to put down for extenuating circumstances
Did the school know at the time? There is a box for the headteacher to tick.
HT is going to reference our extenuating circumstances on his form.
Do you think this is strong enough evidence?
Too soon to say. It will be clearer when you have the form fully completed.
Thanks
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Selection Review Panel Advice please

Post by Etienne »

Yes - she had Level 3's for her Year 2 results - should we also include that year's report? The HT's form has a box for that anyway.
Good.
No - it is quite sufficient for the head to enter the results.
HT is going to reference our extenuating circumstances on his form.
Fine - if that means he will be ticking the box.

So far, so good. :)
Etienne
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