Low score but enough evidence to warrant selection review
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 7:32 pm
Hi
I hope you can help. This forum has very kindly helped in the past with my first DC.
My second DC did not qualify and has quite a low score of 111. We are aware that the chances of success at selection review are low but would be grateful for any thoughts/comments you have as we think it wouldn't be fair on them if we didn't give it a go. Their overall scores were Verbal-112, Maths-98 and Non-verbal-122. They are summer born and the score was a surprise, particularly the maths and non-verbal (which is really strong).
I have copied the bullets from our (very draft) selection review letter below. We are still trying to obtain much of the information as the info promised by their school was not provided before half term. The school have confirmed the below though and have said that they would absolutely support us with a review. We will also get a second letter of support from the previous head teacher.
Academic Evidence
• Attained 111 in the 11+
• Head teacher recommendation for Grammar School suitability is 2 [attitude to learning was also scored 2. My understanding is that their predictions were pretty accurate but they will not share the stats with me]
• “Very strongly” supported by the head teacher - please see attached Head Teacher's Review Summary (appendix 1) [- tbc as only provided verbal support so far]
• High grades for achievement – please see attached Head Teacher's Review Summary (appendix 1) [again tbc but we expect this should show exceeds/greater depth]
• Overall CAT4 scores of 130 (=98th percentile) in 2018 and 128 (=97th percentile) in 2017 with strong standardised scores in every category - please see attached CAT4 summary (appendix 2) [Is there anything else I can add here? They were 1st and 2nd in their class cohort. Their scores in 2017 were V-122, Q-119, NV-141, S-130. Their scores in 2018 were V-118, Q-123, NV-141, S-138]
• Level 3 for KS1 SATs - Writing, Maths, Science and Level 2A for KS1 SATS reading
• Reading age of X when last tested in XX [TBC]
• Predicted scaled scores of 111-120 in Reading and Maths for end of KS2, and “greater depth” for Writing.
• Has been awarded Duke of York Digital Bronze award [Do you think I should include this? - this is a recent award, i.e. October 2018]
Extenuating Circumstances
• Disruption during the exam [there was an incident during the exam that I believe was very disruptive. I do not want to post this on the forum though due to the likelihood of this enabling identification. I am awaiting confirmation from the school that they reporting this.]
We hope you would be prepared to take the view that these extenuating circumstances are sufficient to explain the shortfall in marks
Thank you for taking the time to consider our case
In addition our DC also suffers from low level asthma, particularly in Sept-Jan each year. This does not require medical intervention other than inhalers and is a chronic condition. The key issue with this is it is tiring and distracting. It is difficult to provide evidence other than prescriptions etc. I am not sure that this is a helpful circumstance to include or whether it will just look like we are desperately trying to find extenuating circumstances - which to a degree we are.
Thank you - any observations would be very helpful.
I hope you can help. This forum has very kindly helped in the past with my first DC.
My second DC did not qualify and has quite a low score of 111. We are aware that the chances of success at selection review are low but would be grateful for any thoughts/comments you have as we think it wouldn't be fair on them if we didn't give it a go. Their overall scores were Verbal-112, Maths-98 and Non-verbal-122. They are summer born and the score was a surprise, particularly the maths and non-verbal (which is really strong).
I have copied the bullets from our (very draft) selection review letter below. We are still trying to obtain much of the information as the info promised by their school was not provided before half term. The school have confirmed the below though and have said that they would absolutely support us with a review. We will also get a second letter of support from the previous head teacher.
Academic Evidence
• Attained 111 in the 11+
• Head teacher recommendation for Grammar School suitability is 2 [attitude to learning was also scored 2. My understanding is that their predictions were pretty accurate but they will not share the stats with me]
• “Very strongly” supported by the head teacher - please see attached Head Teacher's Review Summary (appendix 1) [- tbc as only provided verbal support so far]
• High grades for achievement – please see attached Head Teacher's Review Summary (appendix 1) [again tbc but we expect this should show exceeds/greater depth]
• Overall CAT4 scores of 130 (=98th percentile) in 2018 and 128 (=97th percentile) in 2017 with strong standardised scores in every category - please see attached CAT4 summary (appendix 2) [Is there anything else I can add here? They were 1st and 2nd in their class cohort. Their scores in 2017 were V-122, Q-119, NV-141, S-130. Their scores in 2018 were V-118, Q-123, NV-141, S-138]
• Level 3 for KS1 SATs - Writing, Maths, Science and Level 2A for KS1 SATS reading
• Reading age of X when last tested in XX [TBC]
• Predicted scaled scores of 111-120 in Reading and Maths for end of KS2, and “greater depth” for Writing.
• Has been awarded Duke of York Digital Bronze award [Do you think I should include this? - this is a recent award, i.e. October 2018]
Extenuating Circumstances
• Disruption during the exam [there was an incident during the exam that I believe was very disruptive. I do not want to post this on the forum though due to the likelihood of this enabling identification. I am awaiting confirmation from the school that they reporting this.]
We hope you would be prepared to take the view that these extenuating circumstances are sufficient to explain the shortfall in marks
Thank you for taking the time to consider our case
In addition our DC also suffers from low level asthma, particularly in Sept-Jan each year. This does not require medical intervention other than inhalers and is a chronic condition. The key issue with this is it is tiring and distracting. It is difficult to provide evidence other than prescriptions etc. I am not sure that this is a helpful circumstance to include or whether it will just look like we are desperately trying to find extenuating circumstances - which to a degree we are.
Thank you - any observations would be very helpful.