12 Plus Transfer Appeal
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Oversubscription appeal
I have been doing research for my appeal next week and have found that the school that I am appealing for actually performs better in some instances when its oversubscribed or over 150 students in a year.
Year 9
No of students KS4
2005 151 44.7 points
2006 155 45.00
2007 158 43.4
Year 11 GCSE
2005 151 462.3
2006 177 481.4
2007 151 477.8
Should I use this data and if so when stage 1 or 2 ?
I have been doing research for my appeal next week and have found that the school that I am appealing for actually performs better in some instances when its oversubscribed or over 150 students in a year.
Year 9
No of students KS4
2005 151 44.7 points
2006 155 45.00
2007 158 43.4
Year 11 GCSE
2005 151 462.3
2006 177 481.4
2007 151 477.8
Should I use this data and if so when stage 1 or 2 ?
It's at stage 1 that you raise issues to do with the school case.Should I use this data and if so when stage 1 or 2 ?
A quiet, reasonable, courteous, questioning approach is always best. Unfortunately, if it's a large group hearing at stage 1, there is often somebody who wants to take the floor, go into attack mode, and vent his wrath at "the system"!
[It's usually a "he"!!!] Avoid making speeches, and don't get into a prolonged argument. It's best to appear very reasonable, and just put one or two questions, e.g. "Is there any evidence to suggest that the school has not coped well when oversubscribed? Exam results, for example?"
If they concede the point, you need go no further. But, if necessary, you can continue "I note that in such-and-such a year ......... and again in ........... Would you like to comment on those figures?"
To be honest, it's unlikely that the panel are going to be swayed by anything they haven't thought of themselves. Most panels are more than capable of reaching a proper conclusion on the basis of the authority's written case and the answers to their own questions.
As I've frequently said, the school is usually going to win stage 1, so don't spend too much time worrying about it. In the vast majority of cases it's stage 2 that really matters.
Hope this helps.
Etienne
Thank you to every one for all your help but I can now say it is officially all over .
I thought that I had a reasonable case at the oversubscription appeal, after all this time I had a very good 12+ pass and a fantastic report , I even had matching "specialisms".
However the pannel , well one of them ,took the side of the county case and then took my case to pieces, "current school not up to GS standard therefor report not representative. Why should the well being of those at the school be jepordised by my daughter who would need help in catching up? "
The pannel then began looking through the county school information book looking for an alterntive school !I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears, but it was evident I wasn't getting into the one I was there for.
Its funny when you go to the school open days the head tells you all the great things about the school but at the appeal hearing they suggest one more child would cause untold damage to every thing from overcrowded buildings to unhappy staff.
I don't know if anyone can benefit from my unhappy journey I think I must have learned something along the way or maybe it is just good to not have to be cheerful here when I feel so defeated.
I know I am blessed with a wonderful daughter and that really is all that matters.
I thought that I had a reasonable case at the oversubscription appeal, after all this time I had a very good 12+ pass and a fantastic report , I even had matching "specialisms".
However the pannel , well one of them ,took the side of the county case and then took my case to pieces, "current school not up to GS standard therefor report not representative. Why should the well being of those at the school be jepordised by my daughter who would need help in catching up? "
The pannel then began looking through the county school information book looking for an alterntive school !I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears, but it was evident I wasn't getting into the one I was there for.
Its funny when you go to the school open days the head tells you all the great things about the school but at the appeal hearing they suggest one more child would cause untold damage to every thing from overcrowded buildings to unhappy staff.
I don't know if anyone can benefit from my unhappy journey I think I must have learned something along the way or maybe it is just good to not have to be cheerful here when I feel so defeated.
I know I am blessed with a wonderful daughter and that really is all that matters.
How awful! Why would they think help would be needed in catching up? I found my child was actually slightly ahead in some subjects when joining at 12+ ...
Did yiou get a GS allocated? PM me if you would prefer - you can always try to transfer again and stay on a waiting list - it worked for one of my friends.
Did yiou get a GS allocated? PM me if you would prefer - you can always try to transfer again and stay on a waiting list - it worked for one of my friends.
Thank you I know she would do very well it isn't just me who thinks so her teachers now and at primary school were sure she would too.
I am not sure at the moment if I shouldn't just get on with the rest of my life, so many sleepless nights ,so much carefull preparation,so much emotional support for the rest of my family.
My daughter is on the waiting list, letter came friday but I think I must just stop dreaming.
I am not sure at the moment if I shouldn't just get on with the rest of my life, so many sleepless nights ,so much carefull preparation,so much emotional support for the rest of my family.
My daughter is on the waiting list, letter came friday but I think I must just stop dreaming.
I have so much respect for all you parents who have pursued appels. The stress of it all must have been so hard. I'm just waiting for a miricle to happen with a CI list and thats bad enough. Its now the end of term and my little dream must now come to an end, it's just not going to happen. Congrats to all those who won appels and big hugs to all those who didn't. But no matter what, you should all be very proud of yourselves for being good parents and wanting the best for your kids.
Hope you all have a good summer hols.
Red Dog.
Hope you all have a good summer hols.
Red Dog.
Hello Fox Bot,
I am not familiar enough with your area to give good advice and I hope one of the real experts will be along soon. However, I was surprised to see that academic arguments were used to substantiate the prejudice to the school in an oversubscription appeal for a child who had passed the appropriate exam for entry into that year group. If the 12 plus test is the criterion for entry named in the school's admission policy for entry into year 8 it seems unfair to then set up further criteria to judge the child's academic suitability for the school. I would be inclined to seek further advice about whether you should take this further, at least to request the notes to see on what basis the panel made its decision, and possibly a query to the ombudsman's advice line.
I am not familiar enough with your area to give good advice and I hope one of the real experts will be along soon. However, I was surprised to see that academic arguments were used to substantiate the prejudice to the school in an oversubscription appeal for a child who had passed the appropriate exam for entry into that year group. If the 12 plus test is the criterion for entry named in the school's admission policy for entry into year 8 it seems unfair to then set up further criteria to judge the child's academic suitability for the school. I would be inclined to seek further advice about whether you should take this further, at least to request the notes to see on what basis the panel made its decision, and possibly a query to the ombudsman's advice line.
I agree with Alex that, on the face of it, this doesn't sound right.
If you were matching your child's strengths with the school's specialism, then the panel could legitimately probe the point you were making by reference to the report, but there should be no question of their querying general academic ability - a qualifying score of 121+ is sufficient.
I'm also wondering why the panel were looking for an alternative school. Their role was to consider your appeal for the school in question.
Appeals are usually very well organised in your area, and I think it would be worth ringing the Appeals Manager to ask her to look into this.
If you are still not satisfied, you can then ask for the clerk's notes, and consider the ombudsman's advice line.
If you were matching your child's strengths with the school's specialism, then the panel could legitimately probe the point you were making by reference to the report, but there should be no question of their querying general academic ability - a qualifying score of 121+ is sufficient.
I'm also wondering why the panel were looking for an alternative school. Their role was to consider your appeal for the school in question.
Appeals are usually very well organised in your area, and I think it would be worth ringing the Appeals Manager to ask her to look into this.
If you are still not satisfied, you can then ask for the clerk's notes, and consider the ombudsman's advice line.
Etienne