11 Plus Exams Forum

The Totpots just got the much anticipated letter -'twas not to be unfortunately. Just out of interest and warped curiosity are there any success stories with a level 3:1?

Thanks again to everyone on this forum for wonderful support and ideas and good luck to those still waiting

Totpotpink

HI totpotpink,

Im sorry to hear your news...I must admit I am expecting the same...our appeal is next Wed..but like you the head has decided to use year 5 CATS as a way of grading and given him a 2;3. the 3 becasue he got 119 in year 5. Thats not going to change and I feel its a big problem and a lead weight around my ankles...!!

Hey Ho...

Phil

To all Totpots - we feel for you.

My whole family has got caught up on this forum and ask everyday if there is any news. Much hugs from all the 'All Too Much' family; we have been in your position just a few years back.

Look to the future.

Thanks Phil for your sympathy - I think that the HT recommendation is what the panel look at most intently - I do wish you luck and at least you know you are doing everything you possibly can. The thing that hurts the most is that the majority of parents put themselves through this ordeal because they genuinly feel their child would be ok at grammar school - that is what makes it so hard to accept

So sorry totpots - we too got the same letter this morning . To be frank I don't think any of us can do any more than we already have; we had 1/1 support, already at Level 5 etc etc. Frankly I was baffled by the letter we got as the wording didn't seem relevant to our daughter's case or the basis of our appeal, but there we are.


Dreading telling my daughter later though - she will be gutted, she had her heart set on the High School.

I guess now we all just hope for our first choice upper......or move!

Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear......

I am so sorry Buckscat - cannot believe that with a 1:1. you didn't get the backing of the appeal - surely you should appeal against that decision? Everyone else I know with that level has been successful - could your letter have been sent to you in error?

To be frank I can't believe it either, but the letter has my daughter's details all correct so I guess we just have to accept it. All our supporting information said grammar school material but the letter says the panel do not agree.

Thats rubbish Buckscat...I cant believe that...where in Bucks are you?
I mean the panel is rubbish not what you wrote!! oops sorry..

‘I think that the HT recommendation is what the panel look at most intently’

We completely agree with this sentiment, as I think you know

And actually that’s the biggest flaw in the system. With no objectivity or standardisation of HT’s recommendations, appeals are being determined by the subjective views of different HTs and if you’ve got one who’s anti selective education and who won’t put in writing things they have admitted in private, you’re scuppered.

Perhaps test scores should be the sole determinant, so you let in all the 120s, then the 119s etc until the places are filled and appeals should be reserved only for an exceptional circumstance (such as family break-up).

Incidentally, this approach would not have helped DD so I’m trying to be objective here, but at present we do not have a level playing field and clearly that is unsatisfactory.

Buckscat, I’m sorry, you sound particularly unlucky with your evidence, did your letter give any details, or was it just ‘insufficient academic evidence’?

Our letter is rather bizarre - it says they didn't find our daughter had a disability under the DDA.....but I never asked them to, I merely said that despite having had ME her schoolwork had not suffered. We had medical evidence confirming all the tests etc she has had to have in the last 18 months but I never tried to plead disability, just mitigation.

Oddly no mention is made of the school's lack of notice of the second test (referred to in an earlier post).

Rob - very little reference to the academic evidence either, just that it was considered but she was still not considered suitable. Our evidence was literacy graded by the teacher as 5a, SATS papers all graded at Level 5, maths books full of great comments, ditto science. Not sure what else they wanted to be honest. And clearly they didn't think much of our Head's recommendation

BTW Phil - we are in Wycombe unless I get my top choice upper I may well be home tutoring in September! Anyone know of a forum for that