School's request for Report from Class Teacher
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:13 pm
Hello there
My son sat his 11+ test in November, for entry to a Devon School. We expect to receive word late in January from the school on whether he has passed or not (although - apparently - even if he has passed, he is not necessarily guaranteed a place, and will have to wait until March to find that out).
I was a little surprised to hear from his class teacher, at a parent's evening just before Christmas, that she had been asked to write something about my son by the grammar school (I suppose a kind of reference/report on his ability and achievement so far....).
I was aware that, if it came to an appeal, there would be an expectation that his primary school would provide additional info on my son - but is it normal practice to request a report from the school in advance of releasing the test results? I'm sure his teacher will have written a very favourable report - but I was wondering what (if any) weight this might in the school's decision about allocating places.
There was no indication in the school's own info on admissions that Primary schools would be contacted. I don't mind - but I suppose I'm just wondering whether the grammar does this for all applicants, or if my son - for some reason, related to his test results - might be one of only a handful for whom this is being done.
Does anyone have any experience of primary class teachers being asked to provide similar info - apart from in the case of appeals - and any idea of how it might be used by the grammar school.
Thanks all - and Happy New Year.
My son sat his 11+ test in November, for entry to a Devon School. We expect to receive word late in January from the school on whether he has passed or not (although - apparently - even if he has passed, he is not necessarily guaranteed a place, and will have to wait until March to find that out).
I was a little surprised to hear from his class teacher, at a parent's evening just before Christmas, that she had been asked to write something about my son by the grammar school (I suppose a kind of reference/report on his ability and achievement so far....).
I was aware that, if it came to an appeal, there would be an expectation that his primary school would provide additional info on my son - but is it normal practice to request a report from the school in advance of releasing the test results? I'm sure his teacher will have written a very favourable report - but I was wondering what (if any) weight this might in the school's decision about allocating places.
There was no indication in the school's own info on admissions that Primary schools would be contacted. I don't mind - but I suppose I'm just wondering whether the grammar does this for all applicants, or if my son - for some reason, related to his test results - might be one of only a handful for whom this is being done.
Does anyone have any experience of primary class teachers being asked to provide similar info - apart from in the case of appeals - and any idea of how it might be used by the grammar school.
Thanks all - and Happy New Year.