Appealing a residual place for an oversubscribed grammar

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Everton12
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:15 pm

Appealing a residual place for an oversubscribed grammar

Post by Everton12 »

Hi,

I have just discovered my son has failed to secure a place at Lancaster Grammar school after having been placed on the waiting list back in October 2009. We live just outside the boundary and so our application was for a residual place.

The letter points out that although he has been passed as suitable for grammar it is basically oversubscribed from pupils within the catchment area. Along with the letter advising us of the schools decision came his results of the entrance exam he had taken last year.

These were as follows: VR (standardised target mark 62%)...68%
Maths (" " " " " 60%).....66%
English(" " " " " 63%).....51%

As you can see he has done very well in verbal reasoning and maths but has not done nearly so well in the English paper.

Personally, my wife and I feel hes just had a bit of a nightmare in his English paper on the day. Although he is strong in maths/ science and we are aware that English/ literacy is not his favourite area - we know him to be competent in the subject and as far as we are aware he is predicted level 5 in KS2 English.

Therefore do you think it is worth appealing on the basis of an 'off day' or is that simply a none starter? Interestingly, the English paper was the last one of the day and I wonder whether this would have different if it had been at the beginning.

The school has been awarded specialist technology status and I wondered whether this coupled with my sons strength in maths/ science could be put forward as an argument for him being accepted?

I hope you dont mind me contacting you in this way as I just wondered what the procedure to appeal would be and more importantly how to structure the argument if appropriate.

Thanks in advance and kind regards.

Dave
hermanmunster
Posts: 12817
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Post by hermanmunster »

Hi
Welcome to the forum, sorry your first post has to be about appealing :(

The problem with Royal Lancs is that to get an OOC place the child has to score much higher than the in area kids.

Even if they do get a high score then there really aren't many residual places to share around.

Having said that if you can provide evidence of his academic ability and any evidence of extenuating circumstances which may have led to him underperforming then have a go - you won't know unless you try.
Everton12
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:15 pm

Appeal

Post by Everton12 »

Thanks for the reply herman....we basically on live half a mile outside the catchment but an inch is the same as a mile with regards the boundary!

There are no special circumstances that could be used to explain his lower English score but I am kind of wondering that because his VR and Maths scores were very good and we can definitely provide evidence of his academic ability via school/ past reports etc then should we go for it?

Also what generally happens during an appeal? How do I approach it?Does anybody have a similar experience of an out of catchment area appeal?

Thanks.

Shaun
hermanmunster
Posts: 12817
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Post by hermanmunster »

Hi Shaun

agreed re the inch is as good as a mile.....

In the letters from the school there shoud be some info about appealing.

There are 2 types of appeals - the first is for non qualification, however they have said he is suitable for GS so this may not apply

The second is an allocation appeal where you have to state why the school is the right school for your child and why the school should exceed their numbers to take him.

Usually there is a form to complete and you also collect evidence - then there is ahearing with an appeal panel who make the decision.

There is a fair bit of info (not surprisingly) on this forum ... I'll post the best link in a mo
hermanmunster
Posts: 12817
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Post by hermanmunster »

Everton12
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:15 pm

Post by Everton12 »

Thanks again.

I will have a good look at the link. Yes it is the second appeal (allocation appeal) that I would be looking at.

Kind regards
Everton12
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:15 pm

Success!

Post by Everton12 »

Hi,

Just to let you know we were successful with our appeal. Didnt know what to expect at the hearing and just went with the flow and appealed from the heart. So pleased with the outcome.

Shaun
hermanmunster
Posts: 12817
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Post by hermanmunster »

That's marvellous news! Well done! :D :D

When you have all finished celebrating :lol: :D :D :D then could you provide some feedback on the appeal feedback sticky? We don't have many appeals for Lancaster grammar so it would be good to get some info on this.


edit: this is the link

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... php?t=9205
panicattack!
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:30 pm

Post by panicattack! »

Great to get some positive news after a couple of days of sorrow. CONGRATULATIONS!! very pleased for you. Hopefully the luck will be changing for some of us still waiting to come before the panel! :wink:
Everton12
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:15 pm

Post by Everton12 »

thanks to you both. Will definitely pass on my appeal experience asap.
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