Devastated son
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Kemp
Devastated son
Hello all
My son passed his 11+ and we put Sir William Borlaise as first preference. We also live in catchment.
But..
Due to over subscription (I assume, I don't know) he didn't get a place and he is understandably devastated.
We will probably appeal but I would like to know how children that failed the exam and appealed successfully in January be offered a place for September? and on what grounds can I appeal other than catchment?
Any advice that can be offered will be gratefully received
Many thanks
Kemp
My son passed his 11+ and we put Sir William Borlaise as first preference. We also live in catchment.
But..
Due to over subscription (I assume, I don't know) he didn't get a place and he is understandably devastated.
We will probably appeal but I would like to know how children that failed the exam and appealed successfully in January be offered a place for September? and on what grounds can I appeal other than catchment?
Any advice that can be offered will be gratefully received
Many thanks
Kemp
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Sally-Anne
- Posts: 9235
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
- Location: Buckinghamshire
Hi kemp
You must be fairly shattered, as it is hard to accept not being offered a place when you live in catchment.
SWB was very oversubscribed this year - last year they offered places to children up to 5.5. miles from the school, but this year that was down to 3.9 miles. Which other school have you been offered?
The approach for a transfer appeal is firstly to get the support of your son's Head teacher, and then to make your case around exactly why SWB is the most suitable school for your child. You need to demonstrate that the benefit to your son of attending the school outweighs the inconvenience to the school of accommodating another child. If your son has shown a particular aptitude for the Performing Arts (SWB has specialist status for performing arts) then that would be a huge point in your favour.
Don't despair yet - there is a lot of "shakedown" in the system that goes on between now and September, with people changing their minds, moving away, going private, etc. However, to be in with a chance on that you have to appeal.
I have no doubt that Etienne will be along shortly to give you better advice than I can.
Sally-Anne
You must be fairly shattered, as it is hard to accept not being offered a place when you live in catchment.
SWB was very oversubscribed this year - last year they offered places to children up to 5.5. miles from the school, but this year that was down to 3.9 miles. Which other school have you been offered?
The approach for a transfer appeal is firstly to get the support of your son's Head teacher, and then to make your case around exactly why SWB is the most suitable school for your child. You need to demonstrate that the benefit to your son of attending the school outweighs the inconvenience to the school of accommodating another child. If your son has shown a particular aptitude for the Performing Arts (SWB has specialist status for performing arts) then that would be a huge point in your favour.
Don't despair yet - there is a lot of "shakedown" in the system that goes on between now and September, with people changing their minds, moving away, going private, etc. However, to be in with a chance on that you have to appeal.
I have no doubt that Etienne will be along shortly to give you better advice than I can.
Sally-Anne
Hi,
Did you get offered your second choice? You will need to 'argue' that SWB is more suited than the Grammar they have offered you.
You could ring Admissions and check there wasn't an error - the profile says:
"All in area siblings and some in area applicants to a distance of 3.999 miles"
are you further away than this?
Yes pupils successful on appeal will be put in the hat with everyone else - that is only fair as a panel has decided the VR score does not reflect their ability.
Keep posting - we will help you all we can.
Did you get offered your second choice? You will need to 'argue' that SWB is more suited than the Grammar they have offered you.
You could ring Admissions and check there wasn't an error - the profile says:
"All in area siblings and some in area applicants to a distance of 3.999 miles"
are you further away than this?
Yes pupils successful on appeal will be put in the hat with everyone else - that is only fair as a panel has decided the VR score does not reflect their ability.
Keep posting - we will help you all we can.
Dear Kemp
A list of arguments commonly used at a transfer appeal can be found here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/11plus ... nswers.php
Section C2
Regards
A list of arguments commonly used at a transfer appeal can be found here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/11plus ... nswers.php
Section C2
Regards
Etienne
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Guest
Many thanks for your support and replies - much appreciated.
We are edge of catchment - it seems we are 4.2 miles away if the AA routefinder is anything to go by and as we are out of county (Maidenhead, Berks) our second choice is Desborough (single sex and not grammar).
While I think Desborough is a good school, there is still the disapointment for him of working hard to pass the exam and then get let down at this stage. Maybe time will help to heal the disapointment and he will look forward to his new school, I don't know.
With regards appeal, I have a feeling that argueing for SWB against Desborough may be futile unless its on the basis that SWB is our nearest grammar.Anyway the odds seem stacked against us so maybe it was meant to be.
Thanks and regards
Kemp
We are edge of catchment - it seems we are 4.2 miles away if the AA routefinder is anything to go by and as we are out of county (Maidenhead, Berks) our second choice is Desborough (single sex and not grammar).
While I think Desborough is a good school, there is still the disapointment for him of working hard to pass the exam and then get let down at this stage. Maybe time will help to heal the disapointment and he will look forward to his new school, I don't know.
With regards appeal, I have a feeling that argueing for SWB against Desborough may be futile unless its on the basis that SWB is our nearest grammar.Anyway the odds seem stacked against us so maybe it was meant to be.
Thanks and regards
Kemp
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Guest11
SWBGS allocation
If I were you I would ask to be put on the waiting list for SWBGS. Last year the final allocation was up to 5.5 miles. This year the initial allocation is 3.999 miles but some parents change their minds and families move, so the final allocation will be different.
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Kemp
Dear Kemp
I wouldn't necessarily rule out a transfer appeal because you think the odds are against you.
For all you know, the appeal panel might throw out the school case and admit all the appellants. There are some instances every year when this happens.
Even if the panel accept the school case, the outcome depends on how strong the panel consider the school case to be, and indeed on the strength of the other parental cases. It's impossible to know in advance what your chances would be.
You do not have to present a case against Desborough (indeed, you shouldn't do this). It would be an appeal for SWB.
If I were you, I'd keep your options open by submitting an appeal, based on the fact that this is the nearest grammar school, and your son needs a place there to be stretched academically. You may or may not succeed, but it's worth a try.
I wouldn't necessarily rule out a transfer appeal because you think the odds are against you.
For all you know, the appeal panel might throw out the school case and admit all the appellants. There are some instances every year when this happens.
Even if the panel accept the school case, the outcome depends on how strong the panel consider the school case to be, and indeed on the strength of the other parental cases. It's impossible to know in advance what your chances would be.
You do not have to present a case against Desborough (indeed, you shouldn't do this). It would be an appeal for SWB.
If I were you, I'd keep your options open by submitting an appeal, based on the fact that this is the nearest grammar school, and your son needs a place there to be stretched academically. You may or may not succeed, but it's worth a try.
Etienne
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Kemp
