Reading Question (bit complicated)

[R3ad1ngDad]

Okay bit of background

Son accelerated from Reception to yr2 at state primary due to exceptional maths skills. At time we asked if it would cause secondary problems as were told "no as all based on aptitude and completing primary".

2 years ago when he was nearing end of yr5 we realised he was too young for most secondary schools - Reading School in particular will not look at children whose b'day is after dec31st (he is end of Jan) or have entered yr7. On the basis of this an advice from various admissions people he is now doing his yr6 for a second time.

The primary have had him doing an individual maths program for several years and stated last year there was nothing they could teach him. He has recently been being taken to a local secondary school for maths lessons with yr8 where he is in top group. he has also reached the finals of the national mathematics association primary maths challenge last year and this (last yr he got a silver medal this year's results not out). last year he took SATS with the other yr6 pupils but his papers were marked internally - he gained a 5a in maths and 5c in literacy

This November he took the Reading school exam although due to numbers a few of them were in a separate small classroom, during the exam the windows had to be closed due to the call to Friday prayers and it got very hot. 1 hour after the exam he completely collapsed with a temp of 39.4 (i think), we tried to ring school as soon as we thought to but it had shut, rang doctor who said "flu lots of it going around don't come here - give liquids and paracetamol", on the Monday we informed school (phone and email) who simply said "he finished the papers and nothing was noted by invigilators so nothing we can do"

Now we are worried he has not passed the exam - is there any right of appeal ?

Also on a related note as we live the wrong side of a footpath if he has failed he will likely not even be able to go to the school that he has been being taken to for his extra maths and will instead end up at Bulmershe which is noted as poor for individualised learning and maths/science.

We are at our wits end worrying about what might happen. Does anyone know anyone with experience of the Reading/Reading School/Wokingham appeals process

[stevew61]

Now we are worried he has not passed the exam - is there any right of appeal ?

Hi R3ad1ngDad.

Firstly welcome to the forum.

Hopefully on the 1st of March you will get the result you want, if not the letter from Reading School will offer you the chance to start an appeal, as a foundation school that has just converted to an academy they manage their own appeals.

Try not to worry and good luck for 1st March. We are waiting for a Reading result and I do spend to much time thinking about it.

[R3ad1ngDad]

thank you - it is the thought of bulmershe that scares me as he hates football and would be 1 yr below people who were on his year last year and caused issues

[R3ad1ngDad]

Ok extra bit of info - our yr6 son has been doing an hour a week at a local maths specialist secondary (that we are just out of catchment for) as the primary could not cope with his needs.

After 1/2 a term doing maths with the yr9 top maths set he has just taken there 1/2 year test. It was a 2009 lv6-8 SATS test carried out under exam conditions (well actually during a lesson so in 55mins not 60) and he gained the top score in class being graded at level8a. The head of maths said if he was one of their pupils he would be entered for taking his GCSE next summer. How could we use this kind of info in an appeal if the flu did knock his Reading entrance score down and is there a particular way it should it be presented ?

[Etienne]

If it comes to an appeal, ideally in this situation you would need extenuating circumstances, evidence of high ability, and (if the school is oversubscribed) reasons for wanting or needing a place.

If you haven't already seen the Q&As, you can read them here:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best way of presenting the evidence would be to have a letter from the secondary school on headed notepaper, confirming what you have said above about achievement in maths.

Appeals for this school (last time we we were involved) seemed difficult to win.

[R3ad1ngDad]

Thank you - just hope it doesn't come to it as they do seem to be a law unto themselves

[hermanmunster]

worth also bearing in mind that although you are not supposed t send ill children to an exam and then use the fact at an appeal, there isn't a lot you can do about one who becomes ill during the test. I know you didn't see the GP but the will have recorded the call on the notes as a "telephone consult". On the basis of this they may be able to write you a letter stating that that happened. There was indeed a "lot of it about " .....

Good luck and hopefully you won't need to look at the appeal process....

[R3ad1ngDad]

Actually found out my wife did take him to the doctor on the Saturday morning so will be able to get the record - also he was fine when left for the exams. He says it was after the windows of the small classroom were shut due to the call to Friday prayers that he started to feel really hot and headachy - didn't think it was polite to tell the invigilator. When he came out i thought he was just wiped from the exams and tried to take him for a meal with a friend then he collapsed (literally) over the table in Nandos and we got him home to realise he had the raging temp (I am a bloke I am not good at noticing these things).

[hermanmunster]

That's fine - even better record of the illness! You aren't in the medical business are you? we never notice if the kids are ill!!!

[R3ad1ngDad]

Phew - all academic as despite the state of him that day he managed to be offered a place.

Lashings of ginger beer all round i reckon