OOC appeal

[Puzzled Mum]

I am getting more confused by the day. We are appealing for grammar school for DS who passed the 11+, but wasn't offered a grammar school (we are ooc and have been offered the local comprehensive). I thought that, as DS had passed the test, we didn't have to prove academic ability, but rather why the school we are appealing for is the right one for DS. I submitted an appeal letter accompanied by a supporting letter from our Head. Is this enough. I keep reading this forum and am worried that we haven't done enough and that I won't be fully prepared at the appeal hearing - which we are dreading. Do we need to have a letter from the form tutor as well, or is the Head's letter of support sufficient. We thought we had submitted a strong appeal letter, but are now having serious doubts!

[Marylou]

Which area are you appealing in?

[Alex]

The key is in the school's admissions policy. Some Grammar schools use score order to determine who gets a place with or without a minimum pass mark; others demand only that applicants reach the required pass mark(s) and then allocate their places on other factors, most often siblings and catchment areas and/or distance.

If the school for which you are appealing uses criteria other than score order then academic evidence will not be required; if score order is used to allocate places then academic evidence may play a part alongside oversubscription arguments as an appellant may wish to put forward reasons to explain why their child could have scored more highly in the tests and gained a place.

[tiredmum]

I am getting more confused by the day. We are appealing for grammar school for DS who passed the 11+, but wasn't offered a grammar school (we are ooc and have been offered the local comprehensive). I thought that, as DS had passed the test, we didn't have to prove academic ability, but rather why the school we are appealing for is the right one for DS.

This depends on what the over-subscription criteria for the school you are appealing to is - did your ds not get a place because of distance or was there a cut off score?

I submitted an appeal letter accompanied by a supporting letter from our Head. Is this enough. I keep reading this forum and am worried that we haven't done enough and that I won't be fully prepared at the appeal hearing - which we are dreading. Do we need to have a letter from the form tutor as well, or is the Head's letter of support sufficient. We thought we had submitted a strong appeal letter, but are now having serious doubts!

The key to an appeal is loads of evidence, it is good to have a cover letter outlining the points of why you are appealing and each point you refer to an appendix containing evidence to support that point.
A letter from the head is good as one bit of evidence, i also had one from my dd's teacher and one of her out of school clubs (this being evidence of my dd's interest/talents in one of the schools specialisms.
You also need to prepare what you will say at the appeal itself and be ready for questions they may ask. Your case needs to be strong to out-weigh the school case(school full).

[coolgirl]

we have also put in an appeal for our daughter who passed but didnt get the school she wanted. we keep sending more and more evidence for to the appeal panel with a hope that it proves our child has got what it takes. I sent in old school reports as well from yr 3, 4 and 5 showing that in yr 3 she got a reading sat mark of 4C and that always got A for effort in all subjects. The reading age for for the national curriculum is 2A-3C. in writing she achieved 3A and maths 3B and this was all in year 3. So again the more information you send the better.

Good luck with the appeal

[Puzzled Mum]

Thanks everyone - all help greatly appreciated. We are appealing for a Bucks school. We weren't offered a place purely on distance. For this reason, I didn't think I'd need to prove the academic side, but it looks like I need to. Would a letter from the form tutor mentioning predicted SAT scores be helpful. Also, would it give the wrong impression if, at the appeal, we explained that DS needs to be stretched, as he's always been in the top sets, but last year dipped in performance (although still in top sets). He's back on track, but only does the minimum to get the grade rather than put in extra effort. His Head said ds would be better at the grammar school as they will stretch him and he will rise to the challenge rather than 'coast'. Would the Panel see that as him being lazy or would they see it as a child who needs, and will rise to, the challenge?

[Etienne]

We weren't offered a place purely on distance. For this reason, I didn't think I'd need to prove the academic side, but it looks like I need to.

Why do you need to? - As Alex has explained above:

If the school for which you are appealing uses criteria other than score order then academic evidence will not be required; if score order is used to allocate places then academic evidence may play a part alongside oversubscription arguments as an appellant may wish to put forward reasons to explain why their child could have scored more highly in the tests and gained a place.

Score is not one of the oversubscription criteria in Bucks, so introducing evidence of general academic ability (e.g. predicted SATs scores) will be completely irrelevant.

If the school is noted for specialising in a particular subject, I can see an argument for introducing evidence of an aptitude for that subject - but that is all.

Would the Panel see that as him being lazy or would they see it as a child who needs, and will rise, to the challenge?

Best to say with a smile "Typical boy - needs to be stretched! A place at SWB would definitely help him achieve his full potential."

[Puzzled Mum]

Thanks ever so much for the advice everyone. Just wish there were enough places at the schools for all the children!