oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Consult our experts on 11 Plus appeals or any other type of school appeal

Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators

11 Plus Mocks - Practise the real exam experience - Book Now
crazybutsmiling
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:54 pm

oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by crazybutsmiling »

OK appeal has been sent in and been given a date in middle of June. Wandering if i should have sent more evidence of ability! It is an oversubsription appeal, as she passed and is currently n waiting list. Appeal is for SHS.
I have found out it's their highest number of appeals yet, at 31, usually 8 students have been successful for many years.
Only 26 on waiting list, so I can only imagine there are going to be a several non qualification appeals.
I listed all my reasons my daughter needs/wants this school, didn't mention negatives of other schools as we are arguing for this school.
However, should have I sent more than just the CATS scores (official printout)?
My daughter is stanines 8 for science, 9 for maths but 6 for verbal reasoning! She has ability but that gets overshadowed with her desire to only want to practice maths!
So never sent reports as they predicted only 4a in Literacy, not sure if this would do more harm than good. But they do discuss her maths ability. Reports also describe her as a shy, quiet girl, worrier, but very hard worker, and always puts maximum effort in. Should I send them in as an addition or will the Literacy grades and comments damage us.
Hopefully our reasons will be compelling enough. I did mention (but didn't put a lot of emphasis on it) that she is a huge worrier, and that night before the test she was up at 11pm not able to sleep. However, I am not sure how musch better she would have done as the test is only VR, (for a maths and science specialist school???), and this is her weakenss, although practice papers saw her making steady 90s.
Any advice would be really helpful. Should I add more info on ability other than CATs.
Primary school used excuse not allowed to write a lette, so they're not much help.
tiredmum
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by tiredmum »

Just want to clarify- is it over-sub as she passed test but didnt reach score of last child given place at school?
crazybutsmiling
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:54 pm

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by crazybutsmiling »

Yes it's an oversubscription appeal, at SHS it's a pass mark then they go down the list in order of rank if on waiting list. But appeals panel don't take waiting list ranking into consideration. So while some will have a non qual (failed test) and over subsription appeal, ours is 'only' oversub.!
But would it get overshadowed by those fighting to prove they are of standard, cause in reality in passing we don't need to do that. This year only one place has been offered on reallocation day so something weird is going on in Glos!!! :?
Usually much more movement I am told, and in past few years all who passed got a place, they went much further down the list. This year is so different! :(
ofsoundmind
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:49 pm

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by ofsoundmind »

Yes, totally agree.
We are appealing for SHS and have been told exactly the same thing. Very strange year.
Good luck with your appeal, with twice as many appealing it's gonna be a tough one.
crazybutsmiling
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:54 pm

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by crazybutsmiling »

good luck to you to, I guess we have a 1 in 4 chance if we go by history (although nothing seems to be going like the past)!
How many do you think are non quals, my guess would be at least 6 or 7, cause I know a few girls on wait list but not appealing!
i just want this to be over and not be so stressed! Have you heard of any more movement in past few weeks?
ofsoundmind
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:49 pm

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by ofsoundmind »

No idea, but someone has just posted a place being given uo at SHS, due to an appeal at preferred grammar.
crazybutsmiling
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:54 pm

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by crazybutsmiling »

OK to get back on track here! Can anyone tell me should I have sent more evidence of capability even though it is an over subscription appeal???
Should I send more in?
Also is it needed that I send a letter from school saying she's capable, because they are not being helpful at all?!
tiredmum
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:51 am

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by tiredmum »

I did a successful over-sub appeal for my dd last year. She passed our regions test but the school she wanted took the top 165 scores of those who applied, she was about 168!

I approached it as an over-sub appeal so my main points were - suitability of schools specialisims, ease of transport and choice. However her primary school wanted to contribute and her headteacher gave me a general letter of support stating how my dd was house captain in the school and was a active member of the choir etc(suited to school spcialisims) and her class teacher gave me a letter stating she was working at 5b in maths and would acheive this in english in the SATs coming up.

I included this all in the appendix and actually did refer to it as one of the panel bought up that she had not reached school cutoff score so how would she cope - the school rep immediatly pointed out that my dd had passed the test but i just refered the panel member to the schools letter.

Hope this helps
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: oversubscription appeal should I include school reports?

Post by Etienne »

crazybutsmiling wrote:Can anyone tell me should I have sent more evidence of capability even though it is an over subscription appeal???
Should I send more in?
Also is it needed that I send a letter from school saying she's capable, because they are not being helpful at all?!
If she qualified, and if score is not being used as one of the admission criteria, then I see no need at all for evidence of general ability at an oversubscription appeal.

Evidence of ability in a particular area might be relevant (e.g. if she's strong at a particular subject that the school specialises in).

I see no point in a letter from the primary school unless it is stating why she needs to attend or is very well-suited to a particular school.

Hope this helps.
Etienne
crazybutsmiling
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:54 pm

Head teacher letter??

Post by crazybutsmiling »

Help
I have my appeal in a couple of weeks. I've turned everything in, but haven't included a Head teacher's letter, as she said she wasn't allowed to write one!!!
However, she is a stand in head this year whilst our usual head is off on a sabbatical. This head also doesn't really know my daughter, but her usual head I am sure would have written a glowing letter. What should I do? Should I ask again for the teacher or head to write a letter? Does it make a difference in a case?
Post Reply