Partially selective school

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Guest

Partially selective school

Post by Guest »

Hi

I have been interested in reading all the comments and advice with regard to the school appeals for grammar schools. I am also in the same position but the school is a voluntary aided school where they take some pupils on passing the entrance exams. This is a partially selective shcool which means that some are local children and some are siblings. My son took the test and passed it but his total score (in VR, English and Maths) was not high enough to be selected. We are appealing on this decision. We have obtained his predicted SATs results for year 6 which are all 5s. English was the one that had a low score in the entance exam, but his predicted level for SATs is 5a and the others are 5bs and 5a in maths. He got the high maths score in the entrance test and his primary school teacher has indicated that he is an "able and gifted mathematician". We are appealing on the graounds that the school's specailist status is science and therefore this is the right school for him.

Do you know what sort of questions will we be asked? This is a school in Hertfordshire.

Sleepless mum :(
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Post by Etienne »

Dear Sleepless Mum

There's a bit about questions in the Q&As, B7.

Your case seems mostly academic, and fairly straightforward, so you might just get "filler" questions.

Your school ought to be providing you with all the evidence you need. I assume you can prove your son's aptitude for Science from school reports etc?

Regards
Etienne
Guest

Post by Guest »

Thanks Etienne. Sorry my son's predicted SATs level for English is 5C in reading and 5b in writing. Science is 5b and Maths 5a. What evidence can the school provide? We have obtained a written predicted SATs results and also current report by the class teacher. The teacher said it is against the rules for my son to take his workbooks out of school (however we hold his Year 5 books!). The reason why we are going for a Science school is that it is a good school and maths plays an important part in Science. My son brought a letter home today that he has been invited to apply for the "Academy for Able Mathematicians" run by Standard & School Effectiveness Courses for KS2. Would this have some weight for our appeal? :idea:
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

it is against the rules for my son to take his workbooks out of school
Oh, for goodness sake - how obstructive can some people get!

The maths "academy" sounds great for the Appeal, but I've just done an internet search and nothing comes up? You will need to be able to explain more to the panel about it to help them understand what it means.

Sally-Anne
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Post by Guest55 »

Guest,

Can they photocopy the books if they won't let them out of school?
Guest

Post by Guest »

Hi Sally-Anne and Guest 55
Yes the teacher said she will photcopy whatever we need. However I note from some of the advice given here is to avoid post-it or chosen work. There are some good pieces of work done by my son in English which he has also read out in the school assembly. We could ask for copies of this to be taken with us and other material of good quality. Can we mention that we were restricted in bringing the workbooks.

We have already submitted 6 pages of the appeal statement. Judging from what Etienne has said, the statement should be no more than one A4 page. We just felt that we needed to cover everything as we will be so nervous at the hearing that we may forget to mention the important points. What do you think?
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Post by Etienne »

Dear Sleepless Mum

If one of your main arguments is the school's specialist status in Science, it is inviting questions about your son's interest in and aptitude for Science - unless you have already addressed this in your submission or in your presentation.

You don't want to give the impression that you are really applying because (1) it's a good school, (2) your son is strong at Maths, and finally (3) there's Science! :D

If I put on my old panel member's hat, I would like to hear that your son is particularly strong on the Maths/Science side, and probably that Science is his favourite subject. In addition to a sound KS2 prediction, I would like to see some really positive comments about Science in school reports, or a separate letter from the school about his aptitude for the subject. I would hope to hear about visits to science museums, his enthusiasm for science projects, the books that he reads on scientific subjects, etc.

Just some suggestions as to what might interest the panel!

Worth mentioning the Academy for able mathematicians - but slip it in after highlighting all the points to do with Science.

Regards
Etienne
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Post by Guest55 »

Guest,

Yes I would say you were not allowed to bring books then that explains the 'selected' work -

Otherwise Etienne's advice is very sound - she's been there and done it and got the T-shirt x 1000!!
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

Can we mention that we were restricted in bringing the workbooks.
Why not ask the teacher to produce a statement, on school notepaper, that states it is against school policy for children's workbooks to be released from school?

She can then sign each photocopy personally to verify that it is your son's work, and is representative of his usual standard.

On the other hand, she may find it easier to just release the workbooks for something of this importance. And realise that she is talking total nonsense! :x

I am just incensed by such stupidity. (One of my rare outbreaks of fire!)

Forgive me if this has arisen before, but could the Head not overrule this dimwit? Or are they all totally anti-Grammar?

Sally-Anne
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

And please, please, for me, do LOTS of photocopies!

Sally-Anne
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