108/115 Appeal not upheld

[Pinner1]

Please can you advise. Our appeal against non-qualification wasn't upheld -- what other steps can we take? Felt the appeal for my daughter went well -- 1:1 recommendation from HT and strongly rec letter from class teacher, Mock SAT results brilliant in Maths, English & Science -- 5as and i took papers along as evidence. She is in top 3 at school and very bright and should definitely be in GS.

[hermanmunster]

Hi Pinner1, welcome to the forum.

I am sorry to hear about the result of your appeal, are you in Bucks??

If so then with the passmark being 121, managing to have success with 108/115 is quite an uphill struggle and relatively few are successful. Most would probably have had significant circumstances explaining why they didn't reach the expected level in the test.

Have you got other options re schools ? Would you consider the 12+? Some children take this each year - need to get 5's in the SATS. Am sure S-A will come along with some more specific comments

[Sally-Anne]

Hi Pinner1, and welcome!

Am sure S-A will come along with some more specific comments

The old nag plods along, clip-clop.

I am also sorry to hear the result of the appeal, but 108/115 is a very tough set of scores to contest. You would not only need high predicted Level 5s but also a fairly significant battery of other evidence such as CAT scores and reading ages. I am guessing that, as you hail from Pinner , the Head's recommendation was made once the result was known? That may also have been a stumbling block.

Regrettably there is nothing you can do from here unless there was a procedural error in the appeal process. You can read more about that here: http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals/ombudsman" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Herman mentions the 12+, and that whole process is changing for many Bucks Schools for 2013 admissions. Chesham Grammar, which I assume is the school you would be most likely to be interested in, is moving away from the Bucks 12+ VR test and will be setting its own tests in English and maths in future. Places will be allocated on catchment, then score. The first is a disadvantage, but the second may play to your daughter's strengths. You can see their proposed admission criteria here: http://www.cheshamgrammar.bucks.sch.uk/ ... 202013.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am sorry I can't give you better news at this point in time.

Sally-Anne

[Pinner1]

Hi Sally- Anne,
Thanks for your reply.
HT letter sent with original appeal evidence in 2011 -- Mock SATs tests done end Jan/early Feb. Class teacher predicated 5+ SATs results. No CATS scores as these are done in secondary school.
Didn't tutor daughter but did practice tests -- this obviously wasn't good enough. How do I go about 12+ test?

[Sally-Anne]

I do understand how you feel. If you ever a life to spare you can read all my posts and you will realise that my DS1 was in exactly the same position, many moons ago.

How do I go about 12+ test?

That is not clear yet, but as CGS will be administering their own tests, it appears that you will need to contact the school directly in the first instance.

S-A

[Guest55]

To go for 12+ you first need to aim for those level 5s in the KS2 tests.

CATs tests are also taken in some Primary schools.

[Sally-Anne]

To go for 12+ you first need to aim for those level 5s in the KS2 tests.

There seems to be very little doubt that Pinnner1's DD will achieve these, but thanks for reminding me.

[KT36]

Hi Pinner1

I feel your pain, I really do. Sounds like similar circumstances to my DS last year with an unsuccessful appeal (no tutor).

Anyway, we got through it and moved on. I've just posted in Bucks thread with an update.. DS had result of 12+ this morning... 138! We are now waiting for his GS allocation with fingers crossed... In the past 12 months I've gone from knowing nothing about the 11+ to an expert in 12+!

Good luck and hope you and your DD can move on, I know its very hard...

[Pinner1]

Thanks to all for your comments -- looks like we will be trying for 12+ next year -- should I start tutoring now?

[Sally-Anne]

Thanks to all for your comments -- looks like we will be trying for 12+ next year -- should I start tutoring now?

As the tests for Chesham Grammar will be English and maths instead of VR in future, and we will probably have very little idea of the test content beforehand, I see no point in tutoring for the tests. Just continue to ensure that she applies herself well at school.