Twins appeal 1 successful 1 not

[doubletrouble2]

HI All,

I'm looking for a little advice and help please,

twin1 passed the GS exam and twin 2 didn't. We've been advised from the GS to appeal. Does anyone have any experience of this type of appeal relating to twins and was anyone successful winning an appeal of this sort?
We've already been through so much upset with twin2, we're wondering if to go through with the appeal at all, or just separate them into different schools. This in itself would be a logistical nightmare because one school is in a different LEA area to the other and at the opposite end of the city. Therefore the school holidays are different to each other too! One twin would have to get the bus and one would be taken to school as it's on my way to work! The one using Public transport would need to be out of the house just after 7 in the morning due to the lack of public transport and bus routes in the area.

Twins 2 score was about 10 under the pass mark, on the day of the exam he said two naughty girls (his words) were very disruptive which threw him off and distracted him in the exam. Twin 1 witnessed their names being added on numerous occasions to a piece of paper from the examiner, so I mentioned this in the local review appeal. This was turned down and we were told there was no evidence of this happening?! Twin 2 is a very high achiever in school and the current scores in sats tests were 5A maths, 5b reading, 5c writing and 5b science. Also they are both being put in for level 6 this year in maths. His teacher advises he would have no problems with GS.

Does anyone feel we have a strong enough case to go forward with an appeal and I'd also appreciate any help form any one with twins or multiples already having been through this very traumatic experience.

thanks all

[hermanmunster]

Hi Double Trouble - sorry to hear about the 11plus problems ..

Here are a couple of places to start:

A search in the appeals section with all mentions of twins..

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... mit=Search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also from the FAQ on appeals:

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeal ... cation#b24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

which area are you in?

[menagerie]

Hi

I recommend you contact Keith at Tamba.

He ran a very successful campaign last year to ensure that twins weren't allocated different state schools. Whilst grammar is a separate issue, he may have some strong contacts and arguments to help you with. He is a very wise, lovely man, passionate about twins and education. (You may need to join Tamba first, it's about £2.25 a month.)

Can you gather evidence (from somewhere like here on the relevant local forum) on the disruptions caused by the naughty girls, if you saw others making similar claims?
Can you appeal against the appeal?

[doubletrouble2]

Thanks for the advise guys! Do you have a surname of Keith at Tamba?!

[KT36]

Hi Double trouble2

Its Keith Reed at Tamba, he's the Chief Executive. Only met him once but he seemed really nice and approachable. Just search on tamba org and you'll get the website.

Good Luck, I can only imagine how stressful it is for you.

KT36

PS being a twin mum myself, isn't it double fun not doubletrouble

[doubletrouble2]

Hi yes I wouldn't change a thing! All the stress and worry is worth it all! I consider us multiple birth parents the lucky ones!!!
I've found Keith and will discuss it with him tomorrow! It was a very interesting read although it seemed to be aimed at infant schools rather than grammar schools! But he might be able to offer some hope!! But thank you so much I've read so much recently on splitting twins but missed this one!

[doubletrouble2]

Hi kt36
Spoke with keith today he's looking into getting someone to help with a letter that may help offer more support! So thank you for this it was greatly appreciated

[KT36]

That's great news, hope it all works out.

[menagerie]

Brilliant. Hope it helps. There was another great thread recently on how to appeal and what to say/not to say; focus on/not focus on. Well worth checking with your LEA so that any letters of support in your favour cover the grounds they accept for appeal and not ones they dismiss out of hand.

Are they ID? If they are, could that not go in your favour? ID genes + upbringing = ID IQ?

[Etienne]

If you contact the LA, it would be better to speak to someone in Appeals rather than Admissions. Even so, they might be cautious about advising you what to include.

I'm not sure if this is the thread Menagerie was referring to:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 35&t=25123" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;