Appeal or not..Please help..Kent

[MummaB1]

Hello All

New to this. ..


Dd got her kent test as follows

Maths 106
English 101
Reasoning 111

Total 318 needed 320 but min mark not reached in English. Usually her best subject. I am unsure if hta done as meeting deputy head next week. Work g T levels 4 currently. Anyone had any success on being 5 marks out at appeal...Dartford Girls or Wilmington Girls Grammar? Worth appealing or not over 5 marks......any thoughts and advice much appreciated please. Thanks

[jeee]

I don't know whether this is typical, but ime (I live in Kent) the successful appeals are those which were supported by the primary school. I'd start by talking to your dd's school, before I made any decisions.

[MummaB1]

Hello

Seeing deputy Monday unsure if hta carried out....going to try on school run today to catch class teacher.....see what she says....i need school support really..thanks for reply

[MummaB1]

Anyone been through non qualification appeal over 5 marks...kent?
Thanks

[KittyandTeal]

I'm surprised the school didn't appeal that. We appealed a lad with very similar scores (and got it refused but we tried)

Worth a go. Ask school if they think evidence in books is strong enough.

[MummaB1]

Thanks. Spoke to class teacher who says not appealed for my dd but did for others. She is level 4 really so perhaps they didn't bother because of that? Maths 106 English 101 Reasoning 111. ...so not massive high scores on other 2 areas....who knows...have meeting with deputy on Monday.....thanks for reply.....kitty and teal do you work in a school? Thanks

[KittyandTeal]

Yes I do. Was year 5 last year so involved with appeals etc.

Our appeal with similar scores was low level 5's with a high level 4. That was turned down so might be that the school was putting in quite a few appeals and didn't want to be seen to be pushing their luck and just appealing everyone.

The scores similar to yours was our only appeal this year.

[MummaB1]

Feels so unfair...seeing deputy on Monday..do you think I should ask why dd not forward for appeal?...suspect as level 4 and just hitting scores on other kent test scores.......5 marks alot to appeal over in ur opinion?...class teacher today said her sub levels have increased but didn't say what new levels were.....are you in kent? Also last year my dd year 5 class had no teacher for a year...they were taught by a higher level teaching asst with support from 2 other ta....is this normal? . Thanks in advance....x

[Whereisegg]

I appealed a 6 point miss for dd and won.
Hers was maths, usually her best subject and she had been taken out of some maths lessons for 2 years and taught separately as she was so ahead.

She started in September and got the best base line results in the year for every subject.

Do your appeals have to go through the primary school?

[MummaB1]

Hello...our head is off sick...deputy didn't pick my dd for the headteacher appeal....she missed 5 marks.....u have to get min of 106 in each subject....she scored 101 in English. ..her strongest subject...don't know what happened on day...We can't appeal now until March offer day....then we submit all evidence and could wait till June or July for appeal to be heard. Well done on ur success! Wow gives me hope..are you in kent? Thanks

[Whereisegg]

Not Kent, sorry, wasn't sure if I should comment or not!

Our schools don't get involved with appeals here, not for the past few years I think.

I did check with her teacher if he thought we should appeal, so we had the schools 'go ahead' I suppose, he also sorted me some work to show the panel, but mostly we just drafted a sales pitch of sorts

[eatyourveg]

The local paper in west kent is carrying an article today saying that 12,900 took the test, one third were assessed as suitable for grammar school but 986 who qualified as suitable will have to appeal as there is a shortage of places, despite an extra 203 places this year, there are only 4767 available.

Any appeal imo would be difficult as you'll be up against all those others who actually passed. You can read the article here

[MummaB1]

Thank you both....i read that article couple of days ago.....did put me off.......unsure what to do....if I have school head onside I will feel better....meeting her Monday after school...x

[Whereisegg]

Oh, the shortage of places does change things

Dd played no part in the appeal at all and we could easily have done it without her knowledge.
If it's the same for you, then your dc need never know if unsuccessful.

We were lucky in that the alternative school was very impressive, although we would have had to pay for her travel as there is another school round the corner, but that school was/is in special measures with huge turnover of staff.

[MummaB1]

There are 2 good girls grammars here....so just holding onto hope x

[KittyandTeal]

Yes I'm in kent.

We have appealed more than a 5 point score before and been successful but there was very strong evidence in books (poor girl was not well on the day and was prone to panicking, score did not reflect her ability) saying that she was working comfortably at level 6 at the end of y6 so more than capable if grammar school.

It may be the school have looked at books and decided an appeal would be turned down. Alternatively (and I don't want to sound harsh) it may be that they think grammar school wouldn't suit your DC and they would be better off in the top stream in state rather than bottom in grammar.

We have made that call before as a school. I'm also, personally, quite glad our appeal failed this year, although we owed it to the child he will be better off in a comprehensive and at the top. It will boost his confidence and he will do better.

[MummaB1]

Thanks kitty and teal.

I am of the opinion they didn't bother putting dd forward for hta as she is level 4 currently. School just carried out assessments on Monday and Tuesday and teacher is confident levels have gone up. Will find out next week. Also as dd just got minimum on other 2 subjects...primary thought she has just passed them with 106 maths...111 reasoning? I won't know anything until Monday afternoon...meeting with deputy. I doubt school will support me....Dd is heartbroken as brother at a Grammar and loves it. Need to get school on side. Have you personally helped Parents at appeal? Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to answer. X

[smokepole]

Kitty. I wish you had been DD1s Head at Primary School . She Scored 380 in October 2006 Kent pass was 360 but only scored 114 on NVR . The head refused to appeal because of his ideological beliefs...

[areyoubeingserviced]

As far as I am concerned, if you feel that your child is suited to grammar school , then appeal. However, I wouldn't let your dd know that you are appealing as she may have to attend the non grammar if your appeal is unsuccessful.

[MummaB1]

Thank you ......will appeal......will see what happens....

[Taffeta]

The local paper in west kent is carrying an article today saying that 12,900 took the test, one third were assessed as suitable for grammar school but 986 who qualified as suitable will have to appeal as there is a shortage of places, despite an extra 203 places this year, there are only 4767 available

Please take these figures with a pinch of salt though, as they do not allow for the OOC people who pass and don't take up places but take up grammar places in other counties, those who choose indies instead, those who choose all ability etc instead. Not everyone who is offered a grammar place in Kent takes it up!

[MummaB1]

Thanks taffeta....Dd so close...5 marks on English.....worked so hard......have made the alternative school sound good too..just wish I know someone who has been through dartford appeal or wimington.....x

[areyoubeingserviced]

Mum- try the 11 plus forum, there is an appeals section.
Defo try and don't listen to those who tell you not to bother appealing.
People do get through on appeal

[MummaB1]

Thanks I will do...can't seem to find the forum....am I being dumb lol.....xx

[shanmuga3]

HI MummaB1,

I hope that you are doing well at your end.

Would you please tell me, Did you appeal and What happened?

Thanks

[Dixiechickonhols]

Eleven plus exams.co.uk there is a Kent section and an appeals section on the forum