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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Appeal for a super selective?

17 replies

thanksamillion · 18/04/2016 16:26

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice as we're currently appealing for our DD for a place at a super selective grammar in Gloucestershire.

Basically she passed the test but was too far down the ranking to get a place. We want to appeal because we think that the test wasn't a good representation of her ability.

Our main grounds are that until the start of Y5 she was in school abroad studying entirely in a second language. Since we came back to the UK she's caught up brilliantly and is now predicted Above ARE for reading and writing and expected for maths and science in her SATs. We want to say that she has improved massively across the 18 months that she's been back in the UK but that the test was 12 months into that time and so doesn't reflect her abilities accurately.

Does anyone have any experience of this particular type of appeal or any advice for us?

(I would add that we had to appeal for her place in Primary School when we came back and were successful in part because of advice we had on here!)

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Twinkie1 · 18/04/2016 16:32

But 50 kids who didn't get in due to being further down the list could also have improved to the extent that they could now get in.

AtiaoftheJulii · 18/04/2016 16:33

The school might say how many appeals they've had in previous years, and how many have been successful. Our two local grammar schools say that between them they have had 52 appeals in the last three years, and admitted 2 (both to the same school). Might help you judge.

titchy · 18/04/2016 16:37

What are the actual admissions criteria? Top 200 (or whatever) scores or is everyone who passed then ranked by distance?

What evidence do you have of her actual ability? What does your primary head say?

BertrandRussell · 18/04/2016 16:41

My dn got into a grammar school- not a super selective, though- on very similar grounds. What evidence do you have of her ability?

thanksamillion · 18/04/2016 16:42

It's top 120 scores working down the list. Distance isn't a factor at all.

The primary school have said they think it's worth appealing and are happy to write a supporting statement.

I realise that other applicants might also have improved. I guess we're saying that she has improved more than might be expected.

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thanksamillion · 18/04/2016 16:44

Bertrand we've got reports from her school abroad (we'll have to get them translated) showing that she was top of the class (yes they ranked them!) even though she was a year younger and it was her second language, plus predicted SATS and a statement from the primary school.

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BertrandRussell · 18/04/2016 16:55

Will her current teacher and the Head support your appeal? Has she done any CATs type tests? Not sure 2 year old reports from a different system would carry much weight, I'm afraid.

There is a website called elevenplusexams.co.uk that has lots of incredibly useful information on it. It also has some seriously scary, obsessive people, but treat them with a pinch of salt and you'll be fine!

thanksamillion · 18/04/2016 17:17

Thanks, will check out the website later but will read it selectively! Current school are very supportive and surprised that she didn't get in.

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thanksamillion · 18/04/2016 21:47

Hmmm just looked at the site that Bertrand referred to and it looks like we need more evidence. The problem is that the primary school have a pro-forma agreed with other local primary schools which doesn't give as much evidence as we might like.

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littledrummergirl · 18/04/2016 22:16

Appealing in glos is difficult, depending on which school the outcomes vary.
Which school are you appealing for? The schools are all so different that it is easier to find reasons one will fit better than another.
Have you accepted the school offered and gone on the wait list. There is often a fair amount of movement as people accept private schools.

thanksamillion · 19/04/2016 08:12

Yes we've accepted place and are on the waiting list. I've read too many threads on here to not do that!

It's Ribston that we're appealing for and I'm under no illusions about chances of success but I'd like to give it a shot.

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BertrandRussell · 19/04/2016 12:32

Have you thought about getting an educational psychologist's report?

The difficulty is that you have to show why you want the particular school you do, rather than why you don't want the alternative.

Strix · 19/04/2016 13:06

I'm not sure if you will like this. But, if we compare to this year's offers at a very selective boys grammar in Kingston-upon-Thames, it was a two stage test, top 180 scores got offers. But in the cut off score, distance was applied. So if there are 5 spaces left and 12 boys scored x, then the 5 closest with score of x got offers and the other 7 went on the waiting list. DS1 was among the candidates, and fortunately was offered a place. But, there are quite a few boys we know who are well known to be very bright, and we were very surprised they didn't even make stage 2. They shine at school. DS1 has sevral times said that he doesn't understand how they got in and he didn't because they are definitely smarter. These entrance exams are so hard. It's all about your performance on the day, and nothing to do with whether your current teacher think you are of the calibre to get a place.

DD took the test a couple of years ago for sister school. She every bit as bright as DS1 in my opinion. She was knocked out in stage one. It isn't hown bright you are. It's how well you perform on test day.

Good luck with your appeal. But if it was me, I wouldn't bother. What is your alternative? Do you have another grammar? Does your superselective take a 13+ entry? Sixth form?

Strix · 19/04/2016 13:09

I really should proof read. Sorry. Meant to say:

DS1 has several times said that he doesn't understand how he got in and they didn't because they are definitely smarter.

littledrummergirl · 19/04/2016 13:43

What are your reasons for wanting Ribston?
When we went I was impressed by the textiles department, in our view its probably the best out of the schools. Loved the art dept as well.
I think the nurturing environment is also fab.
If she reached the qualifying score you shouldn't need evidence to meet that part of the appeal, you need to show why your Dd would be disadvantaged by not being admitted.
Do you know how far over pan the school has gone in the few years?

thanksamillion · 19/04/2016 14:44

Thanks for all the comments, you're giving me lots to think about.

I don't think we've got time to get an Ed Psyc report as it has to be submitted on Monday! Also I don't want to put DD through more assessment.

Ultimately the school that we've accepted is ok - it's just that Ribston is a lot better, but I'm fully aware that we are unlikely to succeed.

I've just looked at the current numbers at school and they haven't really gone over the PAN although that doesn't mean they didn't admit slightly over and some have left over the course of the year. They did send us the stats on how many appealed last year and how many were successful - a few were so I think it's worth a shot.

littledrummer we really liked the creative emphasis - DD is into dance and drama as well as art etc and Ribston seemed to have quite a big emphasis on this - much more so than HSFG.

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littledrummergirl · 19/04/2016 20:52

Maybe that's where you need to look for reasons then. Clubs etc that are only available there.

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