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Original poster

6 form admission appeal. Oh, please help

30 replies

HisMum4 · 01/09/2014 00:08

Autistic DS with statement scored a C in English and didn't meet the minimal entry requirement of a B. He also missed the required grade in Physics unexpectedly receiving Bs instead of predicted A* in all sciences.
In Jan DS scored a B in English in mock exams. His 8 best GCSEs are AAAABBBC. A are maths and MFL.

This is so terrible and catastrophic for DS as he is so dependent on the statement provisions in this school and the friendship group that is hugely important as heist supportive networks. His needs couldn't be met in other schools and some other local schools told me that post 16 supporting statemented students in not their priority. If he were to change school, he would probably under perform hugely at AS level because of the upset and disruption or get anxiety or other mental health issues.

But the school's case is that in their experience students with a B in English don't make it through AS and drop out after year 12. I don't know how predictive English grade C really is of future success in Maths and Physics and whether experience with normal DC in that school is applicable to DS, whose spiky, uneven profile of abilities and competences is well documented. But another school argument is that he lacks breadth - could do maths and further maths but actually needs 4 good subjects at AS to progress with 3 to A levels and physics is not that subject as he only got a B... But a few months ago they praised him and predicted an A*. They would argue MFL is also not such a subject because of essays.

I know DS is good at sciences and certainly could do Physics and double maths to A levels and French to AS, but how to convince the panel? All SN arguments seem to reinforce school position that DS just not good enough, but that is so not true.

The school say in their past experience all 6 students admitted with a C dropped out at AS. Is that common?

What are the mechanism/ assumption behind this prediction that those with C in English wouldn't make it through A levels?

What about breadth, how to prove that he could do Physics with a B?

OP posts:
Dayshiftdoris · 01/09/2014 09:41

Ssash

Statements are not legally enforceable at FE colleges, only 6th Form. They have told OP support of students is not their priority.

As things are structured though the likelihood of getting opportunity to sit the subjects he wants at a FE is low so he would have to do something other than A Levels...

This is not a child who isn't clever enough or has worked hard enough - his profile is so spiky because his ASD prevents him processing elements of English curriculum in the manner that is required him rather than him not having a level of English

Experiences are different with SEND - sometimes it's about provision over attitude - no where else is realistically an alternative so staying put is a good idea... Sad but true :-(

sashh · 01/09/2014 09:19

The school say in their past experience all 6 students admitted with a C dropped out at AS. Is that common?

Or did the school ask them to leave?

Do you really want your son at a school were his teachers are waiting for him to fail?

Have you looked at FE colleges?

OddBoots · 01/09/2014 01:12

I'm too tired to trust myself to get the right bits out for you but here is the new SEN(D) implementation pack for post-16 education

Dayshiftdoris · 01/09/2014 00:55

HisMum4

Argh!
My son has a statement and he has a similar level of attainment but is only 10 and I have had my battles.

You need to move fast and this is more complex because 40mins ago the new code of practice became law! That might be good, bad or indifferent to your son but it does mean that there is a lot of transition happening in SEN

Off the top of my head, people to call / email tomorrow:

  • The LA who has issued his statement. They might just say he no longer meets the criteria for his current school but do not take that as an answer. Make sure you inform them that the colleges have indicated that they 'cannot meet his needs'.
  • IPSEA or Contact A Family education lines. You need to know if the school are an academy and have his statement in front of you.
  • Email the colleges you spoke to and detail their advice re: support and invite them to correct any misunderstandings within x working days.
  • Local parent partnership service. You need representation with you at this meeting - sometimes IPSEA can support but I think time is not on your side here.
  • Connextions service.

Things to read for evidence:

  • Ambitious about Autism ran a report on this last academic year. I am certain they indicated that children with ASD do NOT follow predicable attainment patterns and as such mainstream criteria can be discriminatory
  • New Code of Practice... It might help, it might not. It's 40mjns old and LAs are all at different points in transition. However, the new code is up to 25yrs.

HisMum - I am routing for him so hard. I understand that a move would be an utter, utter disaster for you all, especially as there appears to be NO realistic alternative.

My immediate thought is to request an urgent interim review of his statement as his placement is at risk BUT I don't know enough about this age group / sixth form to be confident - you need specialist, expert advice. IPSEA are defo the people to call tomorrow but ring the LA and Connextions first.

I am crossing everything

MillyMollyMama · 01/09/2014 00:35

As your DS has a statement this, surely, is not just a case of the school making a unilateral decision and refusing to have him? The school, presumably, is named on the statement and they cannot just change that. If the school is not named, I think you need to act quickly. Get in touch with the LA immediately and talk through the issues with them and see if the school can be persuaded to have him. It is perfectly possible to do 3 AS and 3 A2. I agree English at C is not so good but if he is best at sciences, is this really a problem? I think he has done pretty well and the school are being difficult. Do you have a parent advocate system in your area for children with statements? His results should be good enough for A levels, although a B probably won't give stellar results.