Selection review for 11+

[Boosee]

Hello, my son scored 119.5 on Bucks STT, so he was close but we are very disappointed as we thought he would get required score. Vebal and maths scores were above 121 but NVR caught him out.
We've discussed selection review with HT and unfortunately as he has always been classed as working at expected levels, they only gave him a 3 for recommendation but 2 for effort. He's been in top set for maths since year 3 in a high achieving Bucks school so I thought he was close to greater depth, but I think the school is generally cautious about giving greater depth from comments teachers have made in the past. So, our chances of success are slim. I wondered if there are any teachers on here that could she light on how greater depth is assessed in schools? There isn't much info on the dfe website and my son's school don't provide any criteria for reading, writing and maths.
His school do VR tests at the end of the academic year and my son has always scored above 122, so I'm also puzzled as to why he is not achieving greater depth in reading. He is a summer born child and I'm wondering if, in a high achieving cohort, he is lost and not achieving his potential?
It's frustrating that the SR want to see GD in most areas on school reports and won't consider VR test scores from previous years, as well as STT verbal and maths scores above 121 to judge suitability for Grammar?
There will be children who qualified but are not considered to be working at GD.
Also, I asked the school if I could have his termly assessment data for years 3-5 as he did not sit year 2 SATS due to covid, but HT said these are for internal purposes, they don't give them to parents. Any teachers/school staff who can advise on whether this is normal practice and if parents request their child's data, should the school pass this on? I wanted to see if his scores in standardised tests varies and is inconsistent.
Many thanks

In a maintained school, you have the right to access your DS’s educational record. Within 15 days of your request being received. Independent schools only have to supply end of year info I believe. If he’s done VR tests, I’m not sure these matter when it was NVR that caught him out. How other dc perform in a high achieving (private?) school bears no relation to your DS’s assessment. I assume all are assessed conservatively. Lots of teachers tend to be cautious They will have looked at his work and probably agonized over his level. If seems he passed what he has been taught but the NVR is there to “catch them out”. State primaries don’t do NVR or VR as far as I know.

The Head is right about internal assessment and given that teachers are making judgements on very fine lines, I’m not sure you will find what you are looking for. The maintained school records do include educational achievement and assessment data is almost certainly entered into a computer program so there’s quite a bit of data. However, mostly parents don’t ever see it. They just get told the headlines in reports or at parents’ evening.

I would not say selection review is hopeless at all. 119 dealing is very close! I think you just have to follow the process Bucks has and send in what you can. Your school will know you are requesting a review and surely will do their best? Also they must include up to date attainment and assessment data. So I would send in the form.

Thanks for your reply. It's not a private school, it's a state academy so I'm wondering if Academies can set their own rules on this?
He did a CAT in yr 5 and NVR was high so HT has referenced this.
She's also mentioned high VR in previous tests and STT as verbal skills are given 50% weight on STT which she says demonstrates his academic suitability for Grammar school but added that she had to give him a 3 due to guidelines set on children working at expected and no greater depth elements.
I will submit the form as I have nothing to lose but it's an uphill battle!!

I am pretty sure Bucks primary schools aren’t allowed to specifically prep for the 11+ other than the familiarisation papers? These papers are somewhat easier than the real thing and only offer a snapshot I.e. they would not be reliable “proof” of suitability.

I honestly think the 3, 2 rating is your biggest issue. Most who are successful at selection review have 1s and 2s. There is no harm in trying but the school does not have proof of him working at GD because he hasn’t been. This proof requires historic and consistent evidence, not just the result of an odd test here or there.

I am not trying to be negative but please do be realistic. If he has been heavily tutored then a grammar might just not be the right place for him. Every year there are children who don’t quite make it but are bright. They often go on to be top of the year academically at a secondary modern and go on to achieve great things.

If he's in a state school then the national curriculum standards will have been applied when assessing him which outline the criteria for each year group for EXS (expected standard also known as age related) and GD (greater depth).
If his school have assessed him as expected standard this will have been based on ongoing class work as well as assessments.
I'm sorry OP but whilst your son has done well he hasn't scored highly enough and it would be wrong in my opinion to push him into a school that's too academic for him.

In my county, we assess again the TAF in maths, reading and writing. TAF = teacher assessment framework

Greater depth is what teachers do if they've got the time after all the other obligations. Some find themselves with plenty of time to indulge the G&T kids while others definitely don't. It's a bit of a lottery.

@Boosee I hate to be the voice of doom and gloom but this smacks of a case where although your DS got very close, there won't be sufficient alternative academic evidence to support a review. The panel is fairly likely to decide that 119.5 accurately reflects his current academic level.

Whereabouts in the county are you, and which will be your designated secondary modern? Some of them are very good and now might be the time to start emphasising the positive aspects to your DS.