DD has not passed the 11 plus

[Louise353]

DD has not passed the 11 plus. There are 310 places and about 3000 children in our LEA area. Last year, grammar school places were offered up to the child who came 359th, as some people have a grammar school place in another LEA as their first choice so even if they come within the 310, they don't want the place. Beyond that, children who came between 360 and 370 were allowed to apply for reallocation in case further places became available by September.

DD has come 385th, so she won't be allocated a place and will not be able to apply for reallocation. I don't know if I should appeal or not. If I don't appeal, DD will not be able to apply for a grammar place again until year 9. Her brother is at the grammar school. Compared to places like Bucks, it is extremely difficult to get a place through appeal here.

I'd appreciate any advice on whether or not I should appeal.

I agree with web

How old is she (ie is she a summer child)? Dd is and I think she just found those VR, NVR more up her street than standard tests.

Re science, ours did do a SATS test in science but it was an optional paper the school chose to do.

Once at secondary they tend to place v little weight on SATS and they all got retested in the first few weeks and set based on those tests

This is the school's setting policy:

'In Year 7, pupils are placed in mixed ability form groups across two equal
bands X and Y upon entry. A wide range of prior attainment data given by
the primary schools is taken into account: Key Stage 2 assessment levels
and sub-levels in English, Maths and Science; gender; SEN classification;
Gifted and Talented identification; pastoral issues and any other significant
information.

In English, Maths and Science pupils are set by ability, at the discretion of
the Heads of Faculty, across each half-year band: 5 sets in English and
Maths, 4 in Science.'

DD is an April birthday.

I think what I should really do is write to the Primary head and explain the situation to him, and ask if she can be tested in Science at the end of year 6, and a lot of weight be put on that test..

and the answer would be NO!
Unless the primary school is one selected for moderation through testing, the science result will be based on Teacher Assessment. This MIGHT include the results of an internal test,or even an old SATs paper, but then again it might not. But no school I know of would test one child in the school because Mum wants it done!

The school do test everyone in a Science test at the end of the year, but it is at a different time to the SATs.

There is a lot of school year left until the end of year 6, and even before the Sats. Children don't progress in a straight line.

My DD went from being a 4B in January of Y6 that the teacher was trying to get to 4A to gaining a 5B (they gave us the sublevels in their report). Halfway through Y7 she is 6B. She had been on 4B for over a year.

If there is a huge difference between your DDs ability and her progress I would want to know why.