Grammar school withholding test scores

[pootleperkinandposy22]

I am talking about mid year testing here (yr8).

The admissions tutor of the school in question said there were no places available at the moment but she was very keen to get DC tested quickly in case one became available (there was no time to tutor).

After the test I received a letter stating that DC did not pass with no other information about the tests.

If they are tested at 11+ they get the actual scores for each area and the qualifying score don't they?

It said that if we wanted to appeal we would have to go through our own education authority and then further details would be released!

If we contact our EA surely it may jepardise my DCs’ current school place? Why would we do that if we don’t know how far away DC was from passing?

I e-mailed the admissions tutor politely, asking for the information and she has just ignored me completely! She was always very quick to respond to e-mails before the test...

Does anyone know if I have the same rights to access this information as someone who passed the 11+?

I'm not particularly wanting to appeal as I don’t think I want DC to go to a school with this kind of attitude to be honest but we would both like the results.

Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks for reading.

Going to appeal would have no affect whatsoever on your current school place, so don't worry about that.

Different areas have different systems for the 11+ - in some, there is a "pass or fail" mark, in some places are simply allocated on score with no specific "pass" score, in others places are offered on a combination of score plus distance from school. It would seem that this school does it on score -are you happy to say which school? Or PM me if you want me to look at it specifically (I sit on appeals panels).

There is no reason why they should not release the results. I would suggest emailing them again saying you require the scores, to inform your decision as to whether to appeal or not.

Thanks PatriciaHolm. I have pm'd you.
I will try e-mailing again.

It might be worth trying then, depending on the scores perhaps.

In the middle of the exam there was some kind of computer ‘blip’ and the applicants had to wait around for half an hour. This completely threw my DC (said they had been enjoying the test up til then!).

DC had good CAT’s and SAT’s results and is in the G & T programme at the current school but if Dc didn't pass it is quite strange maybe the current school have got it wrong!

A G&T programme at one school wouldn't necessarily equate to grammar school entry level (if it's a super-selective).

I know that some of DC2's former primary school friends who went to the local boys comp are in the G&T stream but didn't pass the 11+ for any of the localish grammars.

And if there's only one 'in-year' place at the grammar school it's most likely gone to the child with the highest score.

Thanks for the replies, I understand what has been said about G & T.

I do have concerns about the current school and this may have confirmed my thoughts. i.e. in this case, G & T really just means DC gets a lot of higher level, extra work (and no guidance-we are having to do all that!). DC is not enjoying it (and neither are we!) although he has had excellent marks so far (whether that means anything though!)
I'm not sure its really useful, especially if DC is not that bright after all. He may be able to give it up .

It would be useful to find out the scores in detail because they might show that maybe DC was thrown after the 'blip' because they do not work well under pressure? (I guess that is something you need to be able to cope with at Grammar though).
Was it lack of practice at the type of questions after the blip or were they just too hard?

I thought that if they were bright enough to get in to a Grammar school, the teaching would have been more interesting and useful than what is available at the moment.

I know of at least one grammar school where we never got scores. Only deemed selective or not. The explanation we were given at the time was that they didn’t want new entrants to boost about scores to each other but this was about 10 years ago.

No 11+ here, each school has its own exam. Each school had a "qualifying score" and we were told the qualifying score, plus DC's actual score for each school. Some schools (where the exam is made up of 3 papers give you s score for each paper). That happens fairly quickly after each exam, then you have to complete your form setting out your preference and await allocations day.

Our experience is the same as EauDeChlorine's - no marks given to prevent the potential for playground boasting. Although, as far as I can remember, they just boasted about how many 11+ exams they'd passed instead!

It sounds quite standard then not to receive the scores. Although this school do give them out at 11+ so why not 13+?

It is disappointing that the admissions tutor did not have the courtesy to explain this when I e-mailed.

So it looks like the only way to get the scores is to appeal.

I guess this is a super selective school btw as we are out of area.

Thank you everyone

Pootle How long is it since your DC took the in-year exam? It could be that the Registrar only works part-time, and/or is currently busy with all the 11+ March 1st Offers Day admin (only two days away). You may still hear from her?

Reeling Hmm. I hope you are right-
The test was just before their half term (which was 12th-16th Feb) and the letter was sent on the 19/2.

Pootle I would suggest sending another nicely worded email just in case your previous one got overlooked. These things can happen. 100% sure that with Offers Day being virtually upon us, the Registrars at all state secondary schools will be hooked to their PCs over coming days/weeks, so hopefully it will be picked up and responded to second time around

But with the week's break for half-term, and it only being five/six school working days since then (assuming they didn't have an INSET day last Monday), it's quite feasible that she's just not got round to it (she could even have been off sick).

Thank you Reeling I will try again. Do you think it would be better to send it before offers day or after?

Its very usual not to release scores.
I think for a late entrant like this, when no place is actually available, you just get graded selective ability or meets the required standard for that school, or not.
If you meet the standard then they will keep you on file in case a place appears, but if you don't they won't.
This is also true with independent school exams - they don't tell people the scores.

And do you know why many selectives don't give scores - it's so that everyone starts just knowing they passed and there is no sense of someone being top or bottom at the beginning, which would not be helpful.

The 11+ here does not give you the score (super-selective area) just whether you have met the standard or not - if you did meet the standard, it will give you a ranking for the school eg some schools have 150 places and will rank the highest-scoring 500 applicants so if you get a ranking of 120 then you have a definite place - a rank of 250 means you are hoping for others not to take up their place!

DS sat the late test for 11+, just got that he met the standard and the equivalent ranking. He was offered a place about 6 weeks after normal allocations.

Pootle I would certainly say get an email sent over today. You might find you get a virtually immediate response, as the school registrar tries to clear her decks ahead of tomorrow's Offers Day.

It is entirely possible that they don't issue scores for 'in-year' one-off exams though. Looking at DS's school website, the info about this type of admission is very brief and to the point.

Thank you, Reeling I have sent it - fingers crossed I get a response this time!
Chocolate I didn't know that about independent schools either!
I know what you mean about the boasting but they are still all streamed when they get there aren't they? So they will all still know who got the top scores and who got the lower ones, although I agree that it is better not to be able to single out individuals.

Pottle - good luck and fingers crossed for some answers for you.

IME the children in grammars aren't streamed in Year 7 but further down the line.