In-year appeal - can anyone help

[GCSEmusichelp]

My DD2 is in Year 8, summer born, so still 12. She's been very happy at her secondary school - though it wasn't her first choice, but this year they've decided that they will not offer music GCSE in school, only as a twilight, because of lack of interest (lost a teacher due to pandemic and after three terms of supplies no-just four children in an eight-form entry school picked it).

I really appreciate that this is tough for the school and am pleased they are offering chance to take it at all. However, we're worried that they won't see through three years of twilight GCSE - they have pulled them in the past, and of course it's an extra burden on dd2, who must now take an extra GCSE in school as well as the out-of-school one.

DD2 is quite musical. She's passed grade 7 on first instrument (well on way to taking 8), five on her second and took grade five theory in Year 6. She is taking grade 5 in two other instruments this term. She plays and sings in two national ensembles and a couple of regional ones too. She isn't yet sure she wants to be a musician, but she's pretty sure she wants to to take the A-Level and had obviously picked the GCSE.

We're minded to appeal for another local school, which has a music specialism, and which she had originally placed in front of this one on her CAF. It's the only state one that would allow her GCSE music in schooltime as well as her chosen language (Latin), as obviously this is quite a specific combination. It is VERY full... and its admission processes are 'mysterious'. We've reapplied and she's 40 on the waiting list in her band so obviously she's been turned down.

This school also has more ensembles and choirs at her level than her current one does - although current school isn't bad on this front either.

I'm wondering if these seem like legitimate grounds for appeal? I've taken on board advice here - appeal FOR the school you want, not against the other one, and be specific, and it seems a relatively strong case. DD2 has no other needs that the school would need to cater for (she's actually pretty academic and hasn't needed support pastorally at school either, yet), but of course the school is full. I'd assume that I'd appeal on prejudice to her being greater from lack of admission than prejudice to the school for taking her?

I'm wondering whether I need to upload exam certificates etc as evidence of her musicality - or things like the audition/programme notes from her ensembles - will they just take our word for it or will they need to see? I don't want to look like an idiot.

Any thoughts much appreciated. Don't really want to move her, but she's so invested in music that it's important we get it right for her going forward.

Thanks to any experts out there.

I don't know anything about how likely an appeal is to go through. You've got some positive reasons, so there's a reasonable chance, I suspect.

But it might be worth being aware that not doing GCSE music will not necessarily stop her doing A-level. Our local sixth-form college is quite happy to take people on the strength of practical exams plus grade 5 theory. We checked this out as DD was really not interested in the GCSE - the options chosen were ones which might appeal to a wider group of children, but not to her. For a musician doing as much as your DD out of school, the main thing missing would be the composition strand.
(Music didn't run in my year at school - the head of music asked partway through sixth form why I wasn't doing music - to which the answer was actually "because you didn't think to tell me it was still an option".)

On the plus-side of doing it as a twilight - it's presumably only pretty keen musicians who are doing it, so they might be able to work quite efficiently and do very well. Have they now appointed a new music teacher for next year?

Yes, that is decent grounds for an appeal.

Personally, I would provide the exam certificates but not the audition/programme notes. The exam certificates should be enough to establish her interest in/talent for music.

Thank you - I'll do that. Very grateful

She sounds like GCSEs at a specialist music school would be an option too (means tested place).

I suspect, @swayingintime she would not tell them what they wanted to hear in an interview at one of those schools. They'd be bound to ask her if she wanted to be a musician and she'd be likely to reply that she's not sure, because how can anyone know at 12, or tell them that she's worried she'd never have any money!

She's a bit of a rough diamond as musical kids go - probably because we aren't musical ourselves...

I just wanted to come on this (very old) thread and thank @SwayingInTime for the specialist music school suggestion. DD finishes at her state comp today and starts at specialist school for music in September (MDS funded). If you'd not suggested it I don't think I would have looked for her - I had never heard of them - and she is so excited.

well done to her! I bet she'll love it, given how much music she does, and I know that most of the music schools still have pupils who go on to study all sorts of things.

Out of interest, did you end up appealing for Year 9 and changing schools, or did she just continue at the school she was at, and start the Twilight GCSE? I quite like the option of additional twilight GCSEs for the pupils who are interested in them, but when they are totally additional subjects like astronomy or whatever that were never part of the curriculum. It's a shame when something like music has to move to Twilight.

@BrunchMonster . Thank you! she did start the twilight after deciding to stay put. She enjoyed it a lot, but somewhat predictably, the 'new' music teacher is now leaving after a year which puts it in jeopardy again (and the A-Level). It's a huge shame, but schools just don't value these subjects at the moment and it's hard to get and keep staff.

Twilights are great for breadth but she was therefore taking 11.5 GCSEs. Which is too many, I reckon, having just gone through the GCSE slog with her older sister. Nice she can now drop down to a more manageable number and still do music.

That is incredibly impressive OP, congratulations and well done to your DD

That's fantastic news.

Amazing, well done to your daughter! Hope she loves her new school.

Having an older sibling go through the GCSE slog gave us a great insight into what might or might not be possible for our youngest. Younger ones can gain a lot this way I think.

Yes @Piony - poor DD1 complains I make all my mistakes with her! Not that specialist school would have suited her at all (unless it was for history).

Thank you all. I would urge anyone whose child loves music like mine does to contact these schools if your children are interested and you think it might be the right choice - don't be put off by the terrifying tales of prodigies who take high level exams at six years old - or the other children at open days with a million music badges on their blazers and stickers on their music cases.

DD, though not from that kind of background, was treated with unfailing kindness (though also rigour) and was able to make an unpressured and real choice over what she thinks is the right school for her. And we all learned a lot in the process!

Fingers crossed!