Sixth form appeal help

[user10110]

I am appealing for a place at a selective school sixth form and I have a few questions.

I didn't meet the requirements however they've let in students in the past who also didn't meet the requirements which feels unfair. How do I get this point across to the panel?

Is it wrong for me to question their entry requirements? For example, to study 1 science subject, you need a minimum grade 6 in maths, but to study 2 science subjects or more, you need a minimum of a grade 7.

Are they allowed to ask for information on the application that is in no way mentioned in the admissions policy? This concerns me because although it wasn't stated to have importance, they're still asking if you have any siblings.

Does the sixth form have to follow the admissions code 2021 entirely?

Do medical grounds require proof from a doctor, or is a diagnosis and recent tests enough?

I read that it's worth including many small reasons as well, I have a few, including that they specialise in my subjects, which were the ones I did best in. They also offer uni entrance exam prep, and I'm not sure why, but these points seem weak. Should I still include them?

Is it okay for me to contrast the appealed sixth form to the current one?

The year with their highest number of students is also the year they were inspected by Ofsted, and it didn't mention any issues with overcrowding. So is it right for me to assume there were no issues, and if there was, it wasn't that big a problem? And the same for this year as the number of students is lower?

Should I include the schools PAN data in the letter or use it in the hearing? Does this information about PAN and everything else need to be evidenced or at least given a source?

The school didn't inform me of my rejection, which meant I wasn't given a reason or information to appeal. From what I understand, this should have been given?

Instead, they included this information as a small section at the bottom of the admissions policy. It also implies that the appeal should be written as a letter. I feel that this is to prevent and discourage students and parents from appealing. How do I get this point across to the panel members?

Because of this, I'm considering including absolutely everything in this appeal letter, maybe they would rather give me a place than organise a hearing.

Thank you very much for reading this lengthy thread, and I appreciate any advice that you can give.

You didn't meet the entry requirements. I'm not sure why you think making a nuisance of yourself will force them to give you a place?

It's not like that, they've let in people who also didn't meet the requirements and I also wasn't able to perform as well as I could've. Also is it not within my right to issue an appeal?

Why did you not perform as well as you could have? Was this out of your control? Did the circumstances affect others or was it a particular disadvantage to you?
What has changed to allow you to suceed?

Have the other applicants who did not achieve minimum standards applied for the same courses as you? It may be that some courses have more leeway.

Thank you so much for your response, you're questions are all great !!

I wasn't able to perform due to medical reasons are yes, this was out of my control and only affected me. Not sure if it could be considered as an extenuating circumstance but I hope the appeal panel will consider it fairly.

I honestly believe that going to this sixth form will help me succeed, I'm not going to go into the details however they offer something which is very specific to me and would help immensely.

Yes, other applicants that were given a place applied for my subjects and others. Even if they didn't I think my point still stands that it's unfair for them to lower entry requirements. Surely that proves inconsistency and a lack of being objective.

The school have to apply the published admissions policy ie GCSE result requirements to all applicants. Those who do not meet the grades have the right of appeal. In my experience, appeals are usually held very soon after the GCSE results come out so that those successful can start the sixth form at the same time as others.

The appeals panel is independent and will hear from the school as well as the appellant.

At an appeal, the panel would consider all the information you provide including past performance (showing your results were lower than expected), any medical information and the mix of your GCSE results. For example if you scored highly in science/maths but got a low grade in say history or english, they may come the view that you would be successful in studying science/maths.

It is late to be joining Y12 in the sixth form.

DD has just begun her A levels. She's studying Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths. She was advised to not even consider sciences unless she gained at the very least a 7 at GCSE. She says everyone has 8s and 9s. This is not a sixth form that you struggle to get into but they do say only top performers should consider sciences and maths.
Don't you think you'll struggle? I wouldn't have appealed in your position.

Sometimes schools will let DC in if the subjects they want have space etc etc. I don't think this is right but it's what happens. I do think you can question it though.

I would say the more evidence you have that your medical history affected your results the better, especially if you can evidence that this is now treated/resolved and will not affect your ability to cope with the demands of the ongoing course.
Bear in mind that working alongside others that have achieved/exceeded the minimum requirements may mean the pace of work is challenging and could have an effect on your health.

If you can also show that the course has admitted other students to the relevant course without the required grades and that this did not negatively affect other students outcomes that would be helpful.
I'm not sure pan is helpful as you are appealing minimum requirements not just numbers.

My understanding is that the School admissions code 2021 only applies to pupils entering the school in years 7-11 for secondary schools. The PAN also only applied to those years although some sixth form subjects will have limitations on numbers.
My guess for the different Maths requirement is that Biology is most often taken as a single Science A level and only 10% of the marks for Biology are for Maths Skills. For Chemistry and Physics the percentage is 20 and 30 % respectively and hence the need for higher GCSE grades.
The reason you were declined a place is because you didn't meet the entry grades, no other reason is needed for sixth form entry, especially if the school is academically selective and the spaces are already filled.
Perhaps the pupils admitted with lower grades were in year groups where there were fewer 16 year olds than there are in your year, so there were still places available.
If it helps, my dds sixth form had additional entry aptitude tests for some subjects where the pupils were borderline to sort out if they were capable of A level study.

Thank you so much for your reply. I understand that it may be a little late to start year 12 however the sixthform only allowed appeals from the middle of the 1st half term.

Thank you for your reply. It's true that I might struggle but I think I should at least be given a chance.

I’m a former appeals panellist and chair.

The school will say that they have published criteria and you didn’t match it. You can ask them at the hearing why they don’t always apply it. Or the panel will ask.

If you think they have breached the code tell the panel how.

It’s too late to join in year 12 I think. The panel will ask why this appeal is so late or you can bring it up.

One more thing. One of my DD’s went to so called super selective grammar where a lot of girls got into Oxbridge, medicine and so on. It was not the quality of teaching (some of it was appallingly bad, everyone in one particular chemistry set had to hire a tutor) but the fact that they were really really selective and only took exceptional students that got those results.

I don’t think getting into a really good Uni or course is necessarily down to the 6th form. Obviously a bad one will make a negative difference but if you have the ability you will do well anywhere.

Believe me, eating disorders, self harm and mental health issues were rife in my DD’s 6th form. Be careful what you wish for and good luck!

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1001050/School_admissions_code_2021.pdf

If the sixth form in question is a school sixth form, the Admissions Code applies, and if admitting external applicants year 12 has its own PAN.

1.2 As part of determining their admission arrangements10, all admission authorities must set an admission number for each ‘relevant age group’¹¹...

¹¹ This is the age group at which pupils are or will normally be admitted to the school e.g. reception, year 7 and year 12 where the school admits external applicants to the sixth form (Section 142 of the SSFA 1998)

WRT the question about siblings, what dpes the school use in a tie-break situation? Being a sibling of a pupil already in the school is a common tie-break as a second tier after Looked After/ Previously looked After.

How far did you fall short of the required grades, op? Were you borderline?

I was just below the requirements for my subjects, 1 grade below. I hope that they're able to make an exception due to circumstances.

One full grade below all of them? What I meant by borderline; were you a mark or two off the higher grade, or did you miss by a lot?

I know you have set your heart on this sixth form and accessing whatever you feel they can offer but I wonder if your energy might be better spent on consolidating your studies elsewhere and finding an alternative way of getting that support or opportunity. You may still find yourself disappointed with the outcome or , even if successful, struggling to catch up and make the most of it. Are you current,y in education elsewhere?

Thank you for your reply. The school uses additional entrance tests however I know that they haven't used this. I don't think this would help my case anyways however if anybody has suggestions on what I could say regarding this it would be appreciated.

Now I'm concerned as to whether this is in fact a school sixth form. Everything points to this being the case however, does it have to have a secondary as well ? I'm 99 % it is a school sixth form though.

So there's no year 7-11? Then no it's not a school sixth from, it's a sixth form college.

As @titchy says, if there is no Y7-Y11, this is a sixth form college, not a school sixth form. That has a huge impact on your questions. The Admissions Code does not apply to sixth form colleges, only to school sixth forms.

If it is a sixth form college, then it is not covered by the appeals code, which would explain the time delay.

Well this is a shock. It's listed as a 'free school academy' and this is on their own website as well as other sites. It's also sponsored by a trust and it's stated that:

'Academies receive funding directly from the government and are run by an academy trust.

Academies are inspected by Ofsted. They have to follow the same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as other state schools and students sit the same exams.'

Although it doesn't have y7-11 itself, there are secondary schools that are a part of the trust that they've named.

The sixthform also resembles a school more than a college and if it was a college would it not also be included in it's name?

It follows the admissions and appeals code for the most part. I'm able to pm you the name of the sixth form if it helps decide whether this is a school or a college.

The school also only offers A levels and on top of this there are limited subjects. They're strict on uniform, much like a school. In their admissions policy they follow the all the guidelines, giving priority to LAC, children that have an EHCP and other things. Appeals procedure is also similar, 20 days period to issue an appeal.

Happy to take a look if you PM me the name of the academy and LA involved.

I just read on their website that they are a sixth form school. That's a relief,I was stressed. I think I was right about their partner schools and academy trust.

Now that this issue has been resolved, I would appreciate any advice in regards to my questions posted above. I think winning this appeal would benefit a lot of people on MN as there aren't many sixth form appeal threads on here.