Has anyone had a successful appeal for entry to Colyton Grammar?

[HowDidThisHappen1]

Are there any examples of people successfully appealing to get a place at Colyton Grammar in Devon after initial refusal? How did you go about it? Thanks!

Surely they just take in order of test achievement, then it’s the waiting list ? There’s definite movement on the list, as students will have applied to and accept other schools (e.g private or the Torquay grammars). So if you’re high enough on reserve list you just keep fingers crossed. List lasts all year 7, then they start again with another test for year 8 entry - at which point you can be leap frogged on the list if a student achieves higher.

what basis are you hoping to appeal on ?

Did your child pass the selection test?

Thanks so much for your quick reply StillProcrastinating! We didnt even make the wait list 😢

Its odd as DS has IQ in 99th percentile, was quite relaxed about the exam, and was coming top 3 in mocks under exam conditions. Thinking maybe we need a re-mark?

Do they even do remarks? It's not an official examination. Did your child get into any of the other grammar schools, usually the letter specifies that although possibly if you only applied to Colyton this is not the case, but mine took a generic grammar exam (at Colyton) and it said if they got into Torquay and grammar streams as well. If he got into those, but not Colyton, he just didn't score high enough. If he failed the whole lot, something went on that day...

I have to say in both years I've had children apply, many children who expected to get in did not. One of my dd had several friends with tutors and lots of practice and all didn't get in, a couple then went to Torquay instead.

Good luck with it all, if he's not on the wait list then I don't think there's a way he can get in this year.

I think I’d embrace going to another school for year 7, but plan to take the year 8 test. Understand the disappointment x

Do they have a Year 8 test at Colyton? I havent heard of that.

He got into Torquay Grammar (via separate test on different day) which looks very good, but its a really long way away for us (1hr 40mins each way according to Google Maps!).

Is this for year 7 in 2024? No places are offered or refused until March, at which point you can appeal.

Just want to say a huge thank you for the support on this topic Ive received via DM. What an incredible community.

Just FYI, there are details of an FOI request on this topic here: https://www.devon.gov.uk/accesstoinformation/information_request/colyton-grammar-school/

In the last few years, it doesn't look like there have been very many successful appeals at all, unfortunately- none at all in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

From here: https://www.devon.gov.uk/schools/school/colyton-grammar-school/

It looks like no successful appeals this year, either- although I may be misreading.

As others have said, if you are on the waitlist, there may be a chance, as some people will go private, or to the Torquay Grammar Schools or may move away.

Is there any possibility to move closer to Torquay? I know that's a bit of an extreme solution!

Thank you so much for sharing the data. We are exploring options.

Good luck to everyone out there who has secured a place at Colyton, and to all those who were unlucky.

Its a tough gig for the kiddos aged 10 x

It is hard, especially if friends are going there, but everyone won't be, and once they get into secondary, a new set of friends and opportunities appears. I've had one fail at this stage, ended up somewhere better for her, and she certainly doesn't regret not going there. I have other friends who have actively not chosen that route as well, so don't think everyone is going to Colyton, they are not! Good luck with it all.

Blimey! Back in the day it had a 3 mile catchment area. It's a good school though.

Thank you! Very true!