Appeal- aptitude test related

[PinkWaterlily]

DD completed the aptitude test for a school which is slightly out of our catchment. We knew she was very unlikely to be accepted on general admission, so we were pleased when she got a very high score on the test and deemed 'extremely likely' to gain a place.

I know this isn't a guarantee, but they told us on the day of the test that the wording is just a formality and anyone scoring in the top banding is pretty much in and children scoring in the second banding often get places too. This is because children complete the test and then get admitted on either siblings/ distance which frees up additional space for a child on the aptitude list.

Anyway she hasn't been offered a place and instead has been allocated our 3rd choice.

Do you think this could be an error?

Would we be justified in appealing in these circumstances?

Any advice welcome.

Is it a private school, or do you just mean the fair banding test in the comprehensive system?

No, not private. It's a state school which also admits on music aptitude.

What percentage of pupils are admitted on musical aptitude?
It’s usually quite small; they definitely don’t take everyone who applies, not even all the high scorers.

10%.

What doesn't make sense to me is why tell for e.g. 50 kids they are highly likely to gain a place, if you only have 20 spaces available? Surely only the top 20 should be given that advice?

Hopefully we will be fairly high on the waiting list.

I would appeal because you only have one chance to do whatever you can to get your child's education right. Otherwise you'll spend forever potentially looking back and wondering what if.

It isn't possible to say for certain that there has been a mistake, but it sounds like there may have been. An appeal should help you get to the bottom of this, if nothing else.

Thank you.

I will definitely appeal. This entire process is just emotionally exhausting, especially for DD.

There may still be movement when private school places come up. She may get in on the second round. Please talk to the school.

Where in the oversubscription criteria does 'Up to X children by musical aptitude' come? (It usually is 'up to'). If it is just a ranked criterion, an near the bottom of the list, the school may have reached PAN before getting to the full number of music places potentially available, e.g. if 'siblings' or 'feeder schools' is a higher priority and not capped and there was a greater than usual number of applicants within that category .

What are the actual oversubscription criteria?

You could ask the school how many were offered under 'music', and the score of the last child offered.

I can't speak for the school involved in this case, but I have never come across a school that admits by aptitude using that as a ranked criterion. They simply reserve a number of places for those being admitted by aptitude.