Looking for some advice please….
DS took the 11+ in the autumn and passed but did not score highly enough to be offered a place. We live out of catchment for the grammar school and places are allocated firstly to all children within catchment area who pass, then remaining places go to those out of catchment with the highest scores. DS is on the waiting list for a place - his number on the waiting list is pretty much exactly where they got down to when allocating places last year, so impossible to say whether he’ll end up being offered a place or not.
I’ve been reading the discussions about appeals on here and looking at the grammar school’s admissions policy, I can see that parents can appeal. I had assumed that this wouldn’t be possible because it would all be based on 11+ scores, but the policy outlines the process for appeal and I’m wondering whether it’s worth trying in case they don’t get down the waiting list as far as DS. Our grounds for appeal would be that the grammar school teach a language which isn’t taught at other local schools and we have extended family living in that country who speak the language (although we don’t speak it in our immediate family). There’s no mention in the admissions policy of what reasonable grounds for appeal might be though so I don’t know if this counts.
I just don’t know whether it’s worth ever appealing for a grammar school place or whether it’s a waste of time because their admissions process is just based on test scores. I’ve got in the back of my mind that DS could still be offered a place from his position on the waiting list, and I really don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with his school and have them thinking I’m stupid for submitting an appeal which could never succeed. On the other hand, I don’t want to miss a chance for a place at a school he’s got his heart set on. If anyone has any advice I’d be so grateful!