Appealing for Grammar School place

[ElevenPlusAppeal]

Hello. I know there are some very wise and experienced people on these threads, and I'm hoping you may be able to help. I have name-changed for this, as the information I'm about to give is very identifying, but I have been on Mumsnet since DS was born.

We have two grammar schools within our catchment area. DS did not get a high enough score for either, but we're planning to appeal the one that requires the lower score, because it is by far the best fit for him. It's the school I went to, and it helped me - a student whose parents had never been to university - get a place at Oxbridge. It is a kind, nurturing and yet academically rigorous school where we know DS would thrive. Our grounds for appeal are as follows:

A couple of years ago, I had breast cancer just as we entered lockdown. We ended up with an extremely stressful situation of trying to balance home schooling, my chemo, and DH's work (he was a key worker). It was a terrible time but we got through it and thought he was fine - but apparently not. It turns out he goes to pieces in exams, and just absolutely panicked during the 11+. A girl next to him started crying and had to be led out, and that was it - he immediately shut down. It wasn't helped by the fact that the exam was around the same time as my annual mammogram to check for reoccurence, so it was a stressful time anyway.

We obviously feel awful that we've let him down so much and didn't realise how badly he coped with stressful situations like this. Although we did do 11+ prep with him, it was all at home and online with a tutor - so nothing like the stress of an exam hall.

DS has consistently achieved high results throughout his time at school, and has been regarded by all his teachers as a natural fit for grammar school. He's not just high achieving - he also has the intellectual curiosity and focus that's essential for grammar school students. We have letters from three teachers and his tutor attesting to this. We also have a letter from his headteacher, confirming the emotional trauma he's experienced and his academic prowess. And we have a letter from his counsellor at the time of my illness, confirming the trauma he suffered. We've also, since realising what's happened, taken him to another counsellor to see if she can help him with some of his unresolved trauma. I think she would probably be happy to write a letter for us if need be.

I suppose my question is: do we stand any chance at all? And is there anything I can do to improve his chances even a bit? I feel so awful that he is in this situation thanks to my stupid cancer and will do anything at all to make things better.

I’m prepared to be corrected here, but I’m not sure that the OP needs to show the third point. If I’ve understood you correctly, then that would mean that only those who were next on the waiting list had any hope in appeals, as they will be next in line in order of the admissions policy. In an appeal, someone who is way down the waiting list (so other children better meet the published admissions criteria) can be admitted if they can show that the detriment to them being admitted is greater than the detriment to the school in admitting them. Apologies if I’ve misunderstood you.

Is this South Warks we’re talking about? I think I know which one you mean (previously a performing arts academy about 15 years ago?)

I was given a place at our local grammar school on appeal, albeit 20 years ago, due to the fact my mum had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and I needed the support of my two friends who had gotten places.

No, the third point is not relevant. How he fits the admissions criteria is not relevant unless a mistake has been made.

As I said earlier, OPs appeal needs to show that he is of grammar standard and there are good reasons he failed on the day, and that the prejudice to him of not going is greater than the prejudice to the school of taking another pupil.

I don't think that's right.If there are 5 kids at appeal, who the panel believe are of the standard and should have achieved the score, but only 1 ca n be admitted without detriment to existing offer holders, they would have to choose one?

It is right. I chair Appeals Panels.

If there were multiple children in an appeal that have shown to the panel's satisfaction evidence that they are of grammar standard, and that their cases overall each individually outweigh the school's case, but the panel deem that the school can take some but not take all of them, then the panel must compare the appellants cases and admit those with the strongest cases - the ones where the detriment to the child of not attending is deemed greatest.

This is quite common in appeals, especially for Grammars, where you might get 20+ appeals at a time.

This is done looking at their individual cases, how they fit the admission criteria is not relevant.

But that is exactly what I said!! I never mentioned criteria, as far as I recall

You said you need to show that “the admissions policy shows it should be your DS who is next in line for admission” which I read as meaning the same thing as the admissions criteria (and presumably so did @PatriciaHolm).

in our area (which is not Warwickshire so I could be wrong), 10 points is quite a lot to miss by, especially as the score was not enough to make the waiting list. There would literally be hundreds of children in that bracket. I know it isn’t what you want to hear but I am not sure that your appeal will be successful.

You said you need to show that “the admissions policy shows it should be your DS who is next in line for admission” which I read as meaning the same thing as the admissions criteria (and presumably so did @PatriciaHolm)

I did indeed. When comparing cases, how they fit the admissions policy is irrelevant.

You are correct, @eish - Warwickshire's score rankings for 2023 entry gives an idea of the number of students achieving each score for the previous year:

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/directory-record/7201/2023-entry-on-time-score-rankings

I don't think the OP has shared her DS's score but, based on last year's figures it is likely that something like 200 students who took the test in Warwickshire scored above the OP's DS in the test.

Of course, not all of those students may have been hoping for a place at OP's preferred grammar.

I've found last year's success rates for appeals for Warwickshire schools:

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/school-admissions-appeals/appeal-outcome-school-placement/4

I know appeals don't rank the students on merit in terms of score, but the above may be of interest.

Just popping back on to say many, many thanks to all who have commented and offered advice. It's given me loads to think about and really helped me to prepare our case.

Hi, how did the appeal go? We are in Warwickshire and crossing fingers for this year.