Appeal advice for a Grammar school

[Maybags]

I am after some advice.
my daughter is in year 7 at her local comprehensive school and is very unhappy. Her sister goes to the local Grammar school.

she is being bullied, and finds the school and the behaviour to f the other children overwhelming.

She decided to not sit the 11+ test as academically she isn’t to a “grammar standard”.

A bit of background is that she was diagnosed as dyslexic just before Covid. When she went back into school after the restrictions lifted, no provisions were put into place (all she required were coloured overlays and a dimmed white board). I spent years fighting for this and it was finally introduced mid way through year 6, where she flourished and improved her grades for the final term.

she has now started at her new secondary school and again no provisions are provided.

I know that the Grammar school offer excellent SEN support, each child has an iPad for all work and I also know they are undersubscribed.

She sat an entrance test and unfortunately she didn’t pass.

So, how do I write a good appeal to weigh on the provisions and support being better at the Grammar school than her current offering? The have little evidence to say that academically she deserves to be there but I do believe she will have better support at the Grammar school and be happier as she is having a miserable time.

Thank you.

Gently, if she didn’t meet the standard of the in-year test, I do not think she will get in.

Are there any other nearby schools you could try?

Hi op.
I'm afraid her chances of appeal if she didn't meet the academic standard are very very unlikely and in all honestly it may not be the best fit for her even if you could get her in.
I think I'd focus on other state schools around you or maybe hiring a tutor to help keep her caught up if that was an option.

Would her current school support her application?
Otherwise, if she's not passed the entrance test, I don't see why they would take her.

I'd suggest you might be better putting your energies into making sure she gets the support she needs in her current school.

I think you need to explore all options rather than pinning your hopes on one particular school that has entry requirements your daughter didn't meet.

How is her current school addressing the bullying?

For overlays buy coloured plastic wallets in the relevant colour. Speak to Sendco . Sadly if she did not meet the 11+ standard, even closely missed, an appeal could be tricky.

With respect, if she can’t meet the academic standard the grammar school is not right for her. I work at a grammar school, it is great for sen and whilst any restrictions around distance etc would be overruled by an ehcp the one hard line is the admissions score which is fundamental to it being a grammar school. Obviously things like coloured overlays etc would be allowed as part of her adjustments for the test, but she would still need to pass. I do sympathize though, I have a child with sen and I think they are served very badly by secondary schools which tend to be large, busy and overwhelming.

Ditch the coloured overlays. Get her glasses with lenses of the right colour. Then everything always has the correct background - for reading and writing and board work.

It sounds like the grammar school isn't right for her. But that doesn't mean there isn't another local school that is right for her. I'd do some looking around where else has availability.

I think you’d be better placed having a meeting with the SENCo and explaining exactly what she needs to help her flourish. Coloured overlays wouldn’t be difficult for her to carry around perhaps and the suggestion of glasses is worth exploring. Is she on any SEND register at school, so her needs are communicated to the staff who teach her?

I don’t think it’s in her interests to pursue an appeal to the grammar school. It won’t help her confidence if she has more difficulty with the pace and challenge of the school. Or, as suggested, are there other schools with places locally?

Thank you everyone for your advice.

I have been trying to contact her current schools SEN department for 3 weeks but to no avail. I have written a letter of complaint so hopefully someone will respond.

I think you are all correct, she is not suitable for a Grammar placement. I guess the frustration for me is that my eldest daughter has flourished at her Grammar school and it feels so unfair that I can’t access the same education for my youngest daughter.

I will continue to try and contact her current school and see if I can get adequate support for her, but to be honest I don’t think any other local comprehensive will be any better.

Just to note, we’ve tried coloured glasses and she didn’t get on with them. The overlays work well so she has her own that she takes to school with her.

She also has a tutor and has done since she was 6.

It is not easy to navigate a school system that you feel like you are fighting against, no provisions were added in her primary school until the final term of year 6, and none so far in her new school.

I just feel very sorry for her.

Thank you.