Is it worth appealing a Kent Test English score shortfall?

[Pixiespixies]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this would very much appreciate any advice possible.

My DS has passed the kent test's aggregate, got 118 in Math and Reasoning each. However, on the english paper he received 105 which is 4 points away from the threshold 109.

So, here's a little back story. We moved houses and he started school in Jan and sat the test early March. So, we just decided to give the kent test a try and see how he scores.

His low score on the english paper means he is not eligible for a place at the local grammar school (1st preference on CAF).

I'm not sure if it's worth appealing. I've been thinking and thinking what to do. So I've spoken to his class teacher (who started working at the school the same day my DS started) who told us to appeal but she has written an 'ok' letter. I also spoke to his upper key stage lead who has written and outstanding letter in support of my DS's appeal if we decide to go ahead.

I'm new to the whole grammar school system and would appreciate any help/advise/anything at this point 😬

I have asked his previous school for his scores as evidence, so should get those soon.

The letter from his key stage lead is very strong so. This focuses on his ability, aptitude, performance in class, suitability for grammar and his ethos towards learning etc. So I'm pleased with this.

My reason for the missed English are a comination of disruptions that lead to his underperformance on the day. Such as; New school, teacher also new (so both are adjusting), illness before test, anxious about missing pre time and sitting the test outside the normal cohort. Unfortunately, the school has a poor ofsted rating (not sure if I should mention this) which seem to be a reflexion on teaching style/ability.

"Why the disadvantage to my DC of not attending this school outweighs the prejudice to the school (the provision of education and the efficient use of resources) of having to admit an extra pupil" With this, my son doesn't look forward to going to school (don't think I should include this). He is borderline depressed/ anxious because he says he's not learning anything new and school is not challenge. The children are very disruptive and they never get to finish their work because of this. They never finish a topic on the day and is always carried over to the next day/two. So there is no consistent in learning.

He has core ability is strong in Math and Reasoning which will not disadvantage the school. The school also has increased its PAN this year to 224 and 7 appeals were upheld last year, so on this it seems the schools resources aren't stretched by admitting another child.

Finally, what a lovely boy type statements do not show his ability (eventhough he is :)); I'm aware they are irrelevant so won't include.

Yes, CAF was submitted late, so yes his application is considered after March allocation.

Ok, what do you mean by this "mixed ability schools do stream"?

There are some mixed ability(ie non grammar) schools in Kent which stream by ability with a top ”grammar” stream like https://www.maplesden.kent.sch.uk/813/grammar-stream or just for certain subjects. If your ds has relatively weaker English skills he may do better in one which plays to his strengths and interests. Selective schools by definition cater more to all rounders.

The school also has increased its PAN this year to 224 and 7 appeals were upheld last year, so on this it seems the schools resources aren't stretched by admitting another child.

An actual increase in PAN is a reasonable indication that the school believes it can cope with that number of pupils in a year group / in the school overall as the number on roll grows by that extra number each year.

However, the school has no say in how many appeals are upheld; all the presenting officer can do is put forward as strong a case as s/he can as to why it cannot take more pupils. It is the independent appeal panel which makes the decision (neither the presenting officer nor appellant is present during this stage) with regard to the strength of the school's case and the strength of each appellant's case individually against this (and then - only if more 'strong' appellant cases have been put forward than the panel considers it would be reasonable to direct the school to admit - consider the relative merit of each appeal consider 'upholdable'). The school must accept the decision of the panel and admit each pupil whose appeal was upheld. It has to fit them in somewhere, provide them with teachers' (and increasingly these days, pastoral staff) time, possibly reorganise classes for practical subjects with safe maximum numbers etc, however difficult this is to organise.

You can of course appeal, but 105 is very much in the average region for the kent test, so i wouldn’t be too hopeful.
105 is somewhere around the 60th percentile, so about 40% of children score better than him!

Are you happy to say which schools you intend to appeal to? CCGS, for example, tends to take a lot of children on non-qual appeals. The only successful appeals I’ve heard for the Langton have been over subscription appeals.

This is great, thank you will definitely so some research on these 🙂

Ok, thanks. So what is your advice, not to appeal?

Depending on where in the county you live and which schools you are targeting, there will be more or less competition, dependent upon what percentage of the cohort were assessed as suitable for grammar. In more advantaged areas / schools that can be over 50%. Which school has he been offered?

This is great advice, thank you I will add this to my appeal.

We will receive the official offer letter in a few weeks. My application was late, DS sat the test last month due to us relocating to east kent. We are looking at Wilmington and Gravesend.

Just to remind you to flag if your child has qualified for Free School Meals (not universal FSM) based on benefits / low family income while at primary, just in case it has been missed that he is a Pupil Premium child in the school transfer.

@Pixiespixies appeal (you never know!), but get a solid plan B in terms of a non-grammar school with a good science/maths offer.
Don’t pin all your hopes on grammar, his chances aren’t great - look at is as a positive surprise if you’ll get in

No, we don't qualify but thanks for mentioning this.

It is definitely worth appealing if the grammar is undersubscribed. Many posters don’t get the specific issues of East Kent. There is an excess of grammar places, and so non-qualification appeals from fairly average students (about top 30%) will be successful.

This is not the case for every grammar - as I said earlier, a non-qual appeal for Simon Langton, for example, is very unlikely to be successful. I’d also note that which grammars have places can vary from year to year.

I would find out which grammar schools are undersubscribed, and appeal to them.

Ah, I’ve just seen where you are looking at.

Please ignore all my posts. I am writing about the East Kent coastal area.

Yes, I'm definitely looking at plan B, someone mentioned stream schools earlier so will look into it. Thank you 😊

DS is really keen on grammar school so I'm trying for him, hence why I'm here 😊

....due to us relocating to east kent. We are looking at Wilmington and Gravesend.

They are in West Kent. You need to clarify where you are, to be sure of getting appropriate advice.

This is encouraging, I'll do that thanks. Yes, it seems to be slightly different in east Kent.

Find out what percentage of children that pass the grammar school test actually get to grammar school. Here only a percentage of children do, as more pass the test than get places, so you need to think about whether your child will actually get a place even if you can show he should have passed.

Those are the two schools we're looking at which are convenient for STEM, school drop off and work.

Seems I've been quoting the wrong region, we are in northwest kent 🫣