Unsuccessful grammar school appeal

[Will2]

Good morning all,

I'm looking for further advice from people who have found themselves in this situation, or any advice from ex panel members which may prove beneficial please.

We got the awful news that my we didn't win my son's grammar school appeal on Friday, with my son being devastated.

We felt we put a compelling argument together;however the panel we had must've felt the schools case was heavier considering our of 39 cases only 1 case was upheld!

My main argument was around a rare medical condition he has and how this impacted him on the day of his first test. He scored above the pass mark on his verbal reasoning test but didn't perform to the best of his ability, citing how he was struggling to focus and concentrate which connects to his condition (NHS diagnosis letter of his condition was provided as evidence) - this is the main reason why he didn't achieve the historically high entry score because he achieved a brilliant score in his spatial reasoning test.

We are waiting for feedback; however the panel didn't ask us one single question about his condition during our individual appeal hearing which my wife thought was quite strange. I just thought they must've researched it and understood how this could've affected him.

The other point I felt was strong in our argument, was how our son is musically gifted and what the school we were appealing for could offer him. He has a grade three certification from the trinity college in London (soon to be 4) and this particular school has a recording studio (his allocated school doesn't have this) as well as opportunities to represent the school in this field.

We highlighted other points during our appeal and I'll be honest, I came away from our appeal quite positive, boy was I wrong!

Any advice from this point forward would be much appreciated. I'm waiting on the feedback which I hope will give me closure. Such an awful process to go through. Thanks in advance!

Was this a school where they are admitted only on marks in descending order, or one where there is a pass mark and then other criteria such as catchment, siblings and distance?

I'm not an expert, but I'm not sure if there is anywhere further to go on this as you can only appeal once per academic year for a school, unless you think the appeal process itself didn't follow the rules which doesn't seem to be the case.

So my advice is: Go with the allocated school, talk up its good points, be positive.

Added: There clearly will be a bunch of other bright kids also not going to the grammar if 38 appeals were turned down, so he won't be an outlier at whatever school he goes to, surely?

Thanks for taking time to reply.

The places were given on score, so 242 and above was good enough for a place. Any score below that and no place was offered. My son scored 235, slightly under the pass mark. The catchment area being a 30 mile radius from the school.

We are trying to be positive but the school he has been allocated he doesn't have any friends going there, not was it one of his schools on his preference list ( we only have three to choose in our area). I think that is also playing a part as to why he is feeling so down about going to secondary school and not looking forward to the next stage of his education.

I'm just trying to gauge if his medical condition wasn't even considered, would this warrant further questions as to why it wasn't.

Did you have the chance to talk about his medical condition and make the panel aware?

Did you ask the school where your son scored in relation to other candidates? You say he scored above the pass mark, but the question should have been whether any other child who scored BELOW your child was admitted?

Grade 3 music at age 11 is not particularly ‘gifted’. The trouble with the medical thing is that it’s pretty difficult to actually prove that this is what caused your son’s scores to slip. The panel can’t possibly know that for a fact.

I am sure he will be fine at another school. Parents need to be careful how much importance they pass to the kids about this kind of test - seems you might have overloaded your son.
TOTALLY agree that Grade 3 something is pretty average

Also ( as a teacher of over 30 years) better to be a big fish in a small pond than struggling against kids who can pull it out of the bag on the day

yeah not to brag but my son was grade 7 at that age, its more to do with how early they start lessons. He knew several kids in year 7 who were already grade 8. The truly muscular gifted had achieved that at primary school.

Anyway, im not sure there is anywhere else to go after losing at appeal other than stay on the waiting list for a place.

Also parents do not believe that existing friendships in Y7 are irrelevant

the MINUTE they arrive a lot of them are happy to spread their wings and make new pals and being saddled with a mate who won't let that happen is a big theme of year 7

I would say accept the verdict and start getting your son excited for this new stage

Was there a social or medical criteria on the Admissions policy? It sounds as if allocation was purely on score though. They may have taken the view that even taking that into account he did not meet the threshold. Even in gcses etc you only get a few additional marks for mitigating circumstances if unwell on the day. Is he on any other waiting lists?

musically!

you said ' I think that is also playing a part as to why he is feeling so down about going to secondary school and not looking forward to the next stage of his education.'

No YOU are the part as to why he is down! Sorry - but you need to reframe and move on

I’m not sure that not going with any friends is a big factor really
yes it makes it less scary on day 1 but the reality for my son was that by the end of the first term he was barely spending any time with primary school friends. The only primary school friend he still sees went to a completely different school!

grade 3 musical instrument is definitely good but not necessarily the “gifted” department.

it’s very disappointing but I’d try not to dwell on that too much to your ds.

It is awful OP when they have their hearts set on a school and don’t get it.
Can he go on a waiting list, our local Grammar’s would have those. My son’s friend didn’t get a place and was on the waiting list and did get in. My top tip would be - be very nice to the staff of the school when speaking to them. I remember my friend saying that when they rang about their son not getting in the Principal commented that they were the only parents not shouting and giving off that their son didn’t get in. There are only so many spaces and there is a criteria to fill them. Next big up the school he has got. He will make new friends. He may well be average in a Grammar school but could be seen as exceptional in a non grammar so could get more opportunities. I always look at life as a road that is mapped out for you, and teach my kids there are reasons for everything and what is for you won’t go past you. Whatever happens he will be ok.

I’m sorry to say that I don’t think that grade 3 is particularly gifted either. Who’s telling you that they are musically gifted?

Gently op, they had lots of kids in the same situation, passed the test but not high enough to get a place, how could they give him a place when someone scoring higher doesn’t get one? Also whilst congregations on the music exams, they are not at the level to be considered, without sounding bragging (yes it’s bragging) my dd had grade 7 on one instrument, grade 5 on another and grade 6 singing by aged 11, that still wasn’t the highest in her primary school as two kids had grade 8’s, and abrsm which is harder.

i personally don’t believe in grammar schools, they create division and mean later developing dc are put at disadvantage because they go to inferior schools, luckily there were no grammars where we lived because my k
other dc was a classic late developer and is now doing a job that is a bit “wow” wouldn’t have stood a chance at 11+

I think you just need to accept it tbh. If you put in all the info then he just didn't meet the requirements and may be better off flying high in a non grammar. Much that I hate the music grade system the school won't consider grade 3 gifted. We are in a grammar area and there are 4 children in DC's year 6 class who are above grade 6.

My Dd got grade 4 distinction in year 6. Definitely not considered gifted!

The panel were made aware beforehand when I submitted his diagnosis letter and I discussed it during my speech. They never mentioned it once to us afterwards when they asked us questions.

Other children gained entry with a lower score (229 being the lowest) under the pupil premium category. My son's friend got a place under this category having scored the exact same as my son-235.

I totally understand your point, I maybe shouldn't have used the word gifted. I thought it might show the panel that he is dedicated to something outside the classroom.

The medical issue I get that it is hard to prove but then they shouldn't disapprove it either, with an actual diagnosis letter and it being so rare they should at least take it into consideration.

So allocation was not only based on score. PP is used as a way of targeting those who may be disadvantaged and benefit relatively more from a grammar education, I’m not sure your apparent envy is a good look.

I just scraped into a Grammar, it was miserable, I couldn't keep up. Me and my friends from primary barely spoke after the first couple of weeks.

You are missing my point. Even if they agreed and 5 marks(for same of argument) were added he still would not meet the cutoff score in his admissions category.

I think the problem is he achieved the pass mark in only one of 3 categories but failed in the other 2 - why did his medical condition not affect him across the board?

Pupil premium probably have a lower pass rate, its a blunt tool but its very needed to cancel out disadvantage most children on pupil premium suffer from.

I do empathise with the op though because if you do live in a grammar area it's just not the same. The grammar system creates a situation where the middle class children who can afford tutoring (whether that's time and knowledge from parents or paid) leaving the non selectives with disproportionate levels of the children who receive less support which creates behaviour issues.

Hi OP, you went through the appeals process and you've had your answer. I know it's hard but honestly the best thing you can do for your child now is to put this behind you and start looking forward in a positive way.