Secondary School appeals advice please - urgent

[lilolilbethlehem]

(apologies for already having posted this under primary, wasn't sure where best to put it)

Got appeal for DD tomorrow.In summary, she failed 11+, her SATS are just above average but not going to blow away the appeals panel. So why are we appealing? We weren't going to, on basis that her exam marks weren't exceptional. But everyone (her class teacher/head teacher/ friends who are teachers and other educational professionals who know her really well) told us we must because she really should be at a grammar. We agree, but not sure whether the panel will look beyond SATS/11+ results as they want proven academic ability. Any advice please?

You need to prove that sending her to any school other than this gs is going to harm her to a greater extent than offering her a place will. so, you need to prove that the school can accommodate her and that her education will be harmed by not providing her with a grammar school place.
You need written testimonials from her teachers stating their belief to that effect. Ideally, you would have some kind of sociological evidence backing that up in a more general way.
You need documentation showing that the school is not legally so overcrowded that they cannot accommodate her.
There is a very good on-line appeals site that offers advice on the website. (though you have probably already had some professional advice and you probably know all the above.)
G.s appeals are v. tough.
Good luck.

thanks Zena. Head teacher has writtn in support but not written what you suggested and too late now. Can you elaborate on what you mean by sociological evidence please??
Do you know the website address or anything which will help me find it please?

Try "schools appeals service" for the website. sorry, I've lost the piece of paper it was on.
Sociological evidence - i just meant if you can find any reports or studies, on the internet or elsewhere, somehow arguing your case - that your daughter will be in some way -"harmed" is such a ridiculous, emotive word, but "impeded" in some way, by not going to an academically selective school. Tough, I think.
Have a look on the elevenplusexams website too, they have an entire appeals section.
I'm not an expert on appeals, I only looked into appealing at a primary level. There's another thread on here about appeals, so have a look at that too.
Good luck x 2.

thanks, have found a website. Don't think we stand a cat in hell's chance, but need to try! Thanks.

Really, really good luck.
I know you're saying you don't have a chance but it must surely say something that the school is urging you to try.
It's definitely worth a shot.
And I'm sure, with parents who care and her own abilities, your dd will do brilliantly wherever she goes.

thanks Zena, that's really nice of you. I'm sure she will do fine wherever she goes, unfortunately the high school we're zoned for is not great and apart from that, we know she'd do well at grammar school. On a different day she could have passed. Bummer!

(found this website so posting for anyone else who needs it. Tho to be honest it's just made me feel even more despondent!)

Thinking of you lilolil: it's a very tough thing to be going through.

cheers Roisin. We know it's a long shot so won't be the end of the world if we don't succeed. This is the worst bit of selective education, some children miss out who would do fine at a grammar.

Just a thought - has your dd taken anything like a CAT exam? (Cognitive Assessment Test). And if she did, did it suggest a v. high academic ability?
If she has, you should bring that along.

Also if it's a specialist college, or mentioned in Ofsted reports for being v. good at something or provides something the alternative school doesn't - that your dd is good at - that would go into the "not providing a place at this school would be detrimental to dd's education" bag.

How did it go?

thanks for asking Roisin. The panel were very focused on mitigating circumstances, which we didn't really have (one minor point which might have distracted her but not enough to really sound compelling). The school had made it very clear they are after proven academic ability, which we don't have from SATS/11+ etc. So expect it'll be a big no, should hear by end of week.

Oh dear. Thinking of you anyway.
I'm so glad we don't have the stress of 11+ round here.

Now that ds1 got into his school, ds2 is pretty much guaranteed a place when his turn comes, so I don't have to agonise about secondary schooling any more!

for your dd lilo. I'm near you so know what an awful system it is.

Same here. I hope it works out in the end. I'm sure it will.

I don't want to prolong your agony but is it worth thinking about possibilities of transfer if her first year is academically good?

apologies for having 2 threads on same subject at same time (posted first in primary then decided secondary was better).
Update as posted on other thread:
appeal was not successful. DD fine about it, she is desperate to go to one of the local high schools - but not the one we are zoned for. So another appeal coming up when the places are allocate March time-ish.
Thanks all for your support.