Results and Appeals
Obtaining your child’s 11+ results can be a distressing time. We will assist you understand the results you’re provided, and the actions you can take if they’re not what you wished for.
Understanding the Results
Every child gets a raw score— the amount of questions they attempted correctly. This can be then standardised to produce their final score. Scores might be also standardised for both (and either) of these factors.
- Age — children born earlier within the academic year frequently test better than those born later. this means, for the 11+ to be fair, the month your child was born is usually considered.
- Weighting — the results of tests of various lengths and with different numbers of questions are often standardised in order that they are often compared fairly. Schools may likewise give more weight to certain subjects by multiplying the scores in those tests.
By the end of October, you will obtain the standardised score either by post or email. Most likely won’t hear that they’ve been offered a place until National Offers Day in March.
Even if your child gets the pass mark (if there’s one) they could be rejected if the school is oversubscribed. It would apply other criteria (like distance from the school) to come to a decision who is offered a place.
What to do if you Don’t Get the Result you Want
In the event of the place is not offered to the school you’ve applied to and your child hasn’t succeeded. You would be provided a reason for it and also when and how to proceed with an appeal if you want against the decision.
Accept the place you have been offered even if you’re going to appeal — it means that your child will definitely have a place at a school in September, and it won’t affect your appeal.
You could be offered to be placed on a waiting list for your preferred school in case a space becomes available. You can often be on more than one waiting list at a time, and this won’t affect your chances of a successful appeal.
Going to Appeal
If you may decide to appeal, your case will be considered by an appeals panel, and you may have to appear at an appeal hearing. The following things may increase your prospects of being successful in an appeal:
- Was your child extremely close to the pass mark? The closer they were, the higher the possibility of your appeal succeeding.
- Were there any mitigating circumstances near the test? It’s best if you can provide evidence of these circumstances — collect it at the time of the test, just in case.
- Can you present solid academic proof that your child is suitable for grammar school? E.g. proof that they’re working at a level above average for their age group.
If you opt to appeal, state the facts of your case simply and truthfully, produce any proof that supports it, and keep to any deadlines you’re given. Don’t use an appeal to criticise the school you’ve been offered an area at, or the 11+ system — it won’t help your case.
An appeal will be very distressing and, if it fails, this can be even more disappointing for your child.
