Support thread for parents of chilldren sitting the transfer test in 2011

caz100

flymetothemoon wrote: »

Dear annoyedmum
I feel for you and for Caz, my own child lost out on 1st choice school last yr by 1 mark but would have secured a place in that school this year, and indeed every year in the past 5 or 6 yrs with the exception of last year by 1 mark. It can be a cruel system but, as you say, this is the nature of the selection process. And, no doubt, many parents have experienced the same problem with children from other areas taking places in their local school at the expense of local kids however, Banbridge is not alone when it comes to this issue, as this happens in most areas outside greater Belfast. It is really unfortunate for you that Banbridge's cut-off rose so much this year as entry scores do tend to be lower when you move away from the greater Belfast area, with only the odd exception.

Hey flymetothemoon I know I am not the only one disappointed but feeling somewhat better today. My daughters 1st choice was the top school in ni for statistics and I guess I was getting too concerned with leagues tables etc. the school is highly oversubscribed for this reason which means children are travelling from outside cities/towns to attend. Her second choice is still a grammar and a very good one also achieving in the top twenty. I know there are lots of children who aren't even getting into grammars with very high scores so I know a lot are worse off. My daughter did excellent and I am very proud of her and I am sure she will succeed wherever she goes. I guess league tables aren't everything its the individual that's important. Hope everyone who was disappointed are Now beginning to feel better.

travellinglight_2

forms arrived today. Here's hoping. Anyone been through this before? Any tips?

flymetothemoon_2

travellinglight

good luck with the appeal - sorry I can't offer any advice cos I've never been through it but your DS did so well that you should certainly try

fingers crossed for yous

MeAndMrsJones

travellinglight wrote: »

forms arrived today. Here's hoping. Anyone been through this before? Any tips?

Good luck i hope you are successful x

Charliedevil

Travelinglight good luck with your appeal! I think that this procedure can work. When you look at schools intake numbers for previous years the maximum amount of places is exceeded by some schools by 1 or 2 places, I would imagine that these extra places are the result of appeals!

RikM

My son's school, according to one source, has 814 children in 800 places...

caz100

Charliedevil wrote: »

Travelinglight good luck with your appeal! I think that this procedure can work. When you look at schools intake numbers for previous years the maximum amount of places is exceeded by some schools by 1 or 2 places, I would imagine that these extra places are the result of appeals!

Can u not only appeal on the basis that you believe the selection criteria was not Adhered to correctly? If it is according to scores and then eldest child/ sibling policy for last remaining places how can this method go wrong. My child had special circumstances that required extra time etc doing the test and I didn't attach these circumstances to transfer form because I believed her score was confidently going to get her place. Could I appeal on this basis or would it not even be considered?

leftieM

caz100 wrote: »

Can u not only appeal on the basis that you believe the selection criteria was not Adhered to correctly? If it is according to scores and then eldest child/ sibling policy for last remaining places how can this method go wrong. My child had special circumstances that required extra time etc doing the test and I didn't attach these circumstances to transfer form because I believed her score was confidently going to get her place. Could I appeal on this basis or would it not even be considered?

You're right - you can appeal only if criteria were not applied fairly. For example, a few years ago a child got into a grammar because they were upgraded from a B to an A but only after all the straight As were allocated and then 3 Bs got in and they missed out. The school made a mistake.
It is a legal issue at this stage. Travellinglight needs to find something that was not fair in how her child missed out on the preferred school. It is probably too late to apply for an upgrade on exam results based on special circumstances as she has already tried this but was unsuccessful, unless she thinks there was something unfair (i.e illegal) in this process.
Looking at newspaper reports on this, it ends up in front of a judge if there are grounds for appeal and it all hangs on applying the criteria fairly.

Pmum

caz,

I suspect that,

(1) The fact that your child had extra time for the tests will mean that their score would not be up-lifted afterwards as they have already been given an allowance above other children,

(2) If it wasn't on the transfer form then you can not use it in your appeal as the schools are only obliged/allowed to consider evidence that was presented to them on the form.

I agree with leftie that an appeal can only be allowed on the basis of the school incorrectly applying their selection criteria.

Mind you, that is just my understanding of the process. I have no experience to draw on.

confused_mummy_3

If I were you i'd appeal, what have you got to loose. I know a person that appealed on the schools that the criteria was unfair. The first criteria was eldest child or sibling and she fought that just because her eldest child was not capable of a grammar school that it was unfair that all of her other children would be ruled out because of his ability. She won her case and in fact 6 other kids that year won on those grounds in the same school. Check their criteria, you are entitled to the minutes of the meeting and you can check if it was fair. Principals are only human, mistakes can be made but you have to find them. Good luck!!