This is a post I’ve been wanting to write for a very long time. For those of you who have been reading Dadblog for a while (or following me on social media), you’ll know that my wife and I are passionate home educators of our children.
Our plan has always been to keep them home until the end of Year 6, giving them the best start we possibly could. We are a family full of neurodivergence (something I’ll be expanding on over the coming months and years), and we both felt that the rigid structure of school, while beneficial to some, was more of a hindrance to our children.
Our eldest absolutely smashed the 11+ and got in without any problems. This was an achievement we are incredibly proud of because it was no mean feat. The doctors who performed her ASD diagnosis and her primary school teachers were adamant that the best-case scenario for her was working at a Year 1/2 level for the rest of her life.
We weren’t happy with that assumption, so we made some major life changes, including taking the plunge into home education, to give her a better outlook on life.
Table of Contents
Revising and Studying for the 11+ (Eleven Plus)
Unfortunately, our second eldest wasn’t as academically inclined, and her severe PDA made home educating her quite the challenge. We persevered through overstimulation, emotional dysregulation, skin-picking, and plenty of tears.
When the time for her 11+ finally came, we studied hard, going through every verbal and non-verbal test known to humankind.
(Yes, we know schools say you shouldn’t train your children because it doesn’t give an accurate reflection of their abilities, but the divide between families who can afford study prep and those who can’t is well-documented. I don’t feel bad in the slightest for preparing. I wish my parents had the foresight to get me on the prep books – I missed out on St. Olaves by two marks!)
The logic behind grammar schools recommending a child doesn’t study for the test also confused me, as most primary schools offer mock tests to students who wish to sit the 11+ and multiple schools have affiliate links to CGP/GL books so.. 🤷♂️
We had all the CGP & GL books (which I’ve linked below for those gearing up to help their children with the 11+), catch-up books, and flashcards. You name it, we used it. We were doing 30 minutes to an hour of studying every day, tackling it to the best of our ability.
- CGP Books (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages – 05/19/2023 (Publication Date) – Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) (Publisher)
- CGP Books (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 88 Pages – 12/19/2022 (Publication Date) – Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) (Publisher)
- CGP Books (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages – 01/10/2023 (Publication Date) – Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) (Publisher)
- CGP Books (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages – 10/10/2022 (Publication Date) – Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- CGP Books (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 200 Pages – 08/26/2020 (Publication Date) – Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) (Publisher)
We were READY. The day of truth had finally arrived, and she was moderately confident she’d passed. I had my doubts, though – she hadn’t been scoring well in the mock tests – but given my eldest’s brilliant results, I thought maybe we’d see lightning strike twice!
11+ Results & Mid-Year Grammar School Application
The results arrive and…. she flunked it, not even close.
My first thought was to appeal based on her sister being in the school and the bullies she’d faced at her previous school, but as I read more about successful grammar school appeals, I progressively lost faith in our chances.
Oh my gosh, the tears, the upset, she wouldn’t be joining her sister at grammar school. She took it in her stride and was incredibly brave, but it broke our hearts. To make things worse, she didn’t even get into her local school of choice. We had to reapply, and thankfully, they had a place.
She started her second school of choice after the summer holidays, but after just three weeks, her dermatillomania flared up terribly, and the bullying was relentless. So, we pulled her back to home education, determined to study hard and try for a mid-year application.
Mid Year Application Tests
Her grammar school of choice required a mathematics and an English paper, each an hour long, overseen by the heads of the respective subjects. We were ready and raring to study alongside our usual home-ed routine, but PDA reared its ugly head every day. Still, we pressed on.
We booked the test for December… then canceled (thanks, COVID). Booked again for March… and canceled (ear infection). Finally, we booked for the end of the year (July). With time running out, we couldn’t cancel again, even though we’d just had a bout of COVID and she was still dealing with an ear infection.
CAT4 Tests
After a year of studying for the maths and English papers, the school changed its mid-year application process to a CAT4 test, similar to the 11+.
Was it a wasted year? Not at all. My daughter was ready for anything. We signed up for a few websites specialising in CAT4 practice, and I even ended up coding some of my own tests for the numerical series batteries. (Happy to share them with anyone interested – just drop me a comment!)
I’m hesitant to recommend the websites we used because they had issues – wrong answers, missing correct answers, repeated questions – hence why I coded my own tests to avoid those pitfalls.
We recorded every mock test, every answer, EVERYTHING. This process took days, and my wife had to take on most of the home-ed duties for the little ones while I focused on our daughter’s CAT4 prep. We were determined she’d pass this time around.
The CAT4 was even tougher than the 11+, covering English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. I loved every moment of it (I’m a sucker for puzzles).
The day finally arrived, and she took the test. Once again, we waited with bated breath…
CAT4 Results Day
We were promised a phone call the next morning. When the afternoon rolled around with no call, we all started panicking. No one wants to make that phone call if the news is bad, right?
Finally, I plucked up the courage to call. It wasn’t good. She was two points shy. (Like father, like daughter)
Not one to shy away from a challenge (who am I kidding I hate conflict and telephone calls are the absolute bane of my existence) we decided to appeal!
The Grammar School Appeals Process
I dove into researching – on – absolutely – everything – I could get my hands on, and spent several days collecting evidence to support our appeal. We gathered examples of her home-ed work, a time-stamped COVID test, and even a picture of her antibiotics bottle. Successful appeals require a lot of forethought, and we knew the odds – about 20% for secondary schools, and this sinks even lower for grammar schools, often between 3-15%.
Proving Your Child Is Of The Required Academic Standard
If you cannot prove that your child is not of the required academic standards for a grammar school place then your chance of success is effectively 0%. This is a key point to note, that when making ANY appeal for a grammar school place, you MUST show that your child is of the required or advanced standard.
I’ve pasted the success rate below for appeals in Buckinghamshire county to give you an idea of what you’re up against.
Submitting completed work with our appeal was absolutely crucial, as without submitting the work, I have no doubt that our appeal would have been significantly harder, and potentially even failed (keep reading and you’ll see why).
Curating Your Grammar School Appeal Pack
I won’t go into excessive detail about our cover letter, but we made sure to highlight a few key points: our child’s positive attributes, why we believed she would be an excellent addition to the school, and mitigating circumstances such as illness during the test and bullying at other local schools. We also included examples of her academic work, her voluntary contributions to the community, and her active participation in various clubs. These elements, combined, helped build a well-rounded case for her appeal.
Key Things To Include With Your Appeal
- Examples of work or outstanding academic achievements: Showcasing your child’s strengths can help demonstrate their readiness for the school’s standards.
- Results from other tests: If your child has performed well on other assessments, these can support the argument that they are academically capable despite underperforming in this particular test.
- Extenuating circumstances: Mention any significant factors, such as a family bereavement, illness (with supporting evidence), or other unusual circumstances that might have affected your child’s performance.
- Positive attributes: Highlight any personal qualities or achievements that may convince the LEA and school of your child’s potential and enthusiasm for attending their chosen school.
- Bullying or medical issues: Include any relevant information about issues like bullying or medical concerns, including disabilities or learning plans, that could affect your child’s schooling experience.
- Special needs or exceptional abilities: Mention any special needs or health conditions the school is well-equipped to handle, or any exceptional abilities in areas the school specialises in.
- Letters of recommendation: Supporting letters from relevant professionals, as well as reports from health professionals and teachers, can help strengthen your case.
Things To Exclude From Your Appeal
As with anything, sometimes it’s better to leave certain things out, as they can end up hampering your appeal.
- Letters from your child: While heartfelt, letters from your child requesting attendance at the school are unlikely to carry weight with the panel.
- Flimsy excuses: Avoid explanations like “There was a child poorly during the test” or “My child was anxious and couldn’t sleep the night before.” These are common issues and will not convince the appeals panel.
- Irrelevant documents: Only include documents that directly support your appeal, avoiding any that do not add value or pertain to the process.
So, with one final bated breath I pressed the submit button.
Unfortunately, with only a few days left before the end of the school term and the legal team out of the office for the holidays, we had to wait until September for our appeal to be heard.
What followed was one of the longest summer holidays of my life. Finally, as soon as the new term began, I was contacted by the legal team, confirming the appeal hearing. I was ready to go – newly on ADHD medication and, aside from the severe anxiety, fully prepared to face the legal team and plead her case to the best of my ability.
What to Expect From a Grammar School Appeal
Prior to the appeal, we were provided with an information pack outlining the process. This is pretty standard across most grammar schools and while the number of representitives may differ, the format will mostly be the same. You can expect it to last between 30 and 45 minutes (although ours was SIGNIFICANTLY shorter).
Admission Appeal Procedure
- Firstly, the School Representative will be invited to put forward the case on behalf of the school and explain why they have been unable to offer your child a place.
- Once they have finished speaking you will have an opportunity to ask them any questions, as can the three Appeal Panel Members.
- You will then be invited to put forward your case on behalf of your child. Once you have said everything you want to on your child’s behalf, you can be questioned by the school and the Panel Members.
- There is then a brief second stage to the appeal which we simply call ‘summing up”. The School Representative will sum up first on behalf of the School and you will then have the final word.
- At this stage it is important to say everything you wish to on your child’s behalf because once you leave the room the appeal is closed and there will not be an opportunity to add anything to your case. A decision will be made later that day and you will be notified of it in writing as soon as possible thereafter.
- There will also be present a clerk from County Council’s Legal Department. He/she is there to take notes, ensure the proceedings run smoothly and also to give the Panel legal advice if they so require it. The clerk will be present at the time the decision is made but will play no part in the decision-making. Furthermore, their notes are purely the property of the Appeals Panel and will not be disclosed afterwards to either the School or yourselves.
My Appeals Experience & Appeal Results
Saying I was anxious would be an understatement. This was my child’s future, and I felt like everything rested on my shoulders. After years of us both teaching and supporting her, this was her moment and I had to ensure it all paid off.
So there I was, heart racing, facing three independent legal advisors, a clerk, and the headmaster of the school.
Instantly, panic set in. I’d printed off my pre-prepared speech, but guess where it was? Still in the printer. For a brief second, I actually considered making a run for it. But then, I heard the all-too-familiar sound of Zoom connecting, and there was no turning back.
It Begins
The clerk started by going over the documents provided by both myself and the school board, confirming we were all on the same page – literally and figuratively. She reiterated the appeal procedure, which took about seven minutes. Then, she faded into the background, and the headmaster took his turn.
His speech was predictable. Paraphrasing, it went something like: “We cannot admit your daughter because she didn’t meet the required marks set by our governing board. The academic standards weren’t met.”
As expected. But then, he carried on: “However…”
Wait, what? My eyebrow practically reached my hairline.
“The quality of the work submitted in your appeal package, which I hadn’t seen before today, was of a grammar school standard. If it were up to me, I would offer her a place.”
WHAT?! I was in absolute shock.
The legal team quickly followed up, “So, are you offering this girl a place?”
The headmaster responded, “Unfortunately, the governors wouldn’t permit me to do so. But if it were my decision, I wouldn’t contest this appeal.”
At this point, my heart was racing faster than ever, and I sat there in disbelief.
The legal team pressed on: “So if we’re all in agreement, she can attend your school?”
The headmaster simply replied, “Yes.”
The Decision
I stared at the screen, waiting for their final word, hoping they’d agree. They could clearly see my excitement. Then, the other two legal team members simply smiled and gave a thumbs up.
“Congratulations,” they said. “Your daughter will be attending X Grammar School.”
And just like that, it was over. I stuttered out a thank you to the legal team and, in my dazed state, even thanked the headmaster, probably making a fool of myself in the process. Hundreds of dad jokes rushed through my mind and I was desperate to make light of the situation, but I managed to keep my mouth shut.
But honestly, I didn’t care about making a fool of myself. After years of hard graft from both my wife and I, the dedication, teaching, and so much extra effort needed to get her across the finish line, she had made it. My daughter was officially going to her chosen grammar school. I hung up the call, mumbled something unintelligible like “Apppfff wwhhaaa guuuh,” (which I managed to capture and will keep forever) and bolted out of the office, paperwork in hand, to share the news with my family.
They were stunned that I was back with them in under 15 minutes instead of the 30+ we had expected (and a little bit panicked). But the sheer joy and unbridled excitement that followed is something I’ll never forget.
It was such an emotional moment. My wife and I couldn’t have been prouder. Our daughter had overcome so much – academic struggles, anxiety – and now she was heading to the same grammar school as her sister. The victory was hard-won, but every ounce of stress, preparation, and research had been worth it.
What to Do If Your Grammar School Appeal is Rejected
Unfortunately, not all appeals are successful and for most schools once the panel has rejected your appeal you may not appeal again in the same school year.
Receiving a rejection after putting your heart and soul into a grammar school appeal can feel like a punch to the gut. I remember how disheartening it was coming to terms with the possibility that my daughter might not get into the school we believed would be perfect for her. Thankfully, our story had a happy ending, however, it’s important to remember that this isn’t necessarily the end of the road.
You have three realistic options at this point.
- Ask to be put on a waiting list: This could be a potential avenue for those who have successfully convinced the appeals panel that their child is of the academic standard required for grammar school. But the school is oversubscribed.
- Make a complaint: If you feel like your appeal was mishandled, then you could request another hearing via complaint. This is a lengthy process and requires detailed infractions caused by the appeals board to be considered. You cannot complain because you are upset at the result however.
- Apply to another school and try again next year: Sometimes you just have to accept defeat and try again next year. It can be hard to try and face reality, especially if your child was dead set on going to a certain school, but there’s nothing stopping you from studying for a mid-year entrance exam next year!
Reasons for Unsuccessful Appeals
- Most appeals are likely to fail simply because the school is oversubscribed; in such cases, an appeal will almost certainly not succeed.
- You were unable to persuade the panel that your child met the necessary academic standards required for admission to grammar school.
- The appeal did not align with the school’s application criteria, which is a crucial factor to consider. While it’s natural to want to contest a rejected application, if your appeal does not focus on academic merit, you are nearly guaranteed to face rejection.
Lessons Learned
If there’s one thing we learned from this experience, it’s that appeals are never a lost cause. Even when the odds seem overwhelmingly against you, there’s always a chance – especially when you have strong evidence and the determination to present your case.
We’re so glad we didn’t give up, and if you’re reading this because you’re considering an appeal, my advice is: don’t let the statistics scare you. If you believe that the school is the best place for your child, and you have the evidence to back it up, then go for it. No one knows your child better than you do, and sometimes, that’s the edge you need.
While our appeal process didn’t unfold as I expected, and many of you might face intense questioning to convince the panel of your child’s academic abilities, I do believe we would’ve been successful regardless. However, the pre-preparation and submission of work certainly tipped the scales in our favor in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been through a school appeal yourself or are thinking about starting the process, I’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment or reach out to me via any of my socials – let’s support each other in what can be one of the most stressful, but ultimately rewarding, journeys as parents.
There are also legal representatives that you can hire if you feel like you need the backing support from an external source, these aren’t necessary for most grammar school appeals, but I understand that in some instances they may be beneficial and something to invest in, be forewarned they come at a substantial cost.
As for me, well, my wife and I have still got three younger kids to teach and prepare for their own journeys. With enough studying and love, I’m hoping they’ll pass their 11+ with flying colors, so I never have to face a legal team again!
