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Medway Grammar School Applications September 2009

Views on Review process last updated below on
5 November 2009
 
Medway children are selected for grammar school using different tests and a different process of selection to that operated in Kent.
 

Parents will receive decisions on Saturday 1st November and, where unsuccessful, will need to make decisions about whether to go to Review by 7th November. Following  complaints by me to the Local Government Ombudsman, Medway Council has carried out a full review of the Review process and has sent out out additional advice to relevant parents with decisions.  My preliminary comments are at the foot of this page.  

 
 THE MEDWAY TESTS
Children take three tests: verbal reasoning, mathematics and extended writing. The first two tests are multiple choice, the English is a single piece of extended writing, usually to an essay title, but it can be any Key Stage 2 theme. The scores on each test are standardised according to the scores of Medway children taking the tests, so that a score of 100 is allocated to the average child who took the test. Scores then range from 70 to 140. 

The scores from the three tests are then added together in the following way: verbal reasoning score given a weighting of one, and the maths and English scores given a weighting of two, so for example:
 

Test
Score
Weighted
Score
Verbal Reasoning
112
112
Mathematics
98
196
Extended Writing
108
216
Total Score
 
524

 
The pass score is then determined to admit 23% of Medway children (those from out of Medway are found selective in the same way, but their scores do not influence the calculations).  In 2008 the pass score was 525 so this child would not have passed. 
I am quite critical of this pattern, as Extended Writing is the least reliable of all tests used for selection processes, according to NFER who are the country's leading experts in test setting. Because it receives a double weighting, the result dwarfs that of verbal reasoning, the best predictor of academic success according to NFER. As a result, a child can gain a pass on the strength of a single strong essay, or similarly lose a place because they have misunderstood the extended writing question. For these reasons, different children will perform well in Kent and Medway and so it may well be worth taking both sets of entrance tests, to secure a grammar school assessment (although each is only accepted in the Authority in which it is taken).
Kent and Medway
Kent parents who apply for a Medway grammar school place and need to go to Review (see below) will not receive the outcome until after the Kent SCAF needs to be submitted. This presents problems as you only have four places on your SCAF. You cannot appeal for a Medway grammar school place unless it is named on the SCAF.

The Schools
A grammar school assessment does not necessarily secure a place at the school of one's choice. Rochester Grammar School is regularly oversubscribed and takes those girls with the highest scores (together with able musicians). Rainham Mark Grammar School takes highest scorers but in some years these include all who are assessed grammar. Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School takes those boys who live nearest (but in the past six years has taken all who have passed and appealed, in three of those years after complaints by me to the ombudsman). Chatham Grammar School for Girls would take high scorers, but traditionally takes all those who have passed. Chatham Grammar for Boys, Fort Pitt and the grammar stream of The Howard School take all who have passed. So if your child has passed the Medway test and you name at least one of the last three named on your application form above any non selective school you name, you can be confident you will offered a grammar school place. 
Review and Appeal
If your child is unsuccessful in the Medway tests you are entitled to apply for a Review of the decision, designed to select another 2% of children. This process identified a further 61 Medway children out of a total of 70 succssful Reviews in 2008. Current legislation is in a mess, and if you apply for a Review and are unsuccessful, you can only have your case heard by an Independent Appeal Panel if you can show the Review process was not fair, objective or consistent. You will find the legal background at Code of Practice for School Appeals, paras 3.36 and 3.37. I do not know how parents can weigh up which option to choose!  However, I attempt to summarise the situation below.
For 2008 admission, parents, including clients of mine, persuaded all Appeal Panels that the Medway Reviews were unfair – I believe my arguments were decisive (one after a complaint by me to the Ombudsman), and so parents did have their cases heard. However, will Medway Council be able to change the Review process sufficiently in the light of last year’s findings to convince Panels it is fair?
The Review procedure for 2008 was as follows. Review Panels, each comprising two teachers from different schools, looked at three pieces of each of English, mathematics and science submitted by the primary schools, together with standardised test results taken in the schools and a grammar/non selective recommendation from the primary school. They were not given any other information although parents were asked to complete a form (which was ignored) giving their reasons for asking for a Review. Each Panel then made a decision on the children they were reviewing and the total of successful reviews turned out to be around 2%. 
At an Independent Appeal, parents have the right to present whatever information they wish, to try and persuade the Panel that their child is of a grammar school standard. This is likely to include reasons why the child underperformed and alternative evidence of his or her grammar school ability. However, the statutory Code of Practice states that where a Review has taken place, the only grounds for appeal are that the Review was not fair, objective or consistent. In other words panels cannot consider alternative evidence that the child is of a grammar school standard, or that there were reasons for underperformance on the day, unless they are satisfied that the Review process was unfair. 
The problems are compounded by a Review process for 2009 entry that again invites parents to give their reasons on a form, for requesting a Review. This year for the first time it is made clear that  parents should not send in additional information or documentation.  However, the form also states that decisions will be based on the evidence supplied by the school, implying that once again parental reasons will be ignored. Further the primary school headteacher is again forbidden to write letters of support or to provide information, other than KS1 results, Year 5  levels and a high/grammar recommendation. In 2008, following a complaint by me, the ombudsman criticised this process as the combination of the two procedures denies parents any opportunity to put forward their case, which flies in the face of natural justice. 

I have received many enquiries on the value of the words on the R1 Review Reqeust form. All I can get from Medway Council is that:

Those carrying out the Review process should see the parental statement (and no more), just to place the academic evidence in context. The review panel will (then) make their decision based on a consideration of the academic evidence provided by the school.
This moves us no further forward as if parents have reasons for underperformance, no Panel should/could accept these without evidence that would be supplied by additional materials. In any case, the decision is based (solely?) on academic evidence supplied by the school. I am very disappointed that Medway Council is unable to give proper guidance to parents on the value of their statement on Form R1, preferring to leave them in confusion. My own view is that Panels will not be able to take the statements into consideration, but parents should proably put something down for your own peace of mind!
Not surprisingly, I therefore expect that there will be many more challenges at appeal this year and complaints to the ombudsman if these are not upheld.
SUMMARY OF ISSUES AND Strategies for Review Process
I am sorry I can’t give a clearer recommendation.  Until Medway Council resolves the issues parents are being placed in an impossible position in terms of making rational decisions as required by the various Codes of  Practice and by natural justice.