Choice allocation FAQ

When students don't secure their ideal choices, it can give rise to questions about the process we use to allocate pupils to classes.  We have prepared this page to help answer some of these questions.

Are some pupils given preferential treatment?

No. When allocations are made they are made without reference to the pupil's name.

Are pupils who are more academically able prioritised?

For a pupil to choose a subject they should have a faculty endorsement. This is a statement from someone that they believe the pupil could achieve a pass (grade A-C) in that subject or simply a pass if it is an ungraded subject.  There is no differentiation between a pupil who we believe could achieve a grade C and those who we are confident will achieve an A.  A 'C' pass for one pupil may be as valuable as an 'A' pass for another student.  If we did prioritise A grade pupils, it would be discriminatory.

We do not recommend pupils take courses where we believe they would be unsuccessful.  Pupils with the agreement of their parent/carers, can go against our professional judgement in this matter by making the request in writing including an acknowledgment that the choice is against our professional judgement.

I know of another student who had the same subjects in their choices and they got all their choices, but I didn't, albeit that our rank order was different.  Why is this?

Imagine that two students had the same choices but one of those subjects was oversubscribed.  The pupil who has this as their 1st choice will be allocated the subject, the one who has it as their 5th choice won't.

How do you use the rank order when allocating subjects?

For each subject column combination we count the number of first choices.  If there is space for all of these, the 1st choices are allocated to the class.  We then repeat this process for the next level of priority, and so on until there would be insufficient space in the class for all of those pupils at that rank level.

Once this process has been completed for all the subjects and columns, we will try and shuffle student choices between columns to provide everyone at the next priority level with their choices.

At this stage we then look at reserve subjects to see where these can be slotted in.  At each stage we revisit the option of shuffling pupils to create spaces in columns beneficial to the individual pupil.

Where, for example, after exhausting this process we have pupils who have the same priority rank and reserves don't work for them, the pupils will be allocated a random number by computer, pupils sorted by this number and the remaining places allocated to the pupils accordingly.

After working through the above steps as many times as is required, we then look for any students who didn't get their first choice, second choice, third choice and so on.  At each stage we then check to ensure that there has been fair an equitable treatment of that pupil and that there is no way they could have received that subject over someone with a lower priority.

Can I join a reserve list for a subject I didn't get?

Yes.  In fact for all pupils who didn't secure one of their choices, we automatically add them to a reserve list for that subject.  The order students are placed on these reserve lists is first based on the priority.  4th choices go before 5th choices for example.  For pupils with the same rank, the computer assigns them a random number and they are then placed accordingly.  Where possible we will allocate you to a waiting list with the fewest students.

I didn't get my 5th choice but it is necessary for my chosen career?

We can only allocate subjects within the availability we have based on the rank order.  We can not guarantee subjects to anyone if other students have ranked them as a higher priority.  This is the most equitable and fair system we have been able to identify.  We are transparent about our processes, but remain open to suggested improvements.

Could you add in an extra class to accommodate all the pupils who want to take a subject?

Where a subject is significantly oversubscribed we will explore if we can add an additional class of that subject to the timetable.  To do this we have to have the capacity in terms of suitably qualified teachers and rooming.  We also have to be good stewards of tax payers' money, and so class sizes have to be viable.

Is there anything else you can do to place me in a subject I have missed out on?

By the stage we contact pupils about gaps in their allocations we have exhausted all processes by which we could give you a space in your chosen class.  

Will, it help if my parents write a strongly worded email to the school?

No.  It is right that parents are strong advocates for their children, and occasionally parents will choose to try and exert pressure to prioritise their young person for a variety of reasons.  Our professional integrity does not allow us to yield to such communications.  We will however seek to answer any reasonable questions not covered in this 'FAQ'.

What are the chances of getting a space if I am on a reserve list?

For S56 pupils, when results come out, some pupils will have fallen short of their entry requirements and will be removed from classes.  This can create spaces, but our hope is that all students sitting exams will be successful.  Where you have chosen a subject that is taught along with our S4 pupils, spaces are more limited and therefore waiting lists for these subjects tend to move more slowly.