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Mock Choice (or free choice) is the process by which we listen to what the pupils say they would like to study in an ideal world and in order from 1 to 7 (5 choices and two reserves).
We analyse each of the subject combinations that this gives for every one of our pupils.
For example, if many pupils tell us they want to study Subject 1 and Subject 2 then we would aim to put them in different choice columns. Pupils could therefore choose both of these subjects for their final choice.
If no pupils wanted to do both Subject 1 and Subject 2 then we may well put them into the same column. If only a small number of students wanted to take both Subject 1 and Subject 2, then these may end up in the same column. Pupils can only choose 1 subbject from each column so pupils would not be able to study these two subjects together.
There is therefore power in numbers, and it is important that pupils give us their ideal subjects at this mock choice stage.
IMPORTANT: Mock choice subjects are not the final choice subjects! Final subject choises are made from the finalised column structure that the mock choices help us generate and will be released on the portal once we have analused all the mock choices recived.
To help pupils and families think about what subjects might be best for them to choose and which subjects should perhaps be avoided, we provide a visual indication in the pupil portal, based on the individual pupil's previous tracking data. A green thumbs up indicates they are ok to choose the subject, and a red thumbs down indicates they may struggle with the subject based on their previous performance. At the mock choice stage a thumbs down does not mean they can't choose the subject, but it may not be a wise or productive choice.
When final choices are made, pupils will receive more specific advice based on their overall performance rather than the snapshot of the October tracking data.
An example screen shot from the pupil portal showing the thumbs can be seen below.
The thumbs up and down are unique to each pupil and linked to the October tracking data. This is the most robust tracking data we have before mock choice. The cutoffs are based on historical data about the proportion of students who secure passes at N4 or N5 and historical data from the final choices regarding the proportion of the year who were deemed to be meeting the entry requirements at the final choice stage.
It is still possible to choose a 'thumb down subject' at mock choice, but pupils who wish to also include this choice in their final choices would need to demonstrate to the faculty a significant improvement in their attainment by early February compared to that from October's tracking report.
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