The POP in more detail

The POP in more detail

What is the POP@ 16?

It stands for Personalised Options Plan. The POP@16 is issued in February of Year 11. It indicates each subject’s judgement about whether a student has both the attitude and the aptitude to achieve at least an E at A level, a 3 at Standard Level IB, or a 4 at Higher Level IB, assuming good progress is made.

Although the majority of our students go on to achieve much higher grades, we believe that Es at A level, 3s at SL and 4s at HL are viable currencies for universities, setting our students up for their futures.

The POP@16 document, and this Pre-POP document, work in conjunction with all of the other support and guidance we offer to students as they make their decisions about post-16 studies. Our main aim is for as many students as possible to start appropriate courses from the start of Year 12.

How do teachers decide?

Teachers consider all the evidence from the two year I/GCSE course to decide whether they think the students have the attitude and aptitude to attain Es, 3s or 4s. A range of quantitative and qualitative evidence is considered, including classwork, homework, results, general interest in the subject and attitude to studies.

What if I want to do the IB but I don’t have a POP in Maths or a Science subject?

You can still follow the IB pathway if you have all the other POPs necessary for IB study. As your subject in Group 5 (Mathematics), you can study Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Standard Level without a POP. Similarly, for your Group 4 Experimental Sciences option, you can choose Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS), which is also a Standard Level course, without a POP.

What about all the new subjects in the 6th Form?

We use the “POPs” of subjects the students are doing at I/GCSE to make “POP” choices about new subjects that have similar content or skills. The following tables explain how this works:

To do these subjects for the first time within the 6th Form…

Politics AL/SL/HL, History AL/SL/HL, Economics* AL/SL/HL, Business* AL/SL/HL, Geography AL/SL/HL PE AL

Psychology AL/SL/HL

…you need a POP from ONE of these subjects

History, Economics*, Geography, Psychology

English, History, Economics, Geography, Business, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology PLUS students must regularly participate and compete in one sport during the school year (in/out of school) Any other POP

Computer Science AL/HL Maths, Physics, Economics Computer Science SL Maths, Physics, Economics, Biology, Chemistry Film Studies AL/SL/HL Any other POP

Visual Arts AL/SL/HL, Music SL/HL, Drama/Theatre AL/SL/HL English, History, Economics, Geography, Business, PLUS audition or portfolio of work to be arranged with head of subject

Religious Studies/Philosophy AL/SL/HL English, History, Geography, Economics

* If your son/daughter is currently doing Business or Economics at I/GCSE, their teacher will decide on POPs for both Business AL/SL/HL and the two Economics A level courses and Economics HL and SL.

The Head of Year and Head of Key Stage will also consider whether they think each student will have a positive impact on the sixth form. At this stage they have chosen between “Yes” and “Some concerns”.

What else does the school do to advise us about options @ 16?

The Pop@16 is part of a comprehensive package of advice including: • Talks for students delivered by subject specialists about the differences between IB and A level courses. • Pathways sessions for parents. • PTSCs can be used to discuss 6th form options • The University Counselling Team are available to answer any questions • The 6th form interview process. • The options evening.