Maximum Group Sizes
By default, the 'Maximum Group Size' numbers that you enter on the Options Subjects Screen are advisory rather than definite limits.
The reason for this is that you may say initially that the limit is 20 students but in practice, after inspection of the composition of the group (and a knowledge of the teacher, and the nature of the subject), you might well accept a 21st student if this meant you satisfied the student without adding any extra staffing.
Similarly with the Number of Groups.
Clicking on the "Group Sizes!" button tells you if these advisory limits have exceeded, and where to look.
Of course if the group sizes are not acceptable then you can use the Tools provided (Equalize, Bunch, Shuffle, Split) to manipulate them to an acceptable size.
But: if you are sure that you don't want / can't have this flexibility, then you can tell Options not to allow your 'max. groups sizes' to ever be broken. To do this, go to "AutoCreate -> Customize" and change the "Max group sizes:" to "Apply strictly".
Or allow some freedom by choosing (for example) "Allow up to +20%".
But our recommendation is to choose "Apply loosely" to begin with, see what pattern you get, and then decide whether you wish to redo some or all of the pattern using "Apply strictly".
But: if you are sure that you don't want / can't have this flexibility, then you can tell Options not to allow your 'max. groups sizes' to ever be broken. To do this, go to "AutoCreate -> Customize" and change the "Max group sizes:" to "Apply strictly".
Or allow some freedom by choosing (for example) "Allow up to +20%".
But our recommendation is to choose "Apply loosely" to begin with, see what pattern you get, and then decide whether you wish to redo some or all of the pattern using "Apply strictly".
Further thoughts on Strict Group Sizes:
We recommend that you don't use “Strict” group sizes unless you really need to … the reason being that usually, schools want to see the best patterns, even if some groups are too large, for several reasons. For example, suppose you only want 18 students in a group, but there is a really good pattern than has 19 students in the group. If you spoke to the teacher running that group, and showed him who those 19 students are, he might say "Those are 19 students who are really good at this subject, so I will make an exception and have 19 students this year". Or he might say: "One of those students is not good at my subject, and/or he might not be returning to school next year anyway ... so please remove him from my group and ask him to make a different choice". Or you might find the group has 30 students in it, because this subject is really popular this year ... but there is a second teacher who can teach this subject, so you take the decision to split the '30 students' group into 2 groups of '15 students' each.
For all these reasons, most schools run Options first with no group limits, and then look at the patterns being created, and decide whether to take the kind of actions outlined above. Then they use the various tools on the 'Current pattern' screen (Shuffle, Equalise, Split, etc) to manipulate the groups to what they want. This way, they satisfy the most students, and arrive at an Options pattern that works best for everyone (teachers and students).
Summary:
Options gives you a Report, to warn you if the Group Size values are exceeded.
For example: if a Science group is 21 when the 'max' size was set at 20.
For example: If the Music group is only 14 pupils when you said a minimum of 15.
Options then lets you decide if this size is acceptable, in the current circumstances.
And if it is not acceptable / ideal, you can use the 'Shuffle', 'Equal', 'Bunch', and 'Split' tools.
And/or you can allow Options to try the 'Reserve Choices', if any.
For example: if a Science group is 21 when the 'max' size was set at 20.
For example: If the Music group is only 14 pupils when you said a minimum of 15.
Options then lets you decide if this size is acceptable, in the current circumstances.
And if it is not acceptable / ideal, you can use the 'Shuffle', 'Equal', 'Bunch', and 'Split' tools.
And/or you can allow Options to try the 'Reserve Choices', if any.
By the TimeTabler Team