Should I use Container Blocks or not?

Overview
The first rule of Container Blocks is : Do NOT use Container Blocks unless you have to.

This is because Container Blocks (CBs) are very clever, and work extremely well in situations where they are needed -- but quite often they are NOT needed, and since they are complicated our advice is: don't use them unless you have to.   Very often a Simple Block or Consistently-setted Block will be easier to implement.

The key difference between Container Blocks and Simple Blocks and Consistently-setted Blocks, is in the number of possible permutations and the possible spread.

Example
     Example of a Container Block (CB) with split-teaching:

This is a good example of when you would probably want to use a CB.  These Sixth-form Activities involve several subjects with split teaching (for example, the Geography [Geo] lessons are taught by 3 different teachers - one takes a Double lesson, the other two both take 2 Single lessons), so there are several permutations possible. The CB allows you to take advantage of these permutations and their flexibility.

Using CBs
If you need to use them, see the examples in 'Section I' of the printed Manual, and this article explaining how to reserve periods.

Consistent Setting
An alternative may be to use 'Consistent-setting':

      Example of consistently-setted Science block:

If you need to use them, see the PDF on worked examples of Methods for scheduling Consistent Groups.

Important:
To decide whether you need to use Container Blocks or not, see:
--the diagrams in your Manual in Sections H23 and H24, 
--and HelpMovie 46.

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Further advice:

-- In general, only use Container Blocks in your Sixth Form (if you have one) / later years in your school.   Elsewhere it is usually better to use the 'Consistent-Setting' methods in the PDF above.

-- If you are still not sure, submit a Ticket to the Support Centre, and include full details of the Blocks you are trying to schedule.   A Curriculum Diagram is the best way to show this unambiguously, so please include one if possible.

-- When you get to the scheduling stage, see the recommendations on how best to sequence the scheduling, in the article on 'Consistent Grouping'.