Timetabling in Scottish schools
Timetabling in Scotland has its own flavour, which may mean using TimeTabler and/or Options and/or StaffCover in a slightly different way.
We have prepared 17 White Papers to help you.
They explain how to use Options efficiently, to save your time. How to choose the best method for your school. How to use TOOLS effectively. How to communicate with Parents effectively; how to develop Group Lists efficiently.
For TimeTabler they cover the use of Teacher Pools to schedule a schematic in S 3/4/5/6, including a joint S456; and scheduling S3; and gives details of several examples of structures for S1 and S2 and how to schedule them very quickly. They explain how to schedule these 5 structures without using the complication of container blocks. And how to cope with Part-timers.
They give suggestions for the best Printouts, and explain how to do the Export to SEEMiS and other MIS.
For StaffCover they discuss McCrone, etc.
To download your copies:
Options
1.
Importing your Students' Names from SEEMiS into Options,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/SEEMiS-ExportingStudentDataForOptions.pdf
2.
Collecting your pupils’ Choices efficiently, using TOOLS,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/WhitePaper-on-Options-&-TOOLS-in-Scotland.pdf
and, for more about different options structures, see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/WhitePaper-on-Options-&-TOOLS.pdf
3.
Extra Notes on using Options in Scottish schools,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/SupportCentre/Scotland-Using-Options.pdf
4.
Exporting your Students' final Choices into a Letter to Parents,
please download:
https://www.timetabler.com/SupportCentre/Example_Merge_Letter.doc
5.
Using Options to create an Exam timetable,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/Examination-Timetable.pdf
6.
Exporting Students and their Choices from Options to SEEMiS.
This would also save you an enormous amount of time. Unfortunately, despite agreeing to do this in 2014, SEEMiS have still not implemented this import. Now they say that they can only take notice of what local SEEMiS Reps say. If you want this to happen please convince your local SEEMiS Rep to push for it to happen. Then we can provide the documentation.
[For Scottish schools using iSAMS there is already an import, see the documentation.]
TimeTabler
7.
For importing your Basic Data from SEEMiS into TimeTabler,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/Importing-BasicData-from-SEEMiS-into-TT.pdf
8a & 8b. Now expanded, with more on how to use the new Team Combinations Screen to look for doublets & triplets:
For help with scheduling S3456 with examples, including a Joint 456,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/Scotland--Timetabling-S456-with-TimeTabler-Doc-A.pdf
For a detailed example of a joint S456 that allows pupils to study 5, 6 or 7 subjects, a mix of Nationals & Highers, please also see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/S456-at-LesmahagowHS.pdf
9.
For help with scheduling S3, with Worked Examples for 4 different structures,
please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/Scotland--Timetabling-S3-with-TimeTabler-Doc-C.pdf
10.
For help with scheduling S1 and S2, with Worked Examples for several different structures,
using 'Consistent grouping' or 'Consistent setting', please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/Scotland--Timetabling-S1-S2-with-TimeTabler-Doc-B.pdf
11.
For details about how to export your completed timetable to SEEMiS,
please see HelpMovie 65 and:
https://www.timetabler.com/export/PDFs/Exporting-from-TimeTabler-to-SEEMiS.pdf
12. NEW
Scheduling Part-timers can be troublesome, and this is a growing aspect of school life.
We have been involved in a big year-long Project to find better solutions, and TimeTabler now has many new features to help you with the scheduling of Part-time staff.
Please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/PDFs/PartTimerFeaturesinTimeTabler.pdf
and see the White Paper at: https://www.timetabler.com/improvingPart-timers.html
StaffCover
13.
For dealing with daily Cover duties, within the requirements of the Working Time Agreement and 'McCrone time', please see:
https://www.timetabler.com/StaffCover-Bklt.pdf
Primary, Junior, Prep or Special Schools
14. If you work in a Primary or Junior or Prep School, see:
https://www.timetabler.com/SupportCentre/Primary-Junior-Prep-School-Timetabling.pdf
15. If you share staff between a Junior & Secondary school, see:
https://www.timetabler.com/SupportCentre/Senior-Junior-timetables.pdf
16. If you work in a very small school or a Special School, see:
https://www.timetabler.com/SupportCentre/Worked-Example-1.pdf
See also the information here: https://www.timetabler.com/scotland
For full details of all the Help & Support we provide, see: https://www.timetabler.com/SupportCentre/Help-and-Support-Booklet.pdf
Note: If you are timetabling in Scotland and have any further thoughts on features or issues specific to Scottish timetabling, please let us know via the Support Centre - thank you.
By the TimeTabler Team