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AIBU?

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Original poster

to ask if anyone can tell me the point of a 2 week timetable?

75 replies

freddiefrog · 11/09/2013 20:53

Eldest daughter started secondary school last week.

They have a 2 week timetable which just serves to confuse the dickens out of everyone, mostly me

Helpfully Hmm, school haven't indicated on the timetable which side is week one and which side is week two, meaning that we both got thoroughly confused this morning and she ended up needlessly carting her games kit around all day.

I had been going on the assumption that this week was week 2. Their first week was last week and I wrongly thought that that would be week 1, being week 1 in the term and all that.

I'm sure she'll find her feet soon and it'll all make sense, but dear god, they don't make it easy for you.

Is there a point to it that I'm missing? She has the same lessons each week, just on different days depending on which week it is.

OP posts:
Shutupanddrive · 11/09/2013 20:57

Why didn't you ring the school to confirm which was week 1? Does seem a bit stupid, but probably have their reasons for it

Screwfox · 11/09/2013 20:57

everyone manages! Hmm
its just you.

HattyJack · 11/09/2013 20:57

A two week time table has twice as many slots as a one week one, so you can fit in subjects more easily.

For example if you have 5 periods a day that's 25 a week. Given the subjects that need a double period (PE, Sciences, Domestic Science, Tech etc) and the subjects that need frequent lessons (modern languages) it's hard to fit it all in. It's much easier with 50 slots.

I went to a school with a 7 day timetable, so Monday of the second week of term was day 6. It carried on over half term so you'd have a week off and go back on a Monday that was day 5 or whatever, so it could be worse - was a nightmare if you were off ill and couldn't remember what day it was. I liked it though as it meant you didn't have the same lessons every day - there was none of that "Oh god, it's Friday afternoon French" feeling.

phantomnamechanger · 11/09/2013 21:00

I have a Y7 DD too - its perfectly usual thesedays to have a 2wk timetable, and you will soon get used to it. They should have been made aware what week it was though, obviously -maybe DD was not listening at that point?

LuisSuarezTeeth · 11/09/2013 21:00

I have never heard of this! Is it new?

nennypops · 11/09/2013 21:02

Schools usually have something on their websites saying what week it is, as well as large signs in the entrance hall or somewhere equally prominent.

HattyJack · 11/09/2013 21:02

My seven day one was more years ago than I care to work out, Luis

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 11/09/2013 21:04

These notices have limited usefulness, though, if there is no indication which timetable is week 1 and which is week 2, which is what I understood the OP to be saying.

Original poster
freddiefrog · 11/09/2013 21:05

I didn't ring because DD needs to have left home before the school opens their switchboard.

They've implemented the 2 week time table at our school this year and we have 1 A4 sheet with a time table on each side, but no indication of which side is which.

She has the same amount of lessons and periods, just on different days.

She'll get the hang of it eventually I'm sure

OP posts:
LittleRobots · 11/09/2013 21:06

Both the school I went to (started over 20 years ago) and the ones I've taught in do this. It makes sense when you have subjects that are 1hr a fortnight, such as compulsory RS, or 3 hr a fortnight such as history in year 8 and 9.

PareyMortas · 11/09/2013 21:07

Dd's school have just changed from an 8 day to a ten day timetable. Ten days is easy.

Trills · 11/09/2013 21:08

My secondary school switched to a two-week timetable part way through my time there.

Before the 2-week timetable, we had half-hour lessons (with a number of "double" 1-hour lessons) in order to fit everything in.

With the 2-week timetable everything was a 1-hour lesson.

Half-hour lessons are crap, lots of time is wasted, by the time you have packed up your stuff from one lesson, walked to the next classroom, and unpacked your stuff, a good proportion of the time is gone.

Original poster
freddiefrog · 11/09/2013 21:09

I've just dug around on their website and there's nothing on there either

OP posts:
DameDeepRedBetty · 11/09/2013 21:09

Our school's just started this. So far so good...

I think it's going to be better than the standard one week timetable used before, there were six 50 minute periods and now there are five 60 minute ones, and the flexibility is great as Hatty says.

We have a timetable/calendar stuck up by the front door, with PE kit/musical instrument required days highlighted, it's been a success since its introduction three years ago.

DameDeepRedBetty · 11/09/2013 21:12

The timetable sheet photocopy sounds a bit of a cock up Freddie! I bet you're not the only family tearing hair out over this one.

Can you make copies with your printer? Then write week 1 on one, Week 2 on the other, and do the stick it up by the door thing as above.

PoppyWearer · 11/09/2013 21:13

My secondary school had a two-week timetable (counts) over 20 years ago.

Original poster
freddiefrog · 11/09/2013 21:16

Yes, I've scanned it in on the computer now (as DD is likely to lose it anyway), so now I think we've worked it out, I'll stick it up somewhere prominent.

As a high school newbie, it confused the heck out of us all

OP posts:
ceeveebee · 11/09/2013 21:17

I always had "red week" and "blue week" in my secondary school. And I used to just ask classmates or the teachers myself if not sure. I think I used to write in my log book (homework diary) but this was 25 years ago so a bit sketchy now...!

LuisSuarezTeeth · 11/09/2013 21:20

I think I must just be old then Grin

ilovesooty · 11/09/2013 21:23

It's also much easier to timetable groups who have part time teachers and teachers who work on job shares and because the lessons vary from week to week it's easier to manage lessons lost through illness and bank holidays.

RubyRR · 11/09/2013 21:29

Is it in her homework diary?

Original poster
freddiefrog · 11/09/2013 21:31

No, it's not in her diary, it's just 1 printed sheet.

I can now see how it works, just not in the way our school implemented it Grin

OP posts:
JamieandtheMagicTorch · 11/09/2013 21:32

My DS1 has written both timetables on a reversible little card to slip inside his lunch card holder. He got the hang very quickly

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 11/09/2013 21:32

My DS1 has written both timetables on a reversible little card to slip inside his lunch card holder. He got the hang very quickly

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 11/09/2013 21:32

so proud it was worth saying twice ..