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Secondary education

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Original poster

Weird timetabling

50 replies

RedSkyAtNight · 06/09/2017 17:07

OK, so I realise timetabling must be a major headache, and there was presumably no way round this but ...
DS got his timetable today. There are not 1, not 2, but 3 occasions where he has a particular lesson at the start of the day and then again at the end of the day.
So for example the lessons in one day might be: Philosophy, Maths, English, PE,Philosophy

As I said I'm sure it's inevitable, but just doesn't seem particularly desirable.

Anyone else's DC got any weird timetabling?

OP posts:
Changerofname987654321 · 06/09/2017 17:10

What year group is he in? In my school timetabling is done for GCSE student first (English and Maths) given 'better' times and then A level students and then everyone else.

HarrietVane99 · 06/09/2017 17:16

Could it be that the teachers are part time, so all their lessons have to be timetabled for the days they work?

Trb17 · 06/09/2017 17:29

DD just started Y7 and has this a lot.

E.g. A day will look like this:

Maths / History / English / History / English

So bizarre but seems to be how they do it at her new school! Odd

Trb17 · 06/09/2017 17:30

Also these lessons are sand teacher and same room... so nothing to do with teachers hours Confused

Original poster
RedSkyAtNight · 06/09/2017 17:39

DS is in Y9, which is KS4 at his school so he's studying GCSE options (though I accept they will be lesser than Y10 and Y11 students). Might be down to teacher's hours, though he also has job share teachers for the same subject. 2 of the occasions are GCSE option subjects, so will affect the whole of Year 9!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2017 17:58

Last year my son's (year 11) timetable on two days went :

Geography , history, history, history, geography
History , geography , geography , geography, history

All to do with teachers having to travel between sites 5 miles apart!

Must have been a nightmare for teachers , especially if some students had low attendance...

This year (same school) DS 2 has Spanish 4 times and it is last lesson every time. Poor teacher!

BizzyFizzy · 06/09/2017 18:01

Sounds like the Philosophy teacher is part-time.

Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2017 18:10

Doubt it ! I am full time, and have my A level class twice in one day and then first lesson the next day. What it actually is is that I am a victim of other people's part timedness. None of them ever work Fridays or Wednesdays, so the rest of us work our arses off on those days. I don't think anyway ever looks at the impact on results or learning of such plainly imperfect timetabling.

yes, I am bitter

BizzyFizzy · 06/09/2017 18:10

That is dreadful timetabling, Piggy.

I am a timetabler and would not have done this.

I think a lot of timetablers work manually, i.e. without using a computer programme. They will use golf tees, lego bricks, etc, to shuffle lessons around. This is such an effort that when they get something that fits, they go with that.

With a computer program, you get a solution in minutes, and then play musical chairs to optimise it.

Some minor subjects that can't support a full time teacher may have more than one lesson in a day as a last resort, but history and geography?

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 06/09/2017 18:12

Teacher here.

I have loads of doubles this year due to staff moving between sites. It sucks

BizzyFizzy · 06/09/2017 18:13

Option blocks with more than one incompatible part-timer are to be avoided at all costs. This can happen when you give students a free choice of options and the teachers are inflexible (have another job, committed to babysitting grandchildren, pig-headed, etc.

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2017 18:20

And then you get the part timer who is timetabled for P1, P3 and P5 but isn't paid for P2 and P4. That's awesome.

Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2017 18:22

noble you should see that in our school, when we change our hours during exams! Carnage!!

BizzyFizzy · 06/09/2017 18:22

Why would they accept this amount of trapped time?

Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2017 18:23

Bizzy the hist/ geog thing was all to do with teachers teaching across tow sites. It ahs been so unpopular at the school that there ahs been a veritable exodus of staff .

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2017 18:24

What makes you think they have a choice BIzzy?

Original poster
RedSkyAtNight · 06/09/2017 18:27

Just realised DS's Philosophy teacher is also DD's tutor - who she sees 5 days a week. So doesn't sound like in that instance anyway that it's a part time teacher problem. It's (sort of) reassuring to hear of others' timetabling issues though!

OP posts:
BizzyFizzy · 06/09/2017 18:28

There's always a choice. They can choose to walk. It might not be a good choice, and can be risky, but schools should not expect vulnerable teachers to be pushovers.

If nothing else, they should pay for the trapped time and put anything over and above PPA as first cover.

If the teacher is on a sessional contract, they should be on a higher rate, or should charge for any unreasonable travel time.

BizzyFizzy · 06/09/2017 18:29

The Philosophy teacher may be in the same option block as a part time teacher.

BoneyBackJefferson · 06/09/2017 18:32

If nothing else, they should pay for the trapped time and put anything over and above PPA as first cover.

Pay with what?

and it isn't always possible to timetable PT teachers in a way that is always suitable,

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 06/09/2017 18:35

Why would they accept this amount of trapped time?

😂 As if we have a choice! I am part-time and work six days a week. I have to go in for one lesson on Saturday - so I actually spend more time driving there and back than I do teaching.

Although part-time teachers are coming in for a lot of stick on this thread, in my school we come in when we are timetabled to come in, and if that's lessons 1&6 and nothing in between, so be it.

Obviously the timetabler does what he can to avoid this, but his logistical headaches are way bigger than one person's timetable. The way students and sets and subjects are blocked can lead to that two lessons in one day thing - nothing to do with the teachers at all.

noblegiraffe · 06/09/2017 18:37

So you either piss off full-timers with arranging the timetable to suit part timers, or you shaft part timers with patchwork timetables. (Guess which my school does - and then full timers still moan when classes are split! At least their timetable arrangements don't cost them a fortune in childcare and travel costs).

TheFallenMadonna · 06/09/2017 18:38

Part timers are a complete pain to timetable. Disclaimer: I am a part timer.

Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2017 18:44

wasn't my intention to start part time bashing - I was reacting to the assumption that the weirdly timetabled classes belong to part timers. In my DS's weird timetabling scenario , his history and geog teachers were full time (one was an asst head) and in my scenario, I am full time.

It's just shit timetabling really. Especially with sixth form. They aren't always the best attenders. So when they have the same subject three times in one day, we've all had it if they decide they don't do Fridays.

Less of an issue lower down the school. I have a year 10 group first and last lesson on a Tuesday and first lesson on a Weds. It kills me and makes my friend cry as her class are naughty. it is awful for homework setting too.

AtiaoftheJulii · 06/09/2017 18:49

My dd had a couple like this last year. Now she's in y10 and they've gone back to a fortnightly timetable - in one week she has 4 drama and 4 art lessons, and in the other week just one of each!