Automating GCSE Options

[tmcd35]

Hi,

We currently sending out an A4 piece of paper with every conceivable options choice to Year 9 parents, just after Christmas I think. They then tick what subjects they want to do at GCSE and return it. The office staff then collate all of this into a master spreadsheet that goes to our timetabler.

What I want to know is, how does other schools handle this? Anyone found a way of automating the process a bit more? I was thinking of creating a Website that parents and pupils can log into to make their course selections and then running reports on the database to create the required information for the timetabler. I think she also wants to look at the Options module in SIMS to help automate the backend with Nova-T.

I don't really want to spend hours coding if someone can point me in the direction of a better solution...

Thanks.

[mattianuk]

I used to use Wordpress and the Gravity forms plugin for any data collection, it is really powerful and always worked well for us, including for doing GCSE and A level options

[Sylv3r]

We dont use this, but the options module at Free trial : timetable software ... for timetabling school timetables ... for easier scheduling. has a web based portal which students can fill in from home using their own login details provided. Can't give you any feedback, priced at just under £500 so it may be a little expensive for your needs but would reduce admin times immensely I would imagine.