Hi all,
I've just been appointed as our timetabler, and a common thing that seems to come through - but our previous timetablers had various approaches to - is how to place additional lessons. The examples I'm thinking of are classes that currently exist, but where some sort of clash has meant that one of their lessons can no longer exist at a certain time and is being moved to another time.
For example, not through a clash but just preference, a Year 13 Chemistry group, 13D has a lesson on a Thursday Period 5 (as do all Year 13 groups in Block D). However, the teacher and all the students are free Period 4, so the teacher wants the lesson moved the period before. This is during Block E, so the three options I can see are:
1. Use Alternative Curriculum to create an extra chemistry lesson, and reduce 13D from 10 per fortnight to 9 per fortnight
2. Give Block D an extra hour, place it as a clash with Block E on Thursday Period 4 and move the teacher's lesson from Period 5 to 4
3. Create 13E Chemistry, which currently doesn't exist, and give them one lesson on Thursday Period 4 and populate with the same student, and reduce 13D from 10 per fortnight to 9 per fortnight
I have a similar thing with Greek, who want an additional two lessons per fortnight.
In my mind, Option 1 and 3 both create additional classes to be populated with students which is extra work (not much, granted) and means additional classes that could be accidentally included for Reports etc, even though it's just an extension of 13D. Option 2 on instinct seems best. However, my instinct comes from being a week in post so I would appreciate any thoughts from others. There are plenty of other posts around that seem to advocate use of Alternative Curriculum...but is that the best approach?
Thanks for your time,
Drew
