SCHOOL TIMETABLING / USER NEEDS RESEARCH

Your experience shapes the questions.

We want to understand how schools create timetables: what works well, what is difficult, and which improvements would matter to the people doing the work.

We welcome your experience even if you are completely satisfied with your current approach.

BEFORE YOU TAKE PART

A study of everyday timetabling.

For the colleagues who create a school’s timetable, whether they use software, work manually, or combine the two.

Answer about the most recent initial timetable issued for one school site and student population. The survey also asks about work across a typical school year; day-to-day absence cover is outside those questions.

Time: Approximately 7–10 minutes
Format: Multiple-choice questions and short answers
Preparation: No timetable files needed; approximate answers are welcome
Your choice: Participation is voluntary. Comments are optional.

WHAT WE ARE LEARNING

The whole process matters.

Creating the first timetable

The methods you use, the role of automatic generation, and the adjustments needed before a timetable is issued.

Assessing the result

How you judge timetable quality and how requirements and preferences affect the decisions you make.

Working through the year

Where staff effort is concentrated and what, if anything, would make the greatest difference to your work.

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Clear choices about taking part.

The survey requires your name and email address, so responses are not anonymous. It also includes the reference ID supplied in your invitation.

You can choose separately whether to receive further research and testing invitations. Asking a question in the survey does not subscribe you to the newsletter.

There is no obligation to take part in testing or make a purchase. Please read the survey’s privacy information before submitting your response.

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