Constraint recipe
A consecutive-lesson cap limits how many periods a teacher teaches back to back without a gap. It protects voice, travel between rooms, and recovery time. Double periods and lab blocks may need an approved exception because the curriculum expects adjacent time. Check daily totals and unavailable periods before you tighten the cap.
Key takeaways
- Consecutive caps target back-to-back teaching runs.
- Double periods and lab blocks may need explicit exceptions.
- A lower cap can push lessons into more gaps or more days.
- Review daily load and gaps whenever you change the cap.
What the cap is trying to prevent
Four lessons in a row with no break is a different workload problem from four lessons spread across the day. The consecutive cap targets the back-to-back pattern.
Make the cap **hard** only when policy never allows a longer run. Otherwise keep it **soft** so practical blocks can survive when rooms or availability are tight.
Where the cap collides with the curriculum
Science labs, workshops, and language doubles often need two adjacent periods. A strict consecutive cap can fight those blocks unless you exempt them.
See double-period lessons when adjacent time is part of the lesson design, not an accident.
What to do next
- Write down the maximum consecutive periods your policy allows.
- List subjects that legitimately need double periods or longer blocks.
- Find teachers who exceed the cap and note which lessons create the run.
- Check whether those teachers are also over the daily or weekly limit.
- Adjust the consecutive preference and regenerate.
- Document approved exceptions for blocks that cannot be split.
Common mistakes
- Applying one cap to subjects that require double periods
- Tightening consecutive limits while the teacher is already overloaded weekly
- Judging consecutive runs without checking whether the fix created more gaps
Quick answers
Is a consecutive-period cap hard or soft?
It depends on policy. Many schools keep it soft because a longer run may be the least bad option once rooms and availability are fixed.
Why do consecutive lessons remain after regeneration?
Double periods, lab blocks, scarce rooms, or narrow availability may leave a longer run as the only valid pattern.