Constraint recipe
A subgroup split places parts of one class in different lessons at the same time, common for sets, options, or practical rotations. Each subgroup needs its own teacher, room, and student list. Parallel splits must not put the same student in two lessons at once. Build membership data before placement, not after.
Key takeaways
- Define which students belong to each subgroup first.
- Parallel splits need a teacher and room per taught group.
- Rotations help when equipment cannot serve every subgroup at once.
- Option blocks need membership data before scheduling starts.
Structure before placement
A split is a data decision: who is in group A, who is in group B, and whether those groups run at the same time or in rotation. Without that structure, the timetable cannot prevent student clashes or reserve the right staff.
Parallel splits need more teachers and rooms in the same period. Rotations spread demand across weeks when capacity is limited.
What splits compete with
Option bands, vocational pathways, and practical rotations all consume teachers, rooms, and equipment at once. A split that works on paper may fail when only one lab exists.
See course catalog planning for blocks, bands, and option structures.
What to do next
- Export or build a student membership list for each subgroup.
- Decide whether subgroups run in parallel or as rotations.
- Assign teachers, rooms, and equipment to each taught subgroup.
- Check that no student appears in two parallel lessons at once.
- Place scarce-room or practical subgroups before flexible lessons.
- Review teacher load created by the split.
Common mistakes
- Creating subgroup names without a student membership list
- Scheduling parallel groups when only one eligible room exists
- Counting one split lesson as one teacher load when several teachers are needed
Quick answers
Do subgroups need separate teachers?
For parallel splits, yes. Each taught group needs its teacher, room, and equipment at the same time.
Can subgroup splits be rotations?
Yes. Rotations are useful when room or equipment capacity cannot support every subgroup at once.