Key takeaways
- Handoff means a feasibility-proven, staffed curriculum structure is ready for placement.
- Use block build to test internal consistency inside a block.
- Use combing charts and clash tables to test compatibility across blocks and year groups.
- Build trial timetables before finalising when the proposed structure is still uncertain.
What does handoff pass forward?
Handoff passes a feasibility-proven, staffed curriculum structure into timetable construction. It should include the agreed calendar, curriculum structure, staffing assumptions, room constraints, and known exceptions.
The handoff does not place lessons. Placement belongs to the timetabling stage. Handoff proves that the structure is coherent enough for placement to start.
Which feasibility checks belong before handoff?
Use named checks, not a general claim that the plan is ready.
- Block build for internal consistency inside each block
- Combing chart for teacher double-booking across blocks
- Clash table or conflict matrix for compatibility across year groups
- Trial timetable or “what if” investigation using next year’s real staff
- Check that singletons and other constrained items are visible for scheduling order
- Review that specialist rooms and staffing limits match resource and staff modeling
How do planners run handoff readiness?
Run readiness after staged sign-off and before the first timetable build.
- Confirm the signed calendar, curriculum structure, and staffing assumptions.
- Run block build checks and fix blocks that cannot build.
- Use a combing chart to find teacher double-bookings across blocks.
- Use clash tables or a conflict matrix to review year-group compatibility.
- Build a trial timetable when the structure needs proof with real staff.
- Pass the feasible structure to timetable generation.
How do trial timetables help?
A trial timetable is a “what if” investigation. It tests whether the proposed structure can work with next year’s real staff before final decisions are made.
Use trial builds when a change affects scarce teachers, option blocks, or specialist rooms. If the trial fails, send the issue back to the relevant planning owner instead of treating it as a placement problem.
What should the handoff record confirm?
The record should show why construction can begin.
- Calendar and period counts are signed off
- Option pattern, bands, sets, and blocks are agreed
- Curriculum audit and staff loading chart still match
- Block build, combing chart, and clash-table checks have been reviewed
- Known exceptions have an owner and decision
- Scheduling-order risks are visible before constraint validation and placement
Questions planners ask about timetabling handoff
What does block build prove?
It checks whether a single block is internally consistent. If a teacher or room is required twice inside the block, the block cannot build and cannot be scheduled as proposed.
Why use a combing chart before timetable construction?
A combing chart checks whether blocks fit together without double-booking a teacher. It gives evidence that the structure can move forward before placement starts.
What should be scheduled first after handoff?
The sourced guidance says to schedule the most constrained items first, such as singletons, then cores, then electives. Treat that as a scheduling-order rule, not a handoff substitute.