Mervyn Wakefield,
Educational
Management Services
Tel :
01228-59-40-40 (Carlisle)
email : mervyn@cumbria.f9.co.uk
websites : www.edman.co and www.merv.co
TimeTabler : Associates & Courses
If you feel that you need Extra Help, or if you would like to go on a Course, then there is a wide choice.
The Associates listed below are all experienced timetablers. They can give you extra Help on-site in-school if you wish.
Some of them also provide Courses. Please note that these courses can be on general timetabling principles, or on using the TimeTabler software in particular, or both. And they can be out of school (perhaps in a hotel), or they can be on-site in your school.
Of course you do not
need to go on a course to use
TimeTabler . . . we give you lots
of help: with the HelpMovies, the HelpLine (staffed by experienced timetablers), the interactive HelpScreens, the fully-illustrated printed Manual with lots of examples & tips, the KnowledgeBase, and of course the friendliness of the program itself.
See also the full list of Help here or download a PDF of the 12 ways we provide Help & Support.
However it can often be helpful to go on a course or a workshop, or have in-school training, and you have wide choice:
Mervyn Wakefield, Educational
Management Services |
|
Mervyn Wakefield
provides timetabling courses all over the UK, as well as doing timetabling for schools.
Although his courses are mainly about timetabling principles, he usually demonstrates TimeTabler as well.
He also advises
individual school head-teachers & management teams on many aspects of
school organisation and management.
He provides
timetabling courses at 3 levels and usually includes some computer-based
timetabling as part of the course, and providing free timetabling spreadsheets to course
members.
| He also runs
occasional courses specifically on TimeTabler. These can include in-school on-site training on how to use TimeTabler in your school. For more details please click on: --The 1-day in-school programme, --The 2-day in-school programme. |
 A view of the 3-day 'Timetabling with TimeTabler' course |
| The web-site
at www.education-management-services.co.uk gives details of a range of courses on many subjects. |
|
Chris Knights-Branch, Peter Knights-Branch MIST Services Ltd |
  |
MIST Services offer a range of services and support on Options, Curriculum design and Timetabling, helping both new and experienced timetablers throughout the timetabling process.
They offer courses on timetabling principles, as well as specific support for TimeTabler and Options, including in-school on-site training on how to use these programs in your school.
MIST Services offer a wide range of courses, including a Workshop Week where as the timetabler you attend for as many days as you feel you need access to expert advice, whilst working on your own timetable.
Some of their courses include:
:: Timetabling workshop week
:: Student Option choices
:: Introduction to using TimeTabler
:: Principles of Timetabling with TimeTabler
More TimeTabler and Options courses can be found on their website
If you wish to use the TOOLS on-line feature in Options but don't wish to host it at school, MIST will host it for you. Details here.
Chris Knights-Branch and his colleagues work with academies, state schools, independent schools and International schools, using TimeTabler, Facility Scheduler and Nova T6. As such they have a unique insight of all three solutions and are able to advise you, should you be migrating from Facility Scheduler or Nova T6 to TimeTabler.
Other TimeTabler Associates
Other Associates who can help you with on-site in-school support, as well as doing the timetable for you if you want to out-source it, include:
| John Clark Tel : 01252 623 397 (Hampshire) email : johnclark50@sky.com |
 |
John Clark writes: "I have been involved in timetabling since the early 1990s. Since early retirement in 2008, I have helped schedule the timetable for over 30 schools, including several preparatory schools, 11-16 and 11-18 comprehensives, senior independent schools, a special school and two international schools in Dubai and Kiev. I can offer senior managers advice on how to get the most flexible timetable to meet curriculum needs, train staff to create a schedule and import it to their MIS, troubleshoot when difficulties arise, and schedule complete timetables. I am based in Hampshire but am happy to travel anywhere, including overseas, or work from home. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss your requirements, without obligation."
| Paul Murphy Tel : 01663 766 829 (Manchester) email : paul@corsavy.com |
 |
Paul Murphy writes: "I have been timetabling for over 30 years, and run timetabling courses both in individual schools and for groups of schools. I have worked with many schools assisting them to produce their school timetable, in some cases remotely but mostly working with the school timetabler on site. Types of school range from small and large 11 to 18, small and large 11 to 16 and Sixth Form Colleges. I can assist schools in checking the viability of curriculum structures and costing the staffing needs. I assist in testing the staffing of the curriculum to improve flexibility. According to the school's structure I will guide the timetabler though the appropriate steps to produce the timetable."
Associates in Scotland : 
| Terry Howe Tel : 01786 451 740 (Stirling) 07711 280374 (mobile) email : tvhowe@lineone.net |
 |
Terry Howe writes: " I am a retired Depute Head; 40 years’ experience in timetabling including very large and split site schools, 25 years of which have involved computer aided construction.
I have been a TimeTabler & Options user for over 15 years. I'm willing to help at whatever level for both TimeTabler and Options.
Travel is not a problem."
| Derek Simpson Tel : 01368863339 (school ) 07905 241086 (mobile) email : derek@madmaths.demon.co.uk or dsimpson@dunbargrammar.elcschool.org.uk |
 |
Derek Simpson writes: "I am the depute Headteacher at Dunbar Grammar School with responsibility for the timetable. I have been using the TimeTabler software for the last 7 years. In that time the structure of our school day and curriculum have changed with remarkable regularity. A number of years ago the school moved to a free choice model S2 to S3, and the combination of Options with the TimeTabler software meant that this has been delivered every year since with no real issues. The challenge of timetabling a new structure to cope with CfE is yet to come in reality. Familiarity with the software has allowed me to try various options and schematics through to a finished timetable. These have then been analysed for "efficiency" and “good timetabling” which I think have contributed to a greater understanding of the issues faced in meeting the requirements of CfE. I am happy to share this experience with anyone as well as offer myself as help or support to those using the TimeTabler software."
World-wide
For courses on-site in International schools please see EMS or MIST Services, above.
David Griffiths,
Monitor Educational
Services
1 Fulshaw Avenue
Wilmslow SK9 5JA
Tel :
01625-524-474
email :
info@MonitorTimetabling.com
David Griffiths provides timetabling courses all over the UK.
They deal with
the principles of planning and constructing school timetables without prejudging
the tools that should be used, and last for either 1 or 2 days.
Lighthouse Professional Development
This company sometimes organises timetabling courses. They are usually delivered by Mervyn Wakefield.
Tel : 0800
587 8880
email: info@lighthouse.tv
Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
This association
sometimes organises timetabling courses for members, on timetabling principles.
The course leaders are usually Malcolm Trobe, Sam Ellis, or Duncan Baldwin.
Tel : 0116 299 1122
website : http://sha.org.uk/Home/Training/
If you are unable to attend a course, or if you prefer to learn from a book, or if you want to revise the timetabling principles that you learnt on a course, or if you want to study a topic in more depth, then you need a copy of Keith Johnson's book:
'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.
This is the timetabler's 'bible'.
« Just click on items in the menu to see more details.
If you have any queries about the programs, please e-mail them to:
keith@timetabler.com
We will answer any questions you may have about using the software with your
particular curriculum.
© Chris & Keith Johnson