Troubleshooting

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Summary 
• Generation failed - pre-flight checks
• Common issues include:
• A fixed class will not place
• A lesson keeps moving when I re-run
• The timetable looks sparse in one area
• Glossary
• Support 

Summary 

Use this section to quickly diagnose common timetable generation and placement problems. Start with the on-screen pre-flight checks, then confirm room eligibility, staff availability and class setup. If lessons won't fix or keep moving, verify the target period exists and lock lessons you want to keep in place. 

Generation failed - pre-flight checks

If timetable generation fails, review the on-screen list and resolve the items where indicated.

Common issues include:

• No eligible room for a subject 

Update Rooms, ensuring enough rooms are available for that subject to be taught in

• No teacher can teach a subject / insufficient availability 

Update Staff, ensuring there are enough teachers available for the required teaching periods for that subject, or adjust Subjects or PPA settings

• Class not uniquely named / fixed class conflict 

Correct class details within Classes

A fixed class will not place

• Confirm the fixed slot exists as a teaching period
• Ensure at least one eligible teacher and room is available at that time
• If you need multiple fixed lessons, create separate class records with unique names

A lesson keeps moving when I re-run

• Lock the lesson before selecting Run again

The timetable looks sparse in one area

• Check subject–room permissions; specialist rooms may be over-restricted

Glossary

• MIS: Your school’s Management Information System
• SIS: Your Student Information System
• Teaching period: Any period not marked as break, lunch, or registration
• PPA: Planning, Preparation and Assessment time (non-contact time)
• RFF: Release from Face-to-Face (non-contact time)
• DOTT: Duties Other Than Teaching (non-contact time)
• Fixed class: A class pinned to a specific day and/or time within your timetable
• Single class: Specified duration, group of students and subject

• Class group: A set of single lessons under a core class (for example, Modern Languages containing Spanish and German, or Maths containing Set 1 and Set 2).
• Modules: A lesson that is made up of two or more study units (for example, Music containing Music Theory and Music Practice).
• Elective: The class is for a subject that students choose to study (for example, GCSE options) or the class is not taught in standard tutor groups (for example, set classes such as Maths Set 1, Set 2, Set 3).

Support 

If you have questions, please contact our Timetable 2.0 support team: timetablesupport@tes.com