What is Tes Timetable?
Tes Timetable is an algorithm-driven timetabling system created by the experts at Edval. It can explore up to 30,000 alternate timetables per second, taking the heavy lifting out of building even the most complex schedules.
Tes Timetable's intelligent approach means teacher wellbeing can be prioritised through better allocation of classes, accommodating flexible working, and getting rid of classroom clashes and unnecessary movement throughout the day.
The system can also improve outcomes by enabling more students to study their first-choice subjects, increasing satisfaction and engagement, while reducing costs through better use of internal and casual staff.
Recommended Usage
We recommend using the plaform for as long as required during timetable planning and construction. Typically this reduces workload from months to weeks or even days
Educational Impact
Additional evidence
 Company | Business Name: Tes HQ Location: United Kingdom Founded: 2006 |
| Age Range | 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16, 17-18 |
 Features | TimetablingDaily OrganisationSubject SelectionStaffingStudent Elective Line GenerationOption Block GenerationFlexible WorkingInternal StaffingTimetable Timetable GenerationStudent PortalAutomated SchedulesStaffing ChangesRoomingDuty RosterDuty Rotas Class List ManagementRound Robin Swaps |
 Languages | English |
 Accessibility | Robust features |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyGDPR |
 Requirements | Desktop - Windows |
 Set Up | For onboarding, schools can select one of two services. The Managed service provides a complete timetable migration from their old system with a handover session online. This takes approximately two weeks from when the data is received. The Standard service allows schools to import basic data and download a licensed timetable file. They then work through a self-paced online course to complete their timetable set up. Each new school has a dedicated timetable specialist to support them during their first year. Schools must complete the first training course before they commence onboarding. |
 Training | In PersonLive OnlineWebinarsDocumentationVideos Training is provided via online self-paced courses comprising of textual information, videos, directed exercises and interactive quizzes. Webinars and in-person workshops are also offered. A comprehensive Knowledge base is available for all registered users plus phone, chat and email support. |
 Support | EmailFAQs/ForumKnowledge BasePhone Support |
| Home Learning | School must create the account. Tes Timetable has an online portal where students can view their timetable and make subject selections. Parents could access this site using their child’s login. |
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Tes Timetable PricingPricing Plans Paid Subscription  Optimised for a quick response | |
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Tes Timetable Reviews
from 8 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Dave
Timetabler
Used Tes Timetable daily for 3-4 years
Mar 2024
I would give this a 9, because I can cope and find other ways of doing things where the program lacks functionality. So for what it is it is 9 in terms of me having a product that does most of what we need it to do at any given time. (If they later include some other aspects such as taking student options into consideration when optimising, I would give it 10) The reason I give it 2 above is that there are bugs in each part of the program that can mess up data, hang the program, crash the program or otherwise stops it from doing what it should do. They do respond and fix software and roll out updates but I have seen multiple times that they roll out a bug fix for one thing only to mess up something else and this has happened on more than on occasion. So I have spent 4 hours today, trying to figure out why something that worked before Christmas when merging groups doesn't work today. I've had to go back to previous versions to check that it was not me (user error) and then go back and log a report for them that they would understand. So 4 hours when I wanted to be using the tool and instead have got nowhere. Now I know it is not my fault but an upgrade that has messed up that feature I can hopefully progress with what I wanted to do but my whole morning - and my motivation - have been lost!
Dave found Tes Timetable:
- Does not significantly save school money“My time is used often in identifying and working around bugs in the software which is very frustrating, however the optimisation/improve algorithms are fast so I can try many changes in a short time so I guess that balances it out. Of course sometimes those optimisations also create errors and have to be run again so that is a problem.”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“It does not optimise the teacher's day very well with big gaps in the day for teachers so some are not very happy about that and certainly it does not do that for students at all so they can have big gaps in the day. So teachers have to deal with unhappy students and parents sometimes. But it does help structure a timetable for the school which is very good.”
- Does not significantly improve teacher wellbeing“No, please see previous comment as large gaps in the teacher's day can be very stressful for them.”
- Moderately improves school processes“Identifying where there are impossible teacher configurations in the design is very good and so is identifying where there are many student options which cannot fit into the number of periods available, but again bugs in this part of the software crashes the program and so it can be very time consuming sometimes.”
- Does not improve attainment“Not sure that is what we use it for and I guess you could argue that it does not when there are large gaps in student timetables. (The program does not consider student timetable options at all when optimising so does not work at making the day better for the majority of the students) Or when there are lots of first and last periods.”
Katherine
Deputy Principal - Academics
Used Tes Timetable daily for 3-4 years
Feb 2024
There are still some kinks that need to be worked out. Rooming is very clunky and I spend too much time working through this area
Katherine found Tes Timetable:
- Slightly saves school money
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“By creating a more efficient timetable and a better way to see the data, we have improved our teaching loads from 32 out of 40 on average, to 26 out of 40 teaching blocks on average”
- Slightly improves teacher wellbeing
- Moderately improves school processes“Better use of spaces”
- Slightly improves attainment“We are more likely to guarantee the best teacher for a class or year level”
Greg
Head of Curriculum Services
Used Tes Timetable daily for 7–12 months
Feb 2024
It is modern, intuitive, feature rich and goes far beyond jujst a timetabling package.
Greg found Tes Timetable:
- Slightly saves school money
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“yes, teachers can save time by having access ot the EdVal/Tes portal”
- Moderately improves teacher wellbeing“having supervisions, daily changes, meetings and room adjustment in additon to the normal timetbale available is wonderful...not to mention the excellent algorithms that provide balance and rooming solutions”
- Significantly improves school processes“almost every aspect of organisaing the school from subject selection, parent teacher interviews, changes to routines, class changes, ad hoc adjustments, equipwemnt booking - and we havent even got to the flexibility of the timetabling component”
- Slightly improves attainment
Greg
Dec 2018
EdVal Timetables enabled us to introduce a 2 week, 12 day cycle with minimal fuss.
Greg found edval-improvement:
- Not reduce teacher workload
- Save school money
- Provide school data
- Improve School Processes
Dec 2018
We have been using Edval Timetables for the past year and have already seen a positive impact on student satisfaction rates (eg. options success and fewer split classes) and staff wellbeing (eg. part time allocations, fewer split classes and improved rooming solutions).
Claire Pullen found edval-improvement:
- Improve attainment
- Reduce teacher workload
- Save school money
- Provide school data
- Improve School Processes
Dec 2018
Working with Edval this year has already saved us 0.75 FTE after just a small amount of time working with the software. Best from my perspective though is that is causing me to question how we timetable and the processes involved, the human impact and programming the data in the best way for all stakeholders.
Laura found edval-improvement:
- Improve attainment
- Reduce teacher workload
- Save school money
- Provide school data
- Improve School Processes
Dec 2018
Difficult to respond to some of the questions that relate to impact yet as only recently started to use Edval. I know there has been considerable positive improvements in the design of our new TT. Edval has also without doubt saved us money and helped us to make better use of our resources.
Liz Rymer found edval-improvement:
- Improve attainment
- Reduce teacher workload
- Save school money
- Provide school data
- Improve School Processes
Nov 2018
Sara found edval-improvement:
- Reduce teacher workload
- Save school money
- Provide school data
- Improve School Processes