51����

School subject selection is one of the most exciting – and stressful – times in the school year. For leaders, it’s a delicate balancing act. For students, it can feel like the first big step towards shaping their future.  

And for timetablers… it’s spreadsheets, preferences, clashes, and last-minute curveballs!  

But, as schools push for greater flexibility and student agency, there’s a risk: sometimes the loudest voices get heard first, and the quieter ones can get left behind. 

The balancing act behind every grid 

Every school faces the same puzzle: how do we offer meaningful choice for students, while keeping things managing staffing and curriculum requirements and the timetable? 

You’re likely juggling: 

• Subjects with high demand, but no available teacher 

• Niche subjects with passionate advocates but low enrolment 

• Students desperate to do both Chemistry and Visual Arts…in the same line 

• Staff availability, FTE limits, and split-load constraints 

• Deciding who gets the “good” classrooms (and who’s stuck by the toilets) 

It’s a game of trade-offs. And without clear data and process, it’s easy for decision-making to tilt in favour of the most vocal students, parents, or staff members. 

Tes Timetable makes it easy to experiment with unlimited hypothetical scenarios to create the perfect timetable for your school's unique needs.

Who’s not being heard?��

Some students will tell you exactly what they want. Others? They’ll choose randomly, pick what their mates are doing, or forget to submit anything at all.��

In any school, there are silent groups:��

• Students from culturally diverse backgrounds, unsure what’s “expected”��

• Kids with additional needs, who need support to navigate their options��

• Families without the digital access or confidence to get involved��

• Students who don’t realise that some choices may limit their future pathways��

The question is: are your systems set up to hear from everyone?��
��

��

Three ways to level the playing field��

1. Make subject selection a process, not a panic��

Give students and families time to explore their options. Run info sessions, Q&As and subject showcase events – either in-person or online. Make the “why” behind each subject clear, not just the subject name, so students have a full understanding of the learning outcomes they are choosing.��

Timetabler tip: Offer example career pathways or tertiary study prerequisites linked to subjects – a glimpse into the future impact of their choices can be eye-opening for students.��

2. Use data to guide (not overrule) decisions��

It’s tempting to over-index on the most popular subjects. But raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. Historical trends, clash data and line-building logic all matter. Remember to take a step back to make sure you can still see the bigger picture. It’s also helpful to ask other stakeholders for more context if things are unclear.����

3. Create room for reflection and review��

Sometimes students submit their preferences and regret them after a week, or you discover that 10 kids misunderstood what “Design & Technology” actually is.��

Build in space for double-checking before the lines are locked in. It can reduce frustration later on for everyone involved, including the students themselves.����

Making school subject selection less stressful (for you, too)��

Whether you’re leading curriculum, timetabling for the school or managing student pathways, subject selection always comes with pressure.��

The good news? With the right processes, support and software in place, it becomes a powerful opportunity to promote equity, build student voice and design a timetable that genuinely works.��

And when you’re ready to take the stress out of it, Tes Timetable is ready to help.��

Learn more about Choice

Choice makes it easier to manage complex subject selections with fairness, clarity and transparency. It visualises preferences, makes bottlenecks obvious, and shows you where changes will have knock-on effects – so you’re not making decisions in the dark.��