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Plato once said, “you can’t run a school without a strong timetable”. Ok, maybe he didn’t, but would you disagree if he had?  

School timetabling in this day and age can be riddled with challenges. Modern school schedules grow increasingly complex every year, and all you want to do is try and keep everyone happy; your students, your staff, and of course, the parents. Speciality subjects and preferences, class sizes, teacher availability, extracurricular activities, room allocations, and more can all add up to quite the headache. If this is all Greek to you, allow us to translate! 

With so many factors to incorporate, if you want to avoid the stress, inefficiency and human error of manual timetabling, then a digital solution is the way to go. But not all timetable solutions are created equal.  

That’s why we’ve done the research for you on some of the digital timetable tools available to Australian schools to see how they measure up against Tes Timetable, powered by Edval. In this guide, we’ll run you through the pros and cons of Griddle by Compass Education, Timetabling Solutions and good old fashioned manual timetabling, all compared to Tes Timetable. 

If you’re looking for the best timetabling software choice for your school to equip you to deliver the efficient and automated scheduling solution that your students need, then let this review get you started.  

What are the different timetabling options? 

With so many different timetabling management options available, it can be near impossible to compare them all, and honestly, who has the time? To keep things simple, we’ve taken a deep dive on the three timetabling solutions we hear our customers mention most often when making the switch to Tes Timetable.  

Manual timetabling:  

Ahh, the good, ol’ sticky note. Sure, it has its place, but that place shouldn’t be anywhere near the timetable of your school. Spreadsheets and reams of paper are inherently limited. Manual methods are time-consuming, error prone and inflexible to changes.  

Plus, your wall ends up looking like you’re trying to solve a crime...  

Digital solutions:  

For more advanced scheduling solutions, there are several digital platforms available to Australian schools, including Griddle, Timetabling Solutions and Tes Timetable. We’ll explore these three solutions in detail below.  

Criteria for comparing efficient timetable management solutions 

Our team of timetabling experts have decades of experience between them, so they know more than a thing or two when it comes to what makes a school timetabling solution great. We asked them to share their most important criteria for comparison and this is what they told us:  

• Ease of use and user experience:  
  • Look at interface design, intuitiveness, and the learning curve for each solution. Time is at a premium in schools, so you don’t want to waste hours attempting to navigate a tool when you’re up against a deadline! 
• Customisation & flexibility:  
  • Evaluate how well each option handles the complexity of modern timetabling — such as multiple sets of bell times, subject-specific needs, and teacher workload allowances. 
• Integration capabilities:  
  • Assess compatibility with SIS platforms (e.g., Tes Synergetic, Compass, Sentral) and the overall data quality. The more seamless the integration with your existing systems, the less double handling, manual work and data discrepancies you’ll face.   
• Cost‑effectiveness & support:  
  • Compare pricing structures, hidden fees, and the level of customer support, including service-level agreements (SLA). It’s best to know what you are signing up for to avoid surprise costs down the line. Will you want on-demand support, or will you be happy to handle your own trouble shooting?  
• Advanced features & automation:  
  • Focus on unique functionalities such as multi-grid management, preset weighting/prioritisation, and handling last‑minute staffing changes. Take these into consideration against your school’s unique needs and priorities.    

For more on the factors to consider when choosing an advanced school timetable tool, take a look at this article. 

What makes Tes Timetable unique? 

Tes Timetable has been designed to eliminate the massive amount of time and stress that schools spend on timetabling. By automating repetitive tasks and offering dynamic, real‑time adjustments, Tes Timetable significantly reduces error and stress. Our software is a highly flexible and advanced system designed to solve complex scheduling challenges through automation and intelligent data management. 

While other solutions may offer simplicity, Tes Timetable is built for schools requiring precision and extensive control—making it the gold standard in timetabling. Its capacity to integrate with major SIS platforms (including Tes Synergetic, Compass and Sentral) and its robust multi‑grid capabilities make it ideal for large, complex schools. Common challenges including the need to quickly adjust to staffing changes are easily resolved with Tes Timetable. As well as that, Tes Timetable has a wide range of features that make it the leading solution:  

Complexity made manageable:  

• Supports multi‑grid systems to handle different bell times (e.g., managing primary and high school schedules in one grid). 
• Incorporates features such as ‘mischievous and buddy pairs’ to manage nuanced scheduling requirements. 
• Get ahead and stay ahead of day-to-day staffing challenges with the Daily tool and its live timetable features; ideal for temporary timetabling options to solve sudden staff absences and communicating updates promptly. 

Flexibility for teachers & students:  

• Facilitates flexible working for teachers (including RTO, job sharing and part‑time arrangements), subject-specific assignments, and teacher load allowances. 
• Manages a wide array of scheduling variables such as duty rosters, study periods, room assignments (home, subject-specific, specialty rooms), and even accounts for distances between rooms. 

Advanced scheduling capabilities:  

• Supports composite classes (e.g., combined Year 9/10 drama), spread/double/triple periods, half-period classes, and varying rotation lengths (term versus semester-based). 
• Enables mixing of student groups (such as handling a scenario where a group of 30 is split for practical subjects due to class size limits). 
• Simplify students' class selection process with a personalised online portal that links automatically to Timetable allowing for the straightforward selection of sport, club and other options without the need for manual/paper forms. 

Intelligent prioritisation:  

• Features preset weighting and prioritisation for all data points, ensuring optimal scheduling even when variables change. For example, you can prioritise room allocations to certain cohorts or choose to reduce student movement across the school or between campuses. 

Griddle (by Compass Education) 

Griddle is a cloud‑based solution launched in 2022 by Compass Education, known for its modern, beginner‑friendly interface. 

Strengths:  

• Modern, intuitive UI that is easy for beginners to use. 
• Entirely cloud‑based, which supports real‑time collaboration. 

Weaknesses:  

• Limited in handling highly complex timetabling scenarios compared to Tes Timetable. 
• Offers only one SIS integration (with Compass), potentially affecting accessibility and flexibility. 
• Its reliance on the broader Compass ecosystem might not suit all schools. 

Comparison with Tes Timetable:  

While Griddle may appeal to schools with simpler needs, Tes Timetable outshines it with advanced multi‑grid management, comprehensive integrations, and robust customisation options. 

Timetabling Solutions 

A traditional desktop solution established in 1984, known for its robust support and a solid reputation among independent schools. 

Strengths:  

• Strong presence in independent schools. 
• Trusted for its structured, stable approach and features like bulk emailing via Microsoft Outlook. 

Weaknesses:  

• The interface is outdated and hasn’t seen significant modern updates. 
• Additional fees for consulting, support, and training. 
• Lacks seamless SIS integrations and requires separate modules for subject management. 

Comparison with Tes Timetable:  

Tes Timetable offers a more modern, user‑friendly experience with flexible pricing and extensive integrations, making it more attractive for schools seeking efficiency and innovation. 

Manual timetabling 

Traditional timetabling using spreadsheets, sticky notes, or paper—methods that are still used in some small or budget‑constrained institutions. 

Strengths:  

• Complete control over every decision with no software cost. 

Weaknesses:  

• Extremely time‑consuming, prone to human error, and unable to adapt swiftly to changes (e.g., last‑minute staffing adjustments). 
• Lacks the flexibility to manage complex variables such as composite classes, variable room types, and teacher load distributions. 

Comparison with Tes Timetable:  

Tes Timetable automates repetitive tasks, offers dynamic “what‑if” analysis, and can instantly adapt to changes, providing substantial time savings and higher accuracy compared to manual methods. 

Tes Timetable: the advanced timetabling solution 

While Griddle, Timetabling Solutions and manual timetabling are certainly suitable for some Australian schools, Tes Timetable’s more advanced features and friendly, onshore support have no equal for timetablers seeking the best possible outcomes. Tes Timetable’s ability to reduce the time and eliminate the stress and errors involved in timetabling is why primary and secondary schools all over the country continue to choose us year after year. Adapt your schedule to the unique needs of your school, not the other way around.  

For a modern, scalable and highly precise solution, look no further than Tes Timetable. To learn more about how Tes Timetable can transform your school’s scheduling, and bring ease to complexity, request a free demo.