The timetabling process can be made easier if a blocking pattern is established early in the timetabling process as it will speed up the process of staffing blocks and timetable construction. A blocking pattern shows which combination of blocks can go on the timetable together given existing staffing, rooming and RUR’s.
Schools generally have 1 or more blocks in their timetable. A block is a group of subjects that must be timetabled at the same time. They are often referred to as lines and they may consist of electives classes, streamed classes or activities such as sport or assemblies. Blocks may include all classes for a year level, some classes from a year level or classes from across multiple year levels.
In schools where there is a significant amount of blocking, one of the most difficult aspects of timetabling is to schedule all the blocks because of the number of resources (teachers and rooms) allocated to each block. For example, Roll Class 12 Card A has 7 classes, 6 teachers and 1 must room and is more difficult to timetable than 9A Card A which only has 1 class and 1 teacher.
In Roll Class 12, there are 6 blocks each with 5 periods (1 double) and Homeroom for 5 periods.
In Roll Class 11, there are 6 blocks each with 4 periods (1 double), RE for 4 periods (no doubles), Sport for 2 periods (1 double) and Homeroom for 5 periods.
With blocking patterns, the best results are obtained if whole blocks can be timetabled entirely under whole blocks. When allocating the Yr11 blocks we will try to allocate all cards for each block under a Yr12 block. Yr11 Sport has already been allocated with 1 period under 12 B and the other under 12 E. This means that 1 Yr11 block, in this case the RE block, will need to be allocated under 4 different Yr12 blocks.
To learn more about Blocking Pattern please view the attached file which provides a step by step guide.