Glossary A–ZLetter S
Substitution timetable
A substitution timetable is a school's daily overview of changes to the regular timetable, such as cancelled lessons, cover teachers, room changes and rescheduled exams.
It is usually generated from the school's timetabling software.
On screens in the entrance area or corridors, the digital substitution timetable replaces the notice on the noticeboard. The timetabling software exports the changes at fixed intervals, and the screen shows them for today and the next day, often alternating with dates, the canteen menu and notices. If there are many entries, the list scrolls through page by page.
Operators should clarify which details may be publicly visible, as visitors also move around the school building. Many schools show teachers only by their initials and give no reasons for absences; reasons have no place on the screen. The text must be readable from the crowd in front of the screen, and each page should stay on long enough. A note showing when the timetable was last updated is important.