The Essential Guide to Creating Class Lists

# What this guide covers

# Three foundations for confident placements The guide centers on three practical foundations:

• Clear placement priorities: Decide in advance which factors matter most and how they rank against each other. Concrete priorities reduce guesswork during placement discussions.
• A documented process: Record how information is collected, who decides, and how trade-offs are handled so different staff reach consistent outcomes year to year.
• The right technology: Move routine matrixing and balancing tasks out of spreadsheets and into tools that support collaboration, transparency and repeatable rules.

# The priority pyramid

# Case study: Berwick Primary School

# Why the approach matters A structured, transparent process reduces workload, increases consistency and improves placement outcomes for students and teachers. When priorities are explicit and a timeline is followed, schools spend less time reworking lists and more time supporting classroom transitions. Technology reduces manual tasks, helping administrators collaborate and document decisions.

# Practical next steps for school leaders

• Define and publish placement priorities before meetings begin. Keep the list short and actionable.
• Create a documented, repeatable process with clear roles and milestones mapped to a six-step timeline.
• Pilot a tool that handles balancing rules and collaboration to replace manual spreadsheets.
• Use a test run on a single cohort to refine rules and communication scripts.

Adopting these steps gives schools a clearer, fairer and faster path to balanced classes while protecting staff time and supporting student wellbeing.