For most school leaders, the final weeks of Term 4, are synonymous with a specific kind of logistical headache: the manual creation of class lists. It is a process traditionally defined by a fragmented exercise where student names are cut out and physically shuffled across tables in an attempt to balance academic, behavioural and social needs. For years, this annual task consumed days of effort, often leaving teachers and leadership teams exhausted and diverted from the core purpose of education, supporting student learning.
At Berwick Primary School, a Victorian government school with 882 students and 90 staff, this manual approach was once a major drain on resources. The process typically spanned four full days of concentrated work, plus additional planning meetings. Teachers were pulled away from lesson preparation, one-on-one student support, and other critical classroom duties. Meanwhile, leadership staff found themselves negotiating compromises, weighing requests from parents, and manually attempting to balance academic abilities and behavioural dynamics, sometimes without the clarity of an overarching view of student relationships. The process of building class lists was time-consuming, fragmented and heavily reliant on manual effect from leadership and teachers.
Moving Beyond the Era of Fragmented Data
Recognising that manual placements were impacting both teacher workload and student outcomes, Berwick Primary adopted Class Creator, becoming one their original adopters. The platform automates the creation of class lists by using a sophisticated algorithm designed to balance academic performance, behaviour and social dynamics. By doing so, it reduces the manual effort involved, minimises human error, and allows the school to make informed, objective decisions about class composition.
One standout feature for the Berwick leadership team is the sociograph, a visual map of student interactions that reveals patterns in friendships, social clusters, and potential conflict areas. This insight equips teachers with a clear understanding of student relationships before the school year even begins, enabling proactive support for social development and behaviour management. The sociograph also allows the leadership team to anticipate potential challenges, ensuring that all students are placed in environments that promote positive engagement and collaboration.
Ten Years of Impact: Key Outcomes
A decade into the partnership with Class Creator, Berwick Primary has realised substantial improvements across multiple dimensions of school operations:
Significant Time Savings: The school has reclaimed approximately 10 hours of time per teacher, which equates to over 800 hours across the entire teaching staff. These hours are now being redirected towards lesson planning, student engagement, and professional development.
Enhanced Staff Wellbeing: By removing the heavy administrative burden of manual class list creation, Berwick has provided its educators with a better work-life balance. Teachers no longer experience the stress of last-minute adjustments and extended planning meetings, allowing them to enter the new school year with renewed focus and energy.
Data-Driven Equity: Class Creator’s algorithm ensures a balanced distribution of academic abilities, learning needs, and personality traits across all classes. This objective approach prevents the formation of “unbalanced” cohorts and fosters equitable learning opportunities for every student.
Improved Parent Communication: Decisions about class placements are backed by a transparent, data-driven system. Parents can be reassured that placements are fair and thoughtfully considered, which has streamlined communication and reduced misunderstandings.
Cross-Departmental Efficiency: Class Creator’s ability to convert surveys into CSV files has simplified the organisational workflow across various departments, from administrative staff to teaching teams.
“Class Creator is easy to use, a great platform and a no-brainer for schools,” Andrew Healy, Assistant Principal at Berwick Primary School says.
Restoring the Focus to Pedagogy
Transitioning from manual processes to a digital solution was made smoother by Class Creator’s comprehensive library of tutorials and responsive support team. This guidance helped Berwick staff quickly understand the platform’s functionalities and integrate it into their annual planning routine without disruption.
With the administrative task of class placements now automated, the school has successfully redirected its energy and resources towards high-quality teaching and learning. Teachers can now dedicate more time to curriculum delivery, student mentoring, and fostering a positive classroom culture. Leadership staff can focus on strategic initiatives, professional development, and individualised student support, rather than being consumed by repetitive administrative tasks.
As schools continue to navigate increasing demands on time, resources, and student support, Berwick Primary’s experience demonstrates the value of leveraging technology to solve longstanding administrative challenges. By embracing Class Creator, the school has not only streamlined operations but has also reaffirmed its commitment to student-centred teaching and meaningful staff engagement, proving that even the most complex logistical challenges can be solved with the right tools.
