Comparison
Bell Path vs Tes Timetable, powered by Edval
Bell Path is a guided timetabling product for Australian primary schools that you run yourself. Edval is a long-established Australian timetabling suite that now sits under the Tes brand as Tes Timetable, powered by Edval. This page is for a primary school weighing one against the other.
This comparison is based on the public pages of Bell Path, Edval and Tes. Edval’s earlier Tes Timetable address now redirects to the current Tes Timetable page. Packages change, so confirm with Tes what is included for your school.
Sources checked · August 4, 2026
Two honest answers
Which product fits which school.
Choose Bell Path if
Bell Path is built for Australian primary schools.
- You want guided setup in a web browser, built for an assistant principal doing this alongside a full workload
- You want daily cover, yard duty and wet day plans to come from the same timetable
- You want plain-language setup and a result you can explain to staff
- Your school has outgrown spreadsheets but does not want a large suite
Choose Tes Timetable if
When Tes Timetable, powered by Edval, is the better fit.
- You already know an established timetabling suite and its processes
- Your school prefers a product backed by a large education company with a long track record
- Edval, now Tes Timetable, is already on your procurement shortlist
Side-by-side
What the decision usually comes down to.
Who it is built for
Australian primary schools only
A primary-school offering inside a broader timetabling suite, now under Tes
Who drives it
Guided setup a school leader runs themselves
An established suite, with specialist timetabling support available from Tes
Beyond the timetable
Daily cover, yard duty and wet day plans, included for every school
Tes documents a Daily module for absences and relief communication, included in its Premium and Premium Plus packages, and Edval documents automated duty rosters. Ask Tes what your school’s package covers
Best fit
Primary schools that want to build, check and run the timetable themselves
Schools that want an established product backed by a large education company
FAQ
Questions schools ask when comparing Bell Path and Tes Timetable.
Is Bell Path an Edval alternative for primary schools?
For Australian primary schools, yes. Bell Path is built for the primary problem: planning time, job-shares, specialist rotations, yard duty and daily cover in one place. Secondary schools should stay with a secondary product. Bell Path does not do secondary timetabling.
Is Edval Primary the same product as Tes Timetable?
In substance, yes. Edval’s earlier Tes Timetable link now redirects to the current Tes Timetable page, which calls the product “Tes Timetable, previously Edval”. We treat Tes Timetable as Edval under the Tes brand.
Does Tes Timetable handle daily cover and duty rosters?
Its public pages say yes, in some packages. Tes documents a Daily module for staff absences and relief-teacher communication, included in the Tes Timetable Premium and Premium Plus packages, and Edval’s primary-school page documents automated duty rosters. They do not say what your school’s package includes, so ask Tes. Bell Path includes cover and duty for every school.
Why compare Bell Path with Tes Timetable (formerly Edval Primary)?
Edval is a well-known name in Australian school timetabling, and schools now meet the same product under the Tes Timetable name. This page helps a primary school decide between a guided product it runs itself and an established suite, whichever name it searched for first.
Is Bell Path only competing on simplicity?
No. Bell Path handles the real constraints of a primary school, including planning time, job-shares and specialist rotations. It is simpler to run, but it does not drop the hard rules to get there.
What would make us regret choosing Bell Path?
Needing secondary timetabling later, wanting the vendor to build the timetable for you, or needing it to connect deeply with other school systems. Bell Path is a primary-school product you run yourself, and it does not pretend to be more than that.
Other comparisons
Keep comparing from the primary-school point of view.
Every alternative Bell Path is measured against, with the same two honest answers on each page.
Bell Path vs TimetableMaster
Choose Bell Path for Australian primary-school planning time, daily cover and yard duty. Choose TimetableMaster if you want a general, AI-led scheduler that serves many kinds of institution.
Bell Path vs Timetabling Solutions
Choose Bell Path when a primary school leader wants to build the timetable and run the week themselves. Choose Timetabling Solutions for a specialist-led product with established training and a build-it-for-you service.
Bell Path vs DayGrid
Choose Bell Path when the timetable has to drive daily cover, yard duty, events and staff views. Choose DayGrid when class list creation, data hosted in Australia, or a 30-day full trial matter most.
Bell Path vs the spreadsheet
Keep the spreadsheet when staffing is stable and checking it by eye is still manageable. Choose Bell Path when part-timers, planning-time proof, mid-term changes and daily cover have outgrown it.
Still comparing?
See the timetable before you decide.
Walk through a realistic primary-school example, then request a short guided review if you want to test the workflow against your own constraints.
Bell Path publishes its prices: from $679 per year for one school, no per-user add-ons. See the full price list.