Comparison
Bell Path vs Synergetic Primary Time
Choose Bell Path when you want primary timetabling, daily cover and yard duty in a web browser, without adopting a school information system. Choose Primary Time when your school already runs Synergetic and wants timetabling inside it.
Primary Time was one of the few products built for Australian primary timetabling, including a yard duty scheduler. It came from Synergetic, a school information system, and now sits inside Tes alongside Edval. This page looks at what that means for a primary school comparing the two.
Already run one? Send the file and it is in Bell Path within 48 hours, with Daily Cover free for two weeks.
Synergetic and Primary Time are now presented under Tes. The old Synergetic and Primary Time addresses redirect to the Tes Synergetic page, which no longer describes Primary Time, so this comparison also relies on Primary Time’s own help pages. Products change quickly under new ownership, so confirm the current offering with Tes.
Sources checked · 3 October 2026
Which product fits which school.
Choose Bell Path if
- You want primary timetabling without adopting a school information system
- Planning time, part-timers, job-shares and specialist rotations are the hard part, and you want them checked before staff see the timetable
- The timetable also has to drive daily cover, wet day plans, event timetables, an operations calendar and staff views
- You want published pricing and a printable approval pack rather than a quote after a demo
Choose Primary Time if
- Your school already runs Synergetic and keeping timetabling inside the same system matters more than anything else
- You want student records, finance and timetabling from one vendor with one support contact
- You are a P-12 school that needs secondary timetabling alongside the primary years
- Your procurement prefers an established vendor with a long Australian history
What the decision usually comes down to.
What it is
A standalone primary timetabling product that sits alongside your existing school information system
Primary timetabling delivered as part of the Synergetic school information system, now under Tes
What else you need
Nothing. Bell Path runs alongside Compass, Sentral and CASES21
Synergetic. The case is strongest for schools already on it, or moving to it
School type
Australian primary schools only. No secondary timetabling at all
Part of a suite that serves primary and secondary, with Edval covering secondary under the same owner
After the timetable
Daily cover, yard duty, wet day plans, event timetables, an operations calendar, Education Support and a staff portal
Its help pages describe timetabling by exception, usually for primary schools, and preparing yard duty rosters. Other day-to-day tools come from elsewhere in the suite
Where it runs
In a web browser, with staff views on a phone
A program the school installs and registers, according to its help pages
Evaluation and pricing
Send the timetable you already run and it is in Bell Path within 48 hours, with Daily Cover free for two weeks. Or set up and build a free preview of your real timetable. Prices are published, $679 a year for up to 100 students and $1,349 for 101 to 300, rising with school size, with no GST added
No public pricing or trial. Expect a demo, then a quote
FAQ
Questions schools ask when comparing Bell Path and Primary Time.
Is Synergetic Primary Time still available?
Synergetic is now presented under Tes, and the old Primary Time page redirects to the Tes Synergetic page, which does not mention Primary Time. Its help pages are still online. Whether Primary Time continues as a separately named product is a question for Tes. Ask them directly rather than relying on older third-party pages.
Does that mean Tes owns most Australian primary timetabling?
No, but it owns two of the longest-established ones. Tes owns Edval and Synergetic, while Timetabling Solutions, Compass’s Griddle, DayGrid and Bell Path are separate companies. A single large vendor can mean stability, or less choice if the product direction changes.
Do I need a school information system to use Bell Path?
No. Bell Path is deliberately narrow. It does not hold student records, attendance, reports or finance, and it sits alongside whatever system your school already uses. Building the timetable never needs student names.
Which handles yard duty better, Bell Path or Primary Time?
Both do it. Primary Time’s help pages describe preparing yard duty rosters. Bell Path builds duty rosters from the current timetable, balances the load across the term, keeps a whole-year fairness record you can show staff, and handles wet day supervision from the same screen. Compare the fairness record specifically, because that is what gets asked about after an incident.
Other comparisons.
Bell Path vs Tes Timetable, powered by Edval
Choose Tes Timetable for an established suite that also covers secondary, connections to other school systems, and a Tes timetabler who can run it for you.
Bell Path vs DayGrid
Choose DayGrid when building class lists matters as much as the timetable, or you want a 30-day full trial and phone support.
Bell Path vs Timetabling Solutions
Choose Timetabling Solutions for a deep, long-established timetabling program with training courses, especially if you also timetable secondary.
Bell Path vs the spreadsheet
Keep the spreadsheet while your week rarely changes and checking it by eye is still manageable.
See the timetable before you decide.
Send us the timetable you already run and it is in Bell Path within 48 hours, or see a week Bell Path built for a sample school first.
Bell Path publishes its prices: $679 a year for up to 100 students and $1,349 for 101 to 300, rising with school size, with no per-user add-ons. See the full price list.