Random Name Picker & Group Maker
Spin a colourful wheel to pick a student fairly, skip names already picked, split the class into balanced random groups and pick random roll numbers — your class lists stay saved on this device.
A random name picker chooses one student from your class list purely by chance, so every name gets a fair turn — with 32 names on the wheel each has a 1 in 32 chance, about 3.1%. Paste your list, spin the wheel, and keep "no repeats" on so everyone is picked once before any name returns.
Class list
One name per line. Lists are saved only in this browser.
Number range
Pick roll numbers, page numbers or question numbers at random.
Picked so far
Nobody picked yet.
Make random groups
Everyone on the class list is shuffled and shared out so group sizes differ by at most one.
Class groups
Groups
Press the button to pick.
Numbers picked
None yet.
Fair turns, every period
A random pick removes any sense of favouritism, keeps every student alert and makes forming activity groups a ten-second job.
Add your class
Paste names from your register, or fill “Roll No. 1 to 40” in one click. Save each section as its own list.
Spin the wheel
Click SPIN or press Space. With “no repeats” on, each student is picked once before anyone is picked again.
Make groups
Choose the number of groups or the group size. Reshuffle until you are happy, then copy or print.
Go full screen
Use Classroom mode on the smart board — the picked name appears in huge letters for the whole class.
Balanced group maths
n = k × q + r
Share n students among k groups: every group gets q = n ÷ k (whole part) and r groups get one extra. 35 students in 6 groups → 35 = 6 × 5 + 5, so 5 groups of 6 and 1 group of 5.
Is the wheel really fair?
The winner is chosen with your browser’s cryptographic random generator before the wheel moves, so every remaining name has exactly the same chance: with 32 names, each has a 1 in 32 chance (about 3.1%).
Classroom ideas
- Cold-call for answers after “think – pair – share”.
- Pick the day’s monitor, reader or board writer.
- Random roll numbers for viva or oral tests.
- Mixed-ability groups for projects and quizzes.
Random Name Picker & Group Maker — your questions
How do I pick a student at random in class?
Paste your class list into the tool and spin the wheel — one name is chosen at random and shown in large letters. Turning on "Remove picked name" means every student is picked once before anybody is called a second time, which is the fairest way to share oral questions across a period.
Is the name wheel really random, or is it fixed?
The winner is chosen by your browser's cryptographic random number generator before the wheel starts moving, and the animation simply stops on that name. Every remaining name has exactly the same chance. The wheel is only there so the class can see the pick happen.
How do I split my class into equal groups?
Open Group maker and choose either the number of groups or the number of students per group. Everyone is shuffled and shared out so group sizes differ by at most one. You can also name the groups after houses, Indian rivers, planets or scientists, and pick a random leader for each.
How many students will be in each group?
Share n students among k groups using n = k × q + r. Every group gets q students, the whole-number part of n ÷ k, and r groups get one extra. For example 35 students in 6 groups gives 35 = 6 × 5 + 5, so five groups of 6 and one group of 5.
Can I pick a random roll number instead of a name?
Yes. The Random number mode picks any number from a range you set — roll 1 to 40, a dice 1 to 6, or 1 to 100. You can pick several numbers at once, sort them, and stop numbers repeating within one pick or across every pick until you reset.
Are my students' names uploaded anywhere?
No. The class lists you type are saved only in your own browser on that device, and nothing is sent to a server or shared with anyone. Clearing your browser data removes them. If you work on a shared staff-room computer, delete the list when you finish, or use roll numbers instead of names.
Can I show the wheel on the smart board?
Yes. Press the Classroom mode button and the page goes full screen with the wheel and the picked name large enough to read from the back bench. The space bar spins it, so you can run the whole activity from the front of the room without reaching for the mouse at all.