Richard, I've been working on what will be a very complicated database and it has dawned on me that the same people can appear in several different tables, in this case student, teacher, supporter.  I can explain why but it is immaterial and since this covers a long expanse of time.  Would it be better for structural purposes to put all the people in one table with with a id field that could designate which of several groups they might belong to?  With years and other differentiating factors being supplied?  This would have to be a self join table in many instances.  Hope this is clear.

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Reply from Alex Hedley:

This would make sense if you aren't wanting duplicates.