Big Project but where to start??

[eluser]timsby[/eluser]
Thank you for your response. I guess having looked back over my OP i didn't really explain myself very well. I have written up a detailed application requirements list and feel as though in terms of programming I am way out of my comfort zone. I have come to the decision that I will most probably out source the work. It pains me to say it but I am way out of my depth on this one. I wouldn't mind building an application with CI with...

1. A school, administered by a Head Teacher (Super-Admin kinda thing)
2. Next, you have Teachers, signing up (Admins ?)
3. Pupils can be given a separate role (kinda like normal users on a site)

But I'm not sure how I would begin to start coding it? I could most probably do it eventually but the time it would take learning the coding techniques... I'm not sure of it would be worth it.

anybody know any tutorials on how to implement a site with ACL and subscription based?