diff --git a/copienator/name_grids.py b/copienator/name_grids.py
index 510c980..f948154 100644
--- a/copienator/name_grids.py
+++ b/copienator/name_grids.py
@@ -31,10 +31,13 @@ def save_crop(page: Image.Image, pdf: Path, directory: Path, dpi: int) -> None:
         })
 
 
-def build_grids(directory: Path, copies_dir: Path) -> list[dict]:
-    """Rebuild deterministic 6-by-4 sheets, excluding deleted or changed copies."""
+def build_grids(directory: Path, copies_dir: Path, *, columns: int = COLUMNS,
+                rows: int = ROWS, stems: set[str] | None = None) -> list[dict]:
+    """Rebuild numbered sheets, excluding deleted or changed copies."""
     crops = []
     for path in sorted(directory.glob("*.jpg"), key=natural_key):
+        if stems is not None and path.stem not in stems:
+            continue
         pdf = copies_dir / f"{path.stem}.pdf"
         try:
             if pdf.is_file() and read_json(path.with_suffix('.json'))['source_sha256'] == fingerprint(pdf):
@@ -44,8 +47,8 @@ def build_grids(directory: Path, copies_dir: Path) -> list[dict]:
     grids_dir = directory / "Grids"
     grids = []
     with staged_files(grids_dir, remove=[p.name for p in grids_dir.glob('*') if p.is_file()]) as staging:
-        for offset in range(0, len(crops), COLUMNS * ROWS):
-            batch = crops[offset:offset + COLUMNS * ROWS]
+        for offset in range(0, len(crops), columns * rows):
+            batch = crops[offset:offset + columns * rows]
             images = []
             for path in batch:
                 with Image.open(path) as image:
@@ -54,11 +57,11 @@ def build_grids(directory: Path, copies_dir: Path) -> list[dict]:
             height = max(image.height for image in images)
             border, header = 6, 32
             cell_width, cell_height = width + border, height + header + border
-            sheet = Image.new('RGB', (COLUMNS * cell_width + border, ROWS * cell_height + border), 'black')
+            sheet = Image.new('RGB', (columns * cell_width + border, rows * cell_height + border), 'black')
             draw = ImageDraw.Draw(sheet)
             cells = []
-            for index in range(COLUMNS * ROWS):
-                row, column = divmod(index, COLUMNS)
+            for index in range(columns * rows):
+                row, column = divmod(index, columns)
                 x, y = border + column * cell_width, border + row * cell_height
                 draw.rectangle((x, y, x + width - 1, y + height + header - 1), fill='white')
                 if index < len(images):
@@ -70,7 +73,7 @@ def build_grids(directory: Path, copies_dir: Path) -> list[dict]:
                     draw.text((x + 5, y + 5), 'EMPTY', fill='black')
             filename = f"grid_{len(grids) + 1:03d}.jpg"
             sheet.save(staging / filename, 'JPEG', quality=95)
-            grids.append({'image': filename, 'columns': COLUMNS, 'rows': ROWS, 'cells': cells})
+            grids.append({'image': filename, 'columns': columns, 'rows': rows, 'cells': cells})
         atomic_write_json(staging / 'manifest.json', grids)
     return grids
 
@@ -103,27 +106,31 @@ def name_bottom_height_fraction(workspace, stem: str) -> float | None:
     This is intended as a future lower boundary for margin analysis.
     """
     directory = workspace.cutleft_dir / 'Names'
-    try:
-        cached = read_json(directory / f'{stem}_result.json')
-        value = cached['name_bottom_height_fraction']
-        if (cached['source_sha256'] == fingerprint(workspace.copies_dir / f'{stem}.pdf')
-                and cached['crop_sha256'] == fingerprint(directory / f'{stem}.jpg')
-                and cached['name'] != MISSING
-                and type(value) in (int, float) and 0 < value <= 1):
-            return float(value)
-    except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError, TypeError):
-        pass
+    for candidate in (directory, directory / 'Wide'):
+        try:
+            cached = read_json(candidate / f'{stem}_result.json')
+            value = cached['name_bottom_height_fraction']
+            if (cached['source_sha256'] == fingerprint(workspace.copies_dir / f'{stem}.pdf')
+                    and cached['crop_sha256'] == fingerprint(candidate / f'{stem}.jpg')
+                    and cached['name'] != MISSING
+                    and type(value) in (int, float) and 0 < value <= 1):
+                return float(value)
+        except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError, TypeError):
+            pass
     return None
 
 
-def identify_names(workspace, groups, *, client, model: str, names_text: str, overwrite: bool,
-                   thinking_level: str | None = "low") -> dict[str, str]:
+def _identify_names(workspace, groups, *, client, model: str, names_text: str, overwrite: bool,
+                    thinking_level: str | None = "low", wide: bool = False) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Identify pending copies before label requests; safely fall back on any failure."""
     directory = workspace.cutleft_dir / 'Names'
+    if wide:
+        directory /= 'Wide'
     result = {stem: MISSING for stem in groups}
     if not groups or not directory.is_dir():
         return result  # Older workspaces retain their existing label/name workflow.
-    grids = build_grids(directory, workspace.copies_dir)
+    grids = build_grids(directory, workspace.copies_dir, columns=1 if wide else COLUMNS,
+                        rows=4 if wide else ROWS, stems=set(groups) if wide else None)
     roster = {line.strip() for line in names_text.splitlines() if line.strip()} - {MISSING, 'Unknown', 'Continued'}
     for grid in grids:
         selected = {cell['copy']: cell for cell in grid['cells'] if cell['copy'] in groups}
@@ -145,8 +152,9 @@ def identify_names(workspace, groups, *, client, model: str, names_text: str, ov
         if not pending:
             continue
         positions = '\n'.join(f"Cell {c['cell']}: row {c['row']}, column {c['column']}" for c in grid['cells'])
-        prompt = f"""Identify student names from the top-left corners of exam first pages.
-The image is a grid with exactly 6 columns and 4 rows. Read rows left to right,
+        region = 'full-width top quarters' if wide else 'top-left corners'
+        prompt = f"""Identify student names from the {region} of exam first pages.
+The image is a grid with exactly {grid['columns']} columns and {grid['rows']} rows. Read rows left to right,
 then top to bottom. Thick black borders separate cells; headers show row, column,
 and cell number. Each cell belongs to a DIFFERENT student. Never carry a name
 from one cell into another. Do not include class names such as MPSI 3 in the name.
@@ -165,7 +173,7 @@ readable handwriting to an exact authorized name below. Do not guess or assign
 names by elimination. Return "Missing" for an unreadable, absent, or ambiguous name.
 Authorized names:
 {names_text}"""
-        print(f"Identifying student names: {grid['image']} ({len(grid['cells'])} occupied cells, model={model}, thinking={thinking_level or 'default'}).", flush=True)
+        print(f"Identifying student names{' (full-width retry)' if wide else ''}: {grid['image']} ({len(grid['cells'])} occupied cells, model={model}, thinking={thinking_level or 'default'}).", flush=True)
         try:
             response = client.models.generate_content(
                 model=model,
@@ -202,3 +210,49 @@ Authorized names:
             print(f"Name recognition failed for {grid['image']}: {type(exc).__name__}: {exc}; using label/name fallback.")
             # Do not cache transport/schema failures: a resumed run should retry.
     return result
+
+
+def identify_names(workspace, groups, *, client, model: str, names_text: str, overwrite: bool,
+                   thinking_level: str | None = "low") -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Try narrow grids, then collated full-width headers before label fallback."""
+    options = dict(client=client, model=model, names_text=names_text,
+                   overwrite=overwrite, thinking_level=thinking_level)
+    result = _identify_names(workspace, groups, **options)
+    directory = workspace.cutleft_dir / 'Names'
+    if not directory.is_dir():
+        return result
+    wide_directory = directory / 'Wide'
+    pending = {}
+    for stem, name in result.items():
+        if name != MISSING:
+            continue
+        pdf = workspace.copies_dir / f'{stem}.pdf'
+        try:
+            source_hash = fingerprint(pdf)
+            crop_path = wide_directory / f'{stem}.jpg'
+            try:
+                current = (crop_path.is_file() and
+                           read_json(crop_path.with_suffix('.json'))['source_sha256'] == source_hash)
+            except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError, TypeError):
+                current = False
+            if not current:
+                from pdf2image import convert_from_path
+                page = convert_from_path(pdf, dpi=200, first_page=1, last_page=1,
+                                         use_cropbox=False)[0]
+                try:
+                    height = max(1, page.height // 4)
+                    with staged_files(wide_directory) as staging:
+                        page.crop((0, 0, page.width, height)).save(
+                            staging / crop_path.name, 'JPEG', quality=95)
+                        atomic_write_json(staging / f'{stem}.json', {
+                            'source_sha256': source_hash,
+                            'height_fraction': height / page.height,
+                        })
+                finally:
+                    page.close()
+            pending[stem] = groups[stem]
+        except Exception as exc:
+            print(f'Full-width name crop failed for {stem}: {type(exc).__name__}: {exc}; using label/name fallback.')
+    if pending:
+        result.update(_identify_names(workspace, pending, wide=True, **options))
+    return result
diff --git a/tests/test_name_grids.py b/tests/test_name_grids.py
index def8a58..c941c6a 100644
--- a/tests/test_name_grids.py
+++ b/tests/test_name_grids.py
@@ -188,3 +188,80 @@ class NameGridTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(read_json(self.workspace.copies_dir / 'Copie01_01.json')['name'], 'Alice')
         for call in self.client.models.generate_content.call_args_list:
             self.assertNotIn('Alice', call.kwargs['contents'][0].parts[1].text)
+
+
+class WideNameGridTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    setUp = NameGridTests.setUp
+    crop = NameGridTests.crop
+    identify = NameGridTests.identify
+
+    def test_recovered_name_is_used_by_label_detection(self):
+        self.crop(1)
+        self.client.models.generate_content.side_effect = [
+            Mock(text='{"cells":[{"cell":1,"name":"Missing"}]}'),
+            Mock(text='{"cells":[{"cell":1,"name":"Bob"}]}'),
+            Mock(text='{"list":[]}'),
+        ]
+        with patch('pdf2image.convert_from_path', return_value=[Image.new('RGB', (800, 1200))]):
+            status = labels.run(self.workspace, [self.workspace.root], client=self.client,
+                                sleep=lambda _: None, max_workers=1)
+        self.assertEqual(status, ExitCode.SUCCESS)
+        self.assertEqual(read_json(self.workspace.copies_dir / 'Copie01_01.json')['name'], 'Bob')
+        self.assertNotIn('name', self.client.models.generate_content.call_args.kwargs[
+            'config'].response_json_schema['properties'])
+
+    def test_missing_names_are_collated_and_cached_before_label_fallback(self):
+        for number in range(1, 7):
+            self.crop(number)
+        groups = {f'Copie{i:02d}': [] for i in range(1, 7)}
+        self.client.models.generate_content.side_effect = [
+            Mock(text=json.dumps({'cells': [{'cell': 1, 'name': 'Alice'}]})),
+            Mock(text=json.dumps({'cells': [
+                {'cell': 1, 'name': 'Bob', 'box_2d': [100, 700, 300, 950]},
+                {'cell': 2, 'name': 'Missing'},
+                {'cell': 3, 'name': 'Outsider'},
+                {'cell': 4, 'name': 'Missing'}]})),
+            Mock(text=json.dumps({'cells': [{'cell': 1, 'name': 'Alice'}]})),
+        ]
+        def render(*args, **kwargs):
+            self.assertEqual(kwargs['first_page'], 1)
+            self.assertEqual(kwargs['last_page'], 1)
+            page = Image.new('RGB', (1654, 2338), 'white')
+            page.paste('red', (1400, 50, 1500, 100))
+            return [page]
+        with patch('pdf2image.convert_from_path', side_effect=render) as rendering:
+            result = self.identify(groups)
+            self.assertEqual(rendering.call_count, 5)
+            self.assertEqual(result, {'Copie01': 'Alice', 'Copie02': 'Bob',
+                                     'Copie03': 'Missing', 'Copie04': 'Missing',
+                                     'Copie05': 'Missing', 'Copie06': 'Alice'})
+            self.assertEqual(self.identify(groups), result)
+            self.assertEqual(rendering.call_count, 5)
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.models.generate_content.call_count, 3)
+        wide = self.directory / 'Wide'
+        manifest = read_json(wide / 'Grids' / 'manifest.json')
+        self.assertEqual([[c['copy'] for c in g['cells']] for g in manifest],
+                         [['Copie02', 'Copie03', 'Copie04', 'Copie05'], ['Copie06']])
+        with Image.open(wide / 'Copie02.jpg') as crop:
+            self.assertEqual(crop.size, (1654, 584))
+            self.assertGreater(crop.getpixel((1450, 75))[0], 200)
+            self.assertLess(crop.getpixel((1450, 75))[1], 40)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(names.name_bottom_height_fraction(self.workspace, 'Copie02'),
+                               .3 * 584 / 2338)
+        for request in self.client.models.generate_content.call_args_list[1:]:
+            prompt = request.kwargs['contents'][0].parts[1].text
+            self.assertIn('full-width top quarters', prompt)
+            self.assertIn('1 columns and 4 rows', prompt)
+
+    def test_wide_failure_is_retried_on_resume(self):
+        self.crop(1)
+        self.client.models.generate_content.side_effect = [
+            Mock(text='{"cells":[{"cell":1,"name":"Missing"}]}'), TimeoutError(),
+            Mock(text='{"cells":[{"cell":1,"name":"Bob"}]}'),
+        ]
+        with patch('pdf2image.convert_from_path', return_value=[Image.new('RGB', (800, 1200))]) as render:
+            self.assertEqual(self.identify({'Copie01': []}), {'Copie01': 'Missing'})
+            self.assertFalse((self.directory / 'Wide' / 'Copie01_result.json').exists())
+            self.assertEqual(self.identify({'Copie01': []}), {'Copie01': 'Bob'})
+            render.assert_called_once()
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.models.generate_content.call_count, 3)