School census

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Key dates

School census dates 2024 to 2025

Autumn school census: 3 October 2024
Spring school census: 16 January 2025
Summer school census: 15 May 2025

About the census

The school census collects data for all pupils and takes place three times a year. The census applies to primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units.

Data from the school census determines which pupils get the pupil premium grant. For funding rates, see: pupil premium grant.

The census identifies the following pupils who qualify for the pupil premium grant:

disadvantaged pupils - eligible now or in the past 6 years for free school meals
post looked after children
service children

Looked-after children and pupil premium

Looked-after children (LAC) also qualify for pupil premium, but they are no longer identified in the school census. Their pupil premium data is collected from another source.

Class sizes

Spring census collects information on class sizes for pupils at a selected time on spring census day. The selected time is based on the last digit of the school establishment number, notified ahead of spring census.

Privacy notices

Your school needs to send a privacy notice to

the parent or carer of every pupil
all members of teaching and non-teaching staff you employ

This is to inform them that you hold personal data about each pupil or member of staff. You must explain how you intend to use the data and who you may share the data with.

Guidance on completing the school census

Complete the school census explains what data is needed for the school census and how to submit it

School census data items explains data items in more detail

Use the document as a handbook throughout the year, not only on census day. It covers data collected for the school census and stored in school management information systems (MIS).

Data item changes for 2024- 2025

Deleted - FAM hours; Work placement employer ID

Changed - Early Years data will be collected termly in census returns from October 2024 onwards.

Early years pupil premium receipt - extended to children from 9 months old.

Expanded funded entitlement - extended to children from 9 months old with working parents where eligible

Disability access fund - extended to children from 9 months old

Absence code changes C, J and Y codes - see DfE census code list