Data is collected three times a year:
- Autumn (October)
- Spring (January)
- Summer (May)
The information collected is used by the Department for Education (DfE) in the calculation of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Pupil Premium funding allocations.
Data collected includes general pupil characteristic information such as gender, free school meal eligibility, Special Needs, ethnicity and language. Termly absence and attendance data is also collected, contributing to the published School Performance tables.
Academies please note that the we are not able to see or assist with your School Census. Academies with any questions relating to completing the school census should contact the DfE by email edd.helpdesk@education.gsi.gov.uk or contact the DfE using the data collections service request form.
Census dates for 2023/24 academic year
- Autumn - Thursday 5 October 2023
- Spring - Thursday 18 January 2024
- Summer - Thursday 16 May 2024
Upload your census by the deadline, the Wednesday after the above dates. This gives us time to meet the DfE deadline which follows.
DfE guidance
Returning the School Census via COLLECT:
Links
School to School (s2s): DfE’s secure data transfer system
- School to School log in page is via the DfE sign-in webpage
- Handbook for s2s for schools and FAQs