School Census (SchC)

Measures describe a question asked to a participant during a survey or an item of information requested from a manager when they fill out a data return. For example, ‘Who do you live with?’ is a measure and the possible responses might be, mother, father, brother, sister etc.

Question/Data item wording	Response scale wording	Need OR provision OR receipt	Description of measure	Start Year	Age of interest	Age from	Age to	Informant	Multiple rater	Reporting term	Sweep title	Standard instrument	Dataset
Local authority number	Data is given for: Nursery autumn Nursery spring Nursery summer Primary autumn Primary spring Primary summer Middle-deemed primary autumn Middle-deemed primary spring Middle-deemed primary summer Middle-deemed secondary autumn Middle-deemed secondary spring Middle-deemed secondary summer Secondary autumn Secondary spring Secondary summer All-through autumn All-through spring All-through summer Special autumn Special spring Special summer Pupil referral unit autumn Pupil referral unit spring Pupil referral unit summer	Provision;	Local authority number	2024	0-18	0	18	Education professional	Yes	Past year	School census 2024-2025	No	SchC
Young carer indicator	Data is given for: Nursery autumn Nursery spring Nursery summer Primary autumn Primary spring Primary summer Middle-deemed primary autumn Middle-deemed primary spring Middle-deemed primary summer Middle-deemed secondary autumn Middle-deemed secondary spring Middle-deemed secondary summer Secondary autumn Secondary spring Secondary summer All-through autumn All-through spring All-through summer Special autumn Special spring Special summer Pupil referral unit autumn Pupil referral unit spring Pupil referral unit summer	Provision;	Young carer indicator	2024	0-18	0	18	Education professional	Yes	Past year	School census 2024-2025	No	SchC
Service children in education indicator	Data is given for: Nursery autumn Nursery spring Nursery summer Primary autumn Primary spring Primary summer Middle-deemed primary autumn Middle-deemed primary spring Middle-deemed primary summer Middle-deemed secondary autumn Middle-deemed secondary spring Middle-deemed secondary summer Secondary autumn Secondary spring Secondary summer All-through autumn All-through spring All-through summer Special autumn Special spring Special summer Pupil referral unit autumn Pupil referral unit spring Pupil referral unit summer	Provision;	Service children in education	2024	0-18	0	18	Education professional	Yes	Past year	School census 2024-2025	No	SchC
Youth support services agreement indicator	Data is given for: Nursery autumn Nursery spring Nursery summer Primary autumn Primary spring Primary summer Middle-deemed primary autumn Middle-deemed primary spring Middle-deemed primary summer Middle-deemed secondary autumn Middle-deemed secondary spring Middle-deemed secondary summer Secondary autumn Secondary spring Secondary summer All-through autumn All-through spring All-through summer Special autumn Special spring Special summer Pupil referral unit autumn Pupil referral unit spring Pupil referral unit summer	Provision;	Youth support services received	2024	0-18	0	18	Education professional	Yes	Past year	School census 2024-2025	No	SchC
2 year old basis for funding [ALL schools] The basis for funding data item (N00178), records the basis under which a 2 year old (within the date of birth range 2020-01-01 to 2020-12-31 inclusive) has been funded whilst taking up a place in the school. This data item is not required for 3 and 4 year olds. 2 year old children may meet more than one criterion in the codeset shown below and each relevant criterion is returned in the census.	ECO Economic criteria HSD High-level SEN or disability LAA Looked after or adopted from care	Receipt;	Basis for 2-year-old funding inc. being looked after in care	2022	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2022-23 Sweep	No	SchC
Post looked after arrangements [used for funding] This data item (N00186) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order, residence order or a child arrangements order. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset; only one of the values will apply to each pupil: Data item recorded in: Nursery Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangements order (CAO)	Receipt;	Post looked after arrangements	2020	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2020-2021 Sweep	No	SchC
Post looked after arrangements [used for funding] This data item (N00186) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order, residence order or a child arrangements order.	Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption from England and Wales Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) from England and Wales Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) from England and Wales Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangements order (CAO) from England and Wales Ceased to be looked after through adoption from state care outside of England and Wales	Receipt;	Post looked after arrangements	2022	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2022-23 Sweep	No	SchC
Young carer indicator Data item (N00766) records whether the pupil has been identified as a young carer and by whom. This new item is to be collected from all schools except nursery from Spring 2023. Data item recorded in: Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Not declared Identified as a young carer by parent or guardian Identified as a young carer by school	Receipt;	Young carer indicator	2022	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2022-23 Sweep	No	SchC
2 year old basis for funding [ALL schools] The basis for funding data item (N00178), records the basis under which a 2 year old (within the date of birth range 2019-01-01 to 2019-12-31 inclusive) has been funded whilst taking up a place in the school. This data item is not required for 3 and 4 year olds. 2 year old children may meet more than one criterion in the codeset shown below and each relevant criterion is returned in the census.	Response scale for all data items: ECO Economic criteria HSD High-level SEN or disability LAA Looked after or adopted from care	Receipt;	Basis for 2-year-old funding inc. being looked after in care	2021	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2021-22 Sweep	No	SchC
Early years pupil premium [ALL Schools] [used for funding] Early years pupil premium (EYPP) (N00639) is for disadvantaged three and four year olds (all three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours per week of government funded free entitlement early education for 38 weeks of the year). Children are eligible to receive EYPP (N00639) if they receive the universal 15 hours entitlement and either: • meet benefits related criteria equivalent to those for free school meals (please note: meals delivered as part of the universal entitlement are not ‘FSM’; receipt of FSM does not automatically qualify a child for EYPP)1 • are in the care of the local authority (in England or Wales) • have left care (in England or Wales) through: – adoption – special guardianship – a child arrangements order (formally known as a residence order) As early years pupil premium data is only collected in the spring (January) census, the age range for 3 year olds is not restricted to the academic year (as is the usual practice with age ranges).	In receipt through eligibility for economic reasons: where they are in receipt via eligibility for the benefits related criteria for FSM In receipt through eligibility for both reasons: where they are in receipt through eligibility for both economic and other reasons In receipt through eligibility for other reasons: where they are in receipt due to eligibility for being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order In receipt through eligibility for unknown basis: where the school or AP provider knows the child is in receipt of EYPP (due to receiving funding from the local authority) but does not necessarily know the reason why	Receipt;	Pupil premium data linked to care status	2021	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2021-22 Sweep	No	SchC
Post looked after arrangements [used for funding] This data item (N00186) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order, residence order or a child arrangements order. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset; only one of the values will apply to each pupil: Data item recorded in: Nursery Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangements order (CAO)	Receipt;	Post looked after arrangements	2021	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2021-22 Sweep	No	SchC
Early years pupil premium [ALL Schools] [used for funding] Early years pupil premium (EYPP) (N00639) is for disadvantaged three and four year olds (all three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours per week of government funded free entitlement early education for 38 weeks of the year). Children are eligible to receive EYPP (N00639) if they receive the universal 15 hours entitlement and either: • meet benefits related criteria equivalent to those for free school meals (please note: meals delivered as part of the universal entitlement are not ‘FSM’; receipt of FSM does not automatically qualify a child for EYPP)1 • are in the care of the local authority (in England or Wales) • have left care (in England or Wales) through: – adoption – special guardianship – a child arrangements order (formally known as a residence order) As early years pupil premium data is only collected in the spring (January) census, the age range for 3 year olds is not restricted to the academic year (as is the usual practice with age ranges).	In receipt through eligibility for economic reasons: where they are in receipt via eligibility for the benefits related criteria for FSM In receipt through eligibility for both reasons: where they are in receipt through eligibility for both economic and other reasons In receipt through eligibility for other reasons: where they are in receipt due to eligibility for being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order In receipt through eligibility for unknown basis: where the school or AP provider knows the child is in receipt of EYPP (due to receiving funding from the local authority) but does not necessarily know the reason why	Receipt;	Pupil premium data linked to care status	2020	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2020-2021 Sweep	No	SchC
2 year old basis for funding [ALL schools] The basis for funding data item (N00178), records the basis under which a 2 year old (within the date of birth range 2018-01-01 to 2018-12-31 inclusive) has been funded whilst taking up a place in the school. This data item is not required for 3 and 4 year olds. 2 year old children may meet more than one criterion in the codeset shown below and each relevant criterion is returned in the census.	ECO Economic criteria HSD High-level SEN or disability LAA Looked after or adopted from care	Receipt;	Basis for 2-year-old funding inc. being looked after in care	2020	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2020-2021 Sweep	No	SchC
4.3.12 Adopted from care [collected for: ALL schools] Guidance for the January school census 2014 asked schools to include, for the first time, children adopted from care on or after 30 December 2005 as well as those who left care under a special guardianship order or residence order (now known as a child arrangements order4) so that they attract the pupil premium worth £1900 per pupil this financial year. Schools are now asked to include in this data return all children adopted from care and not just who were adopted from care after 30 December 2005. All are now eligible to attract the pupil premium this financial year. This data item will therefore identify all eligible children on census day who will attract £1900 this financial year. It will be up to those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers of former looked after children on residence/child arrangements orders) to decide if they wish to self-declare their children’s status to schools. Parents should be asked to provide supporting evidence, for example, a photocopy of the adoption order, and asked to confirm that their child was adopted from care. Parents may conceal sensitive information (eg the name of the birth parents) if they wish. Schools are reminded that this is a particularly sensitive data item, and of the need for confidentiality. Schools should ensure that, as for other pupil level data items, they comply with their responsibilities with respect to the data protection act when processing this data. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset. Only one of the values will apply to each pupil and a school’s MIS should provide a default value of N – not declared. Data item recorded in: Nursery Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangement order (CAO)	Receipt;	Was pupil adopted from care	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2014-15 Sweep	No	SchC
Post looked after arrangements [used for funding] This data item (N00186) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order, residence order or a child arrangements order. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset; only one of the values will apply to each pupil:	Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangements order (CAO)	Receipt;	Post looked after arrangements	2018	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2018-19 Sweep	No	SchC
2-year-old basis for funding [ALL schools] The basis for funding data item (N00178), records the basis under which a 2-year-old (within the date of birth range 2016-01-01 to 2016-12-31 inclusive) has been funded whilst taking up a place in the school. This data item is not required for 3 and 4-year-olds. 2-year-old children may meet more than one criterion in the codeset shown below and each relevant criterion is returned in the census. Data item recorded in: Nursery Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Economic criteria High-level SEN or disability Looked after or adopted from care	Receipt;	Basis for 2-year-old funding inc. being looked after in care	2018	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2018-19 Sweep	No	SchC
Early years pupil premium (EYPP) (100559) is for disadvantaged three and four year olds. All three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours per week of government funded early education for 38 weeks of the year. (As early years pupil premium data is only collected in the spring (January) census, the age range for 3 year olds is not restricted to the academic year (as is the usual practice with age ranges).) Children are eligible to receive EYPP (N00639) if they receive the universal 15 hours entitlement and either: • meet the benefits related criteria for free school meals (please note: meals delivered as part of the universal entitlement are not FSM) • are in the care of the local authority (in England or Wales) • have left care (in England or Wales) through: – adoption – specialguardianship – a child arrangement order (formally known as a residence order)	In receipt through eligibility for economic reasons: where they are in receipt via eligibility for the benefits related criteria for FSM In receipt through eligibility for both reasons: where they are in receipt through eligibility for both economic and other reasons In receipt through eligibility for other reasons: where they are in receipt due to eligibility for being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order In receipt through eligibility for unknown basis: where the school or AP provider knows the child is in receipt of EYPP (due to receiving funding from the local authority) but does not necessarily know the reason why	Receipt;	Pupil premium data linked to care status	2017	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2017-18 Sweep	No	SchC
2-year-old basis for funding [ALL schools] The basis for funding data item (100576), records the basis under which a 2-year-old (within the date of birth range 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015 inclusive) has been funded whilst taking up a place in the school. This data item is not required for 3 and 4-year-olds. 46 2-year-old children may meet more than one criterion in the codeset shown below and each relevant criterion is returned in the census.	Response scale for all data items: Economic criteria High-level SEN or disability Looked after or adopted from care	Receipt;	Basis for 2-year-old funding inc. being looked after in care	2017	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2017-18 Sweep	No	SchC
Post looked after arrangements [used for funding] This data item (100587) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order, residence order or a child arrangement order. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset; only one of the values will apply to each pupil: Data item recorded in: Nursery Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangement order (CAO)	Receipt;	Post looked after arrangements	2017	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2017-18 Sweep	No	SchC
As early years pupil premium data is only collected in the spring (January) census, the age range for 3 year olds is not restricted to the academic year (as is the usual practice with age ranges). Children will be eligible for EYPP (100559) if they are receiving any hours of funded early education and: • meet the benefits related criteria for free school meals (please note: meals delivered as part of the universal entitlement are not FSM) • are in the care of the local authority (in England or Wales) • have left care (in England or Wales) through: – adoption – specialguardianship – a child arrangement order (formally known as a residence order)	In receipt through eligibility for economic reasons: where they are in receipt via eligibility for the benefits related criteria for FSM In receipt through eligibility for both reasons: where they are in receipt through eligibility for both economic and other reasons In receipt through eligibility for other reasons: where they are in receipt due to eligibility for being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order In receipt through eligibility for unknown basis: where the school or AP provider knows the child is in receipt of EYPP (due to receiving funding from the local authority) but does not necessarily know the reason why	Receipt;	Pupil premium data linked to care status	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2016-17 Sweep	No	SchC
(p) Post looked after arrangements [used for funding] This data item (100587) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order, residence order or a child arrangement order. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset; only one of the values will apply to each pupil:	Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangement order (CAO)	Receipt;	Post looked after arrangements	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2016-17 Sweep	No	SchC
As early years pupil premium data is only collected in the spring (January) census, the age range for 3 year olds is not restricted to the academic year (as is the usual practice with age ranges). Children will be eligible for EYPP (100559) if they are receiving any hours of funded early education and: • meet the benefits related criteria for free school meals (please note: meals delivered as part of the universal entitlement are not FSM) • are in the care of the local authority (in England or Wales) • have left care (in England or Wales) through: – adoption – specialguardianship – a child arrangement order (formally known as a residence order)	In receipt through eligibility for economic reasons: where they are in receipt via eligibility for the benefits related criteria for FSM In receipt through eligibility for both reasons: where they are in receipt through eligibility for both economic and other reasons In receipt through eligibility for other reasons: where they are in receipt due to eligibility for being in care or due to leaving care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order In receipt through eligibility for unknown basis: where the school or AP provider knows the child is in receipt of EYPP (due to receiving funding from the local authority) but does not necessarily know the reason why	Receipt;	Pupil premium data linked to care status	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2015-16 Sweep	No	SchC
For exclusions – the pupil status (excluding pupil enrolment status) and pupil identifiers modules will be collected together with the in care indicator and SEN provision at the time of exclusion. Data item recorded in: Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Presumed two responses would be (at time of exclusion): In care Not in care	Receipt;	In care when excluded measure	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2015-16 Sweep	No	SchC
Adopted from care This data item (100549) identifies those children on roll on census day who were looked after immediately before adoption or prior to being subject of a residence or special guardianship order. Those who have parental responsibility (adoptive parents, special guardians and carers) choose if they wish schools to know whether children have been adopted, or are under a special guardianship order or a residence order. Schools will be able to record the information using the following codeset; only one of the values will apply to each pupil: Data item recorded in: Nursery Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Response scale for all data items: Not declared Ceased to be looked after through adoption Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO) R Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO) Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangement order (CAO)	Receipt;	Was pupil adopted from care	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2015-16 Sweep	No	SchC
For exclusions – the pupil status (excluding pupil enrolment status) and pupil identifiers modules will be collected together with the in care indicator and SEN provision at the time of exclusion. Data item recorded in: Primary Middle-deemed primary Middle-deemed secondary Secondary All-through Special Pupil referral unit	Presumed two responses would be (at time of exclusion): In care Not in care	Receipt;	In care when excluded measure	2016	2-16	2	16	Education professional	No	Academic year	2014-15 Sweep	No	SchC

England

Aims

Completion of the school census is a statutory requirement under section 537A of the Education Act 1996. Most schools complete the school census three times per year.These collections give an excellent coverage of pupils educated in England. Local authority maintained schools and pupil referral units submit census data to their local authority who authorize the data and then submit it to the department. Academies and other schools not maintained by a local authority are responsible for submitting their own data to the department. The data aims to give a fair representation of the policy area, aiding the work of policy makers and commissioners.

Institution

Department for Education

Geographic coverage - Nations

England;

Start date

1996

Minimum age at recruitment

Sample Size

9,000,031

Sample

Study design

Census

Sample details

Local authority and independent schools are required to complete a school level census annually. This is a statutory requirement on all registered independent schools. Eleven general hospital schools complete a school level census. Pupils having their education funded by a local authority in an alternative setting are included in the annual alternative provision census. These collections give an excellent coverage of pupils educated in England. The main gap in coverage is pupils who are educated at home by the choice of their parents (without the local authority providing funding).

Sex

All

Sample Characteristics

Children and young people

Sample size at most recent sweep

Varied

Individual data available (e.g. upon special request)?

Yes

Data Access Level

Mixed - open source and restricted access (on application)

Data Access

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers

Regional variable present?

No

Local Authority variable present?

Yes

Complementary Data

Genetic Data Collected

Linked Data

HDR UK Innovation Gateway

Website

www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-school-census

Notes

Related Measures

Benefits, Ethnicity and race, Income/household income, Language and literacy, Social support, Socioeconomic status and deprivation,

Study Code

SchC

Reference paper(s)

N/A

Funders

Department for Education

Catalogue of Social Care Data

UNITING SOCIAL CARE DATA