Census dates for academic year 2024/2025

This article contains important dates for censuses taking place across the current academic year. This information is derived from DfE guidance on School Censuses and the Workforce Census.

Please note: Census dry runs are usually available two weeks before the census date, but this may be subject to change depending on alterations made by the DfE.

Data Collections

Here are some key data points collected in the census, along with links to easily access and review the data:

• Attendance data from 01/04/2024 to 25/05/2024 - View attendance statistics
• Free School Meal Eligibility from 17/05/2024 to 03/10/2024 - View FSM students and eligibility dates
• Suspensions and permanent exclusions from 01/08/2024 and 20/04/2024 - View behaviour reporting

This includes both enrolled and unenrolled students. For more information, please visit: Data Items 2023 to 2024

Additional resources

We also have the following articles that provide further guidance for each census.

School Census

Preparing for the school census - This article serves as an introduction to administrating the census,  including details on the necessary permissions, data verification, etc.

Census Summary Inspection - This article covers each table that can appear in the School census and provides overviews of the information recorded in the tables.

School Census FAQ - This guide lists the most common questions that schools ask regarding the School Census.

Workforce Census

Workforce Census Guide - This article covers the preparation and running of your Workforce Census, along with guidance on resolving errors and queries.

Workforce Census FAQ - This article lists the common queries raised by schools and provides detailed answers.

CES Census

CES Census Guide - This article covers the preparation and administration of the CES Census.