School and pupil census
Summer 2026
Important Dates:
Familiarisation Period for test files | Closes at 4pm Friday 15 May 2026 |
|---|---|
Summer School Census Day | Thursday 21 May 2026 |
LA Maintained Submission Deadline | Friday 22 May 2026 |
LA Maintained Schools
Must upload and submit to COLLECT no later than Friday 22 May 2026. Any LA Maintained school that cannot meet this deadline must email the Insight & Analytics Team (I&A) at [email protected]. It is requested that schools submit their data as soon as they can after the Census day on Thursday 21 May 2026 so we can begin work on any errors or queries to resolve in time for the approvals deadline on Wednesday 17 June 2026. As well as being the final submission deadline, this is also a deadline for us to get the data approved by.
Academies
Please note that the Local Authority (LA) is not able to see or assist with your School Census. Academies with any questions relating to completing the school census should contact the DfE (Department of Education) Helpdesk via DfE Data Collections Service Request Form
Why is this Census Important?
The census is a key source of data used to calculate schools' funding. It is essential that all schools complete the census accurately and in a timely manner to ensure they are funded correctly. Failure to do so could result in a school missing out on funding to which it is entitled or receiving more funding than it is due and having to repay any overpayment.
DfE Sign in
Please remember to check you can login to COLLECT before Census day, using the following link: https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/
