The school census is a statutory return which takes place during the autumn, spring, and summer terms for:
- nursery schools
- primary schools
- secondary schools
- special schools
- pupil referral units (PRUs)
The Summer School Census is scheduled for Thursday 21st May 2026.
Schools should familiarise themselves with the new requirements for this term's collection.
See the DfE guidance on how to complete the school census
SIMS Schools ONLY:
Producing the School Census Summer 2026 - NURSERY
Producing the School Census Summer 2026 - PRIMARY
Producing the School Census Summer 2026 - SECONDARY
Related documents
- Recording specialist resource provision on your MIS
- Data needed on the school census (xls)
- Privacy notice suggested text for pupils (docx)
- First Language Secondary Main Codes (zip file)
- First Language Pimary Main Codes (zip file)
- SIMS Guidance - Importing the First Languages into SIMS (doc)
- Authorised Ethnic Code list for Lambeth (doc)