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 2nd October 2025.
Schools should familiarise themselves with the new requirements for this term's collection.
See the DfE guidance on how to complete the school census
Download the SIMS guidance on producing the school census return for:
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)