School Workforce Census
School Workforce Census
The School Workforce Census is a Department for Education (DfE) data collection of employed staff level data that all schools in England (including academies, Free Schools, UTCs, Special Schools and PRUs) are required to complete in the Autumn term year. The submission of the School Workforce Census return is a statutory requirement on schools.
The School Workforce Census data informs Department for Education policy on pay, pensions and the monitoring of the effectiveness and diversity of the school workforce. School Workforce Census data are also used by other government departments, local authorities, external agencies and educational researchers.
The School Workforce Census takes place on the 1st Thursday in November each year.
All maintained schools and academies should upload their return to the DfE COLLECT system which can be accessed via DfE Sign-in. All Schools are required to resolve any validation in COLLECT if possible and add notes for any remaining queries using the notepad entries accepted by the DfE. Academy Colleagues should also run all data quality reports in COLLECT and resolve any additional issues as needed. Reports are monitored for maintained schools and details of any issues will be communicated to school by the LA.
Further details on each census will be made available in the School Bulletin so please ensure you check this regularly. More information, including guidance notes can be found on the DfE’s website by following the links below:
School workforce census: GOV.UK
DfE School Workforce guide for Schools
DfE minimum Notepad Entries - Word version
LA guidance
COLLECT guidance for schools - from School Census