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School and pupil census

The school census is a statutory return which takes place during each term and covers all maintained schools, academies, free schools and pupil referral units.

Census dates for 2022-2023 (LA Maintained Schools)

Census datesDeadline for schools to submit to LA 
Summer census: 18 May 2023Friday 19 May 2023

Guidance for completing the census

The Department of Education (DfE) produce a comprehensive web-based manual for the school census. These web pages include general guidance, recommended notepad entries and technical specifications which are all located on their help pages to Complete the school census.

Submission of the school census (for LA maintained schools) should be done securely via AnyComms+ (AVCO).

Schools Information Management System Guidance

For support creating and validating your census return, please contact your software provider or support team directly.

Contact us

If you need to contact us about the school census, please use the following email [email protected] and include in the subject your email ‘Pupil Census and your 4 digit DfE school number’ so that we can respond your query promptly.

Last updated 28 March 2023