Pupil records: transferring to other schools or education providers

See the rules on transferring pupil records when a pupil moves school, and get guidance on how to do this securely for digital and paper copies.

Last reviewed on 1 October 2024See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 7327
Contents
  1. You must send a common transfer file and an educational record
  2. How to transfer pupil records securely
  3. Who's responsible for retaining pupil records?
  4. Share the curricular record when a pupil is under consideration for another school

You must send a common transfer file and an educational record

This is a legal requirement when a pupil moves between schools in the UK.

This applies to all phases and types of maintained school, including special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs). The requirement to transfer educational records applies to all special schools.

Academies and free schools are 'strongly encouraged' to send a common transfer file (CTF) when a pupil leaves to attend another school.

This is explained in the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005 and the DfE guide on the CTF (page 5). The DfE guide also explains:

  • What's included in the CTF
  • How it should be formatted
  • The processes for transferring it

See our articles for more information on the contents of the CTF and the contents of the educational record.

You must share it with the responsible person at the new school