Key dates you need to know
The school census happens 3 times in a school year.
The dates below are for the 2025/26 academic year.
If you're a maintained school or pupil referral unit (PRU), check if your local authority (LA) sets its own return deadline.
Autumn 2025 census
- Census date: Thursday 2 October 2025
- Return deadline date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
Spring 2026 census
- Census date: Thursday 15 January 2026
- Return deadline date: Wednesday 11 February 2026
Summer 2026 census
- Census date: Thursday 21 May 2026
- Return deadline date: Wednesday 17 June 2026
Note: Independent schools are also required to complete the school-level annual school census (SLASC).
Understand how the census affects your funding
Some of the data you submit in census returns is used to determine your school's funding allocations. Read more about this in our other article.
Get help with your census
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