Data Sources
Eduscope aggregates official education data from multiple UK government sources. This page documents every data source we use, what information it provides, and how frequently it updates.
School Information
Basic school details, contact information, and establishment characteristics.
Get Information About Schools (GIAS)
The Department for Education's official register of schools and colleges in England. GIAS provides the foundation for all school records on Eduscope.
Data includes: School name, URN (Unique Reference Number), address, postcode, coordinates, phone, email, website, headteacher name, establishment type, phase, status (open/closed), age range, capacity, number on roll, gender, religious character, admissions policy, local authority, trust/federation membership, SEN provisions, nursery and sixth form indicators.
Update frequency: Daily synchronisation from the GIAS data extracts.
Source: Get Information About Schools
Inspection Data
School inspection reports and ratings from regulatory bodies.
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
Ofsted inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.
Data includes: Overall effectiveness rating (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate), inspection date, inspection type (full, short, monitoring), and links to full PDF reports.
Update frequency: Within 48 hours of report publication.
Source: Ofsted Reports
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
ISI is the body responsible for the inspection of schools in membership of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and other independent schools.
Data includes: Inspection reports, compliance findings, and educational quality assessments for independent schools.
Source: ISI Inspection Reports
Performance Data
Academic results and progress measures across key stages.
Find School and College Performance Data
The DfE service that publishes school and college performance data for state-funded schools in England.
Key Stage 2 (Primary)
Data includes: Reading, writing, and maths attainment; progress scores; percentage meeting expected standard; percentage achieving higher standard. Breakdowns by pupil characteristics (gender, disadvantaged, EAL, prior attainment).
Key Stage 4 (Secondary - GCSE)
Data includes: Attainment 8, Progress 8, English and Maths grade 5+, EBacc entry and achievement, open element results. Breakdowns by pupil characteristics including SEN status.
Key Stage 5 (Post-16)
Data includes: A-level, academic, applied general, and tech level results. Average point scores, grade distributions, and value-added measures by programme type.
Update frequency: Annually, following official DfE publication (typically October for provisional, January for revised).
Destinations Data
Where pupils go after completing their education.
16-18 and KS4 Destination Measures
Official statistics tracking pupil destinations in the year after completing Key Stage 4 or 16-18 study.
KS4 destinations include: Overall sustained destination rate, education (school sixth form, FE college, other), apprenticeships, employment, and destinations not sustained.
KS5 destinations include: Higher education (UK universities, Russell Group, top third by tariff, Oxbridge), further education, apprenticeships, employment, and gap years.
Update frequency: Annually, following official DfE publication.
Source: Destination Measures Statistics
Census and Absence Data
Pupil demographics, characteristics, and attendance patterns.
School Census
The school census collects information about individual pupils in schools in England, three times a year.
Data includes: Number on roll, free school meal eligibility, English as additional language, special educational needs, ethnicity breakdowns, and class sizes.
Source: School Pupils and Their Characteristics
Pupil Absence Statistics
Information on pupil absence in state-funded primary, secondary, and special schools.
Data includes: Overall absence rate, authorised and unauthorised absence, persistent absence rate, and severe absence rate.
Update frequency: Termly provisional data, annual confirmed statistics.
Workforce Data
Teacher and support staff statistics from the School Workforce Census.
School Workforce Census
Annual census collecting information about the school workforce in state-funded schools in England.
Data includes: Teacher headcount and FTE, teaching assistant numbers, pupil-teacher ratios, teacher qualifications (QTS status), teacher turnover and retention rates, teacher absence, and mean years of service.
Update frequency: Annually, following November census collection and June publication.
Source: School Workforce in England
Financial Data
School income, expenditure, and financial health indicators.
Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR)
Financial data for local authority maintained schools, collected annually as part of the Section 251 outturn return.
Academies Accounts Return (AAR)
Financial data for academy trusts, submitted annually to the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Data includes: Total income and expenditure, per-pupil figures, breakdown by category (teaching staff, support staff, premises, learning resources, catering, energy, etc.), in-year balance, and revenue reserves.
Update frequency: Annually, following ESFA publication of benchmarking data.
Source: Schools Financial Benchmarking
Update Frequency Summary
How often each data source is refreshed on Eduscope.
| Data Source | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GIAS school records | Daily | Core school information |
| Ofsted inspections | Within 48 hours | After report publication |
| ISI inspections | Weekly | Independent schools |
| Performance (KS2/4/5) | Annually | October provisional, January revised |
| Destinations data | Annually | Following DfE publication |
| Census data | Annually | January census |
| Absence data | Termly | Provisional updates, annual confirmed |
| Workforce data | Annually | November census, June publication |
| Financial data | Annually | Following ESFA publication |
How We Process Data
Raw government data undergoes several processing stages before appearing on Eduscope.
Extraction
Data is downloaded from official APIs and data extracts in CSV, JSON, and XML formats.
Validation
Records are checked for completeness, data type consistency, and referential integrity against URN identifiers.
Normalisation
Field names are standardised, values are mapped to consistent classifications, and data types are enforced.
Enrichment
Data from multiple sources is linked using URN to create unified school profiles with cross-referenced information.
Publication
Processed data is indexed for search, validated against business rules, and made available through the interface.
Data Accuracy Disclaimer
All information on Eduscope is provided "as is" from official government sources. While we ensure accurate processing and timely updates, please note:
- Data reflects official publications and may lag behind real-world changes.
- Some data is suppressed by the DfE to protect pupil privacy (small cohorts, identifiable groups).
- Performance data should be interpreted in context—raw results don't account for intake differences.
- Users should verify critical information directly with schools before making decisions.
For the most authoritative information, consult the official government sources linked above.
Data Queries
If you have questions about our data sources, notice an error, or would like to request a correction, please contact us.