System update 28 June 2023

An updated version of the Get Information about Schools (GIAS) service has been released to all users. You do not need to take any specific action unless otherwise indicated below.

This release includes the following improvements:

  • Bug fixes and fine-tuning to improve the overall user experience, including:
    • countries should not be listed in the county field
    • remove link to any single-academy trust (SAT) pages on Find and Check the Performance of Schools and Colleges in England in the "Data from other services" section to reflect changes made on this service
    • fix to stop non-children's centres establishment types being added to children’s centre groups
    • error message is now displayed when there is no change made in the edit federation group page and save is selected
    • remove button is now only needed to be selected once to remove a pre-defined local authority set
    • create a federation process pop up to remind users to update establishment governance when creating a federation
    • GIAS support team can now edit data owner contact details on service for status page
    • add a new field for the online providers establishment type only called accreditation expiry date
    • status of pending approval is now default on creation of an online provider establishment type record and can now be selected for online providers when editing by DfE team

Further information

1. Office for National Statistics (ONS) updates

An update to the geo spatial fields that are updated from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will be undertaken soon.

The relevant fields are:

  • Government Statistical Service (GSS) local authority (LA) code (also known as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) local authority (LA) number) name
  • Government Statistical Service (GSS) local authority (LA) code (also known as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) local authority (LA) number) code
  • administrative district name
  • administrative district code
  • ward name
  • ward code
  • parliamentary constituency name
  • parliamentary constituency code
  • urban/rural description name
  • urban/rural description code
  • middle super output area (MSOA) name
  • middle super output area (MSOA) code
  • lower super output area (LSOA) name
  • lower super output area (LSOA) code

This will also update those fields that have had a temporary code in place with their new ONS data following the local government reorganisations in April 2023 (see previous system updates for more information on this).

  • Government Statistical Service (GSS) local authority (LA) code (also known as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) local authority (LA) number) name
  • Government Statistical Service (GSS) local authority (LA) code (also known as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) local authority (LA) number) code
  • administrative district name
  • administrative district code

We will let users know once this work has been completed.

2. Yearly update of data from the underlying data of the schools, pupils and their characteristics statistical release

The yearly update of data from the underlying data of the schools, pupils and their characteristics statistical publication will take place shortly over several days. A notice will be added to the service whilst this work is undertaken and then updated once all work is completed.

The fields that will be updated are the:

  • total number of pupils
  • total number of boys
  • total number of girls
  • number of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM)
  • percentage of children eligible for free school meals (FSM)

Kind regards


GIAS support team

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