What is the School Workforce Census?

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The School Workforce Census is a central database that will record comprehensive data on all teachers and support staff.

Why do we need the Census?

A single database will strengthen data security and improve the accuracy of data analysis for schools, local authorities and the DCSF.

The Census is also intended as a replacement for five existing surveys:618G; Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS); Survey of Teachers' Pay (OME); Survey of Teacher Resignations and Recruitment (NEOST); and the workforce sections of the ASC/SLASC/ PLASC returns.

When will the Census take place?

The workforce census will now take place once a year in the autumn term. All schools will still need to make a return in both the autumn 2009 and spring 2010 as planned before the annual census becomes statutory from the autumn term 2010. For more information regarding this change please see the annual census.

Who is included in the Census?

The Census covers Teachers and Support Staff who are employed in the maintained sector.

"Teacher"comprises:

• Those paid according to Teachers' Pay and Conditions, whether employed by the school or the local authority, and agency staff working within a school in a post that would be paid according to Teachers' Pay and Conditions if filled by a Teacher employed by the school or local authority.
• Centrally employed teaching staff, such as Peripatetic and Advisory Teachers.

"Support Staff" comprises:

• "Teaching Assistants" - Those support staff based in the classroom for learning and pupil support staff, for example HLTAs, teaching assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupils support staff and bilingual assistants.
• "Other Support Staff" - Those who are not classroom based, for example matrons, nurses, medical staff, librarians, IT technicians, technicians, administration officers, secretaries, bursars, other administration and clerical staff, premises staff and catering staff.
• Centrally employed staff, such as educational psychologists and ICT technicians, that visit schools regularly.

What data is being collected about individuals?

The Individual Level Data collection comprises five modules, summarised as follows:

• Staff Details - Teacher Number, Family Name, Given Name, Former Names, NI Number, Gender, Date of Birth, Ethnicity, QT Status, HLTA Status and Disability, QTS Route
• Contract - Contract or Agreement Type, Start Date, End Date, Post, Role Identifier, Date of Arrival in School, Pay Scale, Regional Pay Spine, Spine Point, Total Pay, Safeguarded Salary, Daily Rate, Hours Worked Per Week, FTE Hours Per Week, Weeks Per Year and Additional Payment amount.
• Absence - First Day of Absence, Last Day of Absence, Working Days Lost, Absence Category and Payroll Category.
• Curriculum - Subject Code, Hours and NC Year Group.
• Qualification - Qualification Code, Subject Code(s), Date of Award.

In addition, a record of employees is required.

Note: The level of detail required varies for the different staff groups (i.e. teachers, teaching assistants and other support staff). The What is being collected at an individual level attached table 46kb shows which data items are expected for each category of staff.

Who do we need to obtain ‘Individual Level’ data for?

Individual Level Data is required for all Teachers in regular service and Support Staff employed by the school, local authority or another school in regular service. Regular service is defined as continuous service of one calendar month or more, either under a contract or service agreement. However, these Teachers and Support Staff must also work in the school regularly. Regularly is defined as a minimum of once every four weeks.

Individual Level Data is not required for Support Staff employed by agencies, staff employed by the LA that provide support to schools eg peripatetic music teachers, advisory teachers, educational psychologists, educational welfare officers, teachers only engaged in the One to One Tuition Programme, staff for whom there is no role identifier code that equates to the function they carry out, eg clerk to governors, school crossing patrol staff and School Improvement Partners (SIPs). Also excluded are: temporary staff with service of less than one calendar month; trainee teachers on teaching practice; and trainee teachers on a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme. Governors and voluntary staff are not included in the Census either.

What is included in the ‘School Level’ Data collection?

Two Headcounts are required:

• Occasional Teachers who are in service on Census Day but are not deemed to be in regular service (i.e. their contract or service agreement is less than one calendar month).
• Support Staff employed by agencies, who are in school on Census Day.

Nominal information concerning Teacher Post vacancies is also required.

Last updated: 11 November 2011