Information Management & School Census (populates the DCFS

Introduction

The Education Act (1996)(s537) provides the legislative framework for the government to collect school level pupil information from schools; however, this did not originally include pupil names. Subsequent amendments and regulations mean that since 2000, a ‘pupil level’ census now collects information about every child in a state-maintained school. The number of data items collected has also been increased incrementally, and currently stands at more than 40.

The legislation makes it a statutory duty on schools to supply the data, which takes precedence over the Data Protection Act and means that parents and children do not need to be asked to consent or to be informed that it is taking place, although schools are obliged to publish a Fair Processing Notice to parents. The information collected is held on the National Pupil Database (NPD) and is used statistically or for research. LAs can also obtain information that relates to pupils in their area.

Capita carry out the census on behalf of the DfES and takes the information directly from each school’s system on dates prescribed by DCFS. Until 2006, the census was held annually in Jan/Feb (the Pupil Level Annual School Census or PLASC), but it is now to be a termly census.

The census has been further extended to include nursery schools and information from childminders, private nurseries and playgroups.

The Government has confirmed that data held on the NPD will never be deleted.

National Pupil Database

• 3 times per year
• Individual level: data extracted from school computers
• All pupils in state-maintained sedtor & nursery schools.
• All early years providers
• 40+ data items prescribed by regulations.
• Incorporates QCA System (which one?)
• Consent of data-subject unnecessary.
• Data held on the National Pupil Database.
• Unique Pupil Number

Links

UK Gov Standards Catalogue

Teachernet - Information Management in Schools (IMS)

Teachernet - Schools Census 2008

Archive

TWG Members Briefing on Unique Pupil Number 2004