Local authority school places scorecards
Reporting year 2025

Description

Underlying data for the Local Authority School Places Scorecard 2025. Data used to produce the online interactive dashboard.

Coverage

Local authorities in England.

File formats and conventions

z indicates data is not applicable. x indicates data is not available.

Data files

Basic need funding - national, local authority

Filename: basic-need-funding_national-la_200910-202728.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Basic need funding allocated to Local authorities between 2009/10 and 2027/28

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                              |  Variable description
-----------------------------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------
basic_need_allocation_201011_202728_total  |  Total Basic Need Allocation 2010/11 to 2027/28

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available


Local authority pupil forecast accuracy - national, local authority

Filename: la-forecast-accuracy_national-la_202526.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Pupil forecast accuracy for academic year 2025/26

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                                  |  Variable description
---------------------------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------
actual_pupil_numbers_202526_count              |  Actual pupil numbers 2025/26
education_phase                                |  School phase
one_year_ahead_forecast_accuracy_percentage    |  One year ahead forecast accuracy percentage
scap23_forecast_pupils_on_roll_202526_count    |  SCAP23 forecast pupil numbers on roll 2025/26
scap25_forecast_pupils_on_roll_202526_count    |  SCAP25 forecast pupil numbers on roll 2025/26
three_year_ahead_forecast_accuracy_percentage  |  three year ahead forecast accuracy percentage

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available
3. LOW indicates sample size is too low to calculate forecast accuracy


Quantity of school places added - national, local authority

Filename: quantity-of-school-places-added_national-la_200910-202425.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Quantity of school places added since academic year 2009/10 and planned for 2027/28

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                                     |  Variable description
------------------------------------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
actual_pupil_numbers_200910_count                 |  Actual Number on Roll 2009/10
actual_pupil_numbers_201415_count                 |  Actual Number on Roll 2014/15
actual_pupil_numbers_201819_count                 |  Actual Number on Roll 2018/19
capacity_may_2010_count                           |  Capacity at May 2010
capacity_may_2025_count                           |  Capacity at May 2025
change_in_pupil_numbers_200910_201415_percentage  |  Percentage Change in Pupil Numbers between 2009/10 and 2014/15
change_in_pupil_numbers_200910_201819_percentage  |  Percentage Change in Pupil Numbers between 2009/10 and 2018/19
change_in_pupil_numbers_200910_202526_percentage  |  Percentage Change in Pupil Numbers between 2009/10 and 2025/26
change_in_pupil_numbers_201415_202526_percentage  |  Percentage Change in Pupil Numbers between 2014/15 and 2025/26
change_in_pupil_numbers_201819_202526_percentage  |  Percentage Change in Pupil Numbers between 2018/19 and 2025/26
change_in_pupil_numbers_202526_202728_percentage  |  Anticipated Change in Pupil Numbers from 2025/26 to 2027/28
education_phase                                   |  School phase
estimated_additional_places_needed_202728_count   |  Estimated Number of Additional Places Needed to Meet Demand in 2027/28
estimated_spare_places_202728_percentage          |  Estimated Percentage of Spare Places in 2027/28
estimated_spare_places_in_202728_count            |  Estimated Number of Spare Places in 2027/28
forecast_pupil_numbers_202728_count               |  Forecast Pupil Numbers in 2027/28
new_places_planned_for_202526_202728_count        |  Number of New Places Planned for Delivery between 2025/26 and 2027/28
places_created_200910_202425_total                |  Total Places created between 2009/10 and 2024/25
unfilled_places_202425_percentage                 |  Percentage of Unfilled Places in 2024/25

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available


School preference offers - national, local authority

Filename: school-preference-offers_national-la_2025-2026.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National
Time period: 2025/26 to 2026/27
Content summary: School preference offers from national offer day 2025 and 2026

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                            |  Variable description
---------------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
education_phase                          |  School phase
first_preference_offers_percentage       |  Percentage of Offers made to Applicants of First Preference
second_preference_offers_percentage      |  Percentage of Offers made to Applicants of Second Preference
third_preference_offers_percentage       |  Percentage of Offers made to Applicants of Third Preference
top_three_preferences_offers_percentage  |  Percentage of Offers made to Applicants of One of Top Three Preferences

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available


Quality of school places added - national, local authority

Filename: quality-of-school-places-added_national-la_1may2024-1may2025.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Ofsted, Progress 8 and primary reading and maths progress ratings of school places existing or added between 1st May 2024 and 1st May 2025 at local authority and national level

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name         |  Variable description
--------------------  |  ---------------
education_phase       |  School phase
existing_place_count  |  Existing places
new_place_count       |  New places
rating                |  Rating

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available


Quality school places added - school

Filename: quality-of-school-places-added_school_1may2024-1may2025.csv
Geographic levels: School
Time period: 2025
Content summary: Ofsted, Progress 8 and primary reading and maths progress ratings of school places existing or added between 1st May 2024 and 1st May 2025 at school level

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                     |  Variable description
--------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------
ofsted_behaviour_and_attitudes    |  Ofsted rating - behaviour and attitudes
ofsted_leadership_and_management  |  Ofsted rating - leadership and management
ofsted_personal_development       |  Ofsted rating - personal development
ofsted_quality_of_education       |  Ofsted rating - quality of education
primary_existing_places           |  Primary existing places
primary_new_places                |  Primary new places
primary_progress_in_maths         |  Progress in maths
primary_progress_in_reading       |  Progress in reading
progress_8_rating                 |  Progress 8 rating
secondary_existing_places         |  Secondary existing places
secondary_new_places              |  Secondary new places

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available


Cost of additional school places - national, local authority

Filename: cost-of-additional-school-places_national-la_201516-201718.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National
Time period: 2025
Content summary: National costs of additional school places from local authority projects for academic years 2015/16 to 2017/18

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                       |  Variable description
----------------------------------  |  --------------------------------------------
adjusted_region_and_inflation_cost  |  Total cost adjusted for region and inflation
education_phase                     |  Project phase - Filter by Project phase
per_place_cost                      |  Cost per additional school place
places_created_count                |  Number of additional school places created
project_count                       |  Number of projects
project_type                        |  Project type - Filter by project type

Footnotes:

1. z indicates data is not applicable
2. x indicates data is not available
3. Regional level data shows national costs adjusted for regional variation and inflation
