News

System updates for each development release, such as new functionality, features and bug fixes and other non development news items relating to Get Information about Schools (GIAS).

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System update
4 February 2025

An updated version of the Get Information about Schools (GIAS) service has been released to all users.

This release includes the following improvement:

  1. fine-tuning and bug fixes to improve the overall user experience:
    1. 245102 - Remove extra space between the number and the location on the search results page
    2. 245101 - Fix error thrown when attempting to update an establishment's joined date to a value in the past relative to the academy sponsor's start date
    3. 237539 - Add Clarity cookie policy to service
    4. 237057 - Integrate Clarity with GIAS

Users are not expected to need to take any specific action unless otherwise indicated.

Kind regards

GIAS support team


System update
28 January 2025

An updated version of the Get Information about Schools (GIAS) service has been released to all users.

This release includes the following improvement:

  1. fine-tuning and bug fixes to improve the overall user experience:
    1. 239401 - Unable to open a MAT record when converted from SAT when have governance professional role present
    2. 240825 - Associated establishment not visible once converted from SAT to MAT when governance records present
    3. 240388 - Ofsted rating field is visible in the search - filter on the left-hand side of the screen and should not be
    4. 203163 - Update existing governance guidance with secure 16-19 academies and secure single-academy trusts (SSATs) and governance professionals’ information
    5. 237208 - Investigate and fix System.ArgumentException

    Users are not expected to need to take any specific action unless otherwise indicated.

    Further information

    • Yearly update of data from the underlying data of the schools, pupils and their characteristics statistical publication 2024

      The yearly update of data from the underlying data of the schools, pupils and their characteristics statistical publication has now been completed.

      The fields that were updated are the:

      1. total number of pupils
      2. total number of boys
      3. total number of girls
      4. number of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM)
      5. percentage of children eligible for free school meals (FSM)
    • Yearly update of data from the school level annual school census (SLASC) 2024 for independent schools only

      The yearly update of data from the school level annual school census (SLASC) data collection independent schools only has now been completed.

      The fields that were updated (where applicable) are:

      1. street
      2. locality
      3. address3
      4. town
      5. county
      6. postcode
      7. establishment name
      8. head first name
      9. head last name
      10. head title
      11. number of pupils
      12. number of special pupils under a special educational needs (SEN) statement/education, health and care (EHC) plan
      13. number of special pupils not under a special educational needs (SEN) statement/education, health and care (EHC) plan

    • Office for National Statistics (ONS) quarterly updates

      The update to the geo spatial fields that are updated quarterly from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has now taken place for the August update and the November update.

      The relevant fields updated (where appliable) are:

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

    The next quarterly update will take place shortly.

    Regards

    GIAS support team




    System update
    21 January 2025

    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 bug fix:

    1. V4.59.1 > V4.59 release issue > Restore the field Date of last Ofsted visit for IEBT tab from backup – administrative field for the DfE independent schools’ team only

    Kind regards

    GIAS support team


    System update
    15 January 2025

    An updated version of the Get Information about Schools (GIAS) service has been released to all users.

    This release includes:

    1. Removal of Ofsted data from GIAS
    2. New features
    3. Bug fixes and fine tuning to improve overall user experience

    1. Removal of Ofsted data from GIAS

    Following the Secretary of State’s announcement that, from September 2024, inspections of state-funded schools will no longer include an overall effectiveness judgement, the GIAS service has made the following changes to the existing Ofsted fields in GIAS:

    • Removed the rating (code and name) fields
    • Removed the Ofsted last inspection field
    • Renamed the Ofsted report link field to Ofsted rating and reports (the hyperlink to the Ofsted website for the establishment will remain on the user interface (UI) so users can access this directly from GIAS if they wish to)

    All fields are no longer be present in the:

    • Various search and filter pages, and subsequent results, including for individual establishments
    • Bulk update tool
    • Public downloads
    • Non-public downloads
    • SOAP based API functionality, including the ‘Get’ and extract methods

    Users will need to take action if they are using any of these methods for their services/products/analytical or delivery purposes/etc.

    This approach has been agreed with Ofsted.

    The following, no longer used fields have been removed from the public and non-public downloads and the API functionality (including the ‘Get’ and extract method):

    • Ofsted special measures (code and name) fields

    For reference appendix A shows all the relevant service development tickets for this work.

    2. New features

    • Added a new governance role called governance professional for those establishments and academy trusts that legislation states must supply governance information to the Department for Education (DfE).
    Establishment / group typeApplicable role(s)
    Local authority-maintained school – not in a federationGovernance professional to a local authority-maintained school
    Local authority-maintained school – in a federationGovernance professional to a federation
    Academy or free school in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with local governors onlyLocal governance professional to an individual academy or free school
    Academy or free school in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with shared governors onlyShared governance professional - establishment
    Academy or free school in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with local and shared governorsLocal governance professional to an individual academy or free school

    or

    Shared governance professional - establishment
    Single-academy trust (SAT) (establishment level record)Governance professional to a single-academy trust (SAT)
    Multi-academy trust (MAT)Governance professional to a multi-academy trust (MAT)

    and (if required)

    Shared governance professional - group

    Secure single-academy trust (SSAT)Governance professional to a secure single-academy trust (SSAT)

    For reference appendix B shows all the relevant service development tickets for this feature.

    Users may need to take action as this is a new governance role although it is part of the existing functionality.

    3. Bug fixes and fine-tuning to improve the overall user experience

    • Removed validation that automatically assigns a sixth form to independent schools if they have children of 16 years of age or more.
    • Completed general updates to improve the performance of extracts.
    • Added friendly user messages where the governance searches are taking longer to reassure users that a search result will occur, and if not clearly state this.
    • Completed content updates for consistency in the governance search and filter.
    • Allowed shared governance roles at establishment level to be searched for through all search options.
    • Made the governance role and term of office identifier (GID) visible.
    • Changed to the non-public governance downloads so the correct shared governance roles are displayed.
    Download nameChanges
    All governance data non publicAdded the following roles:

    Shared chair of local governing body – group

    Shared chair of local governing body – establishment

    Shared local governor - group

    Shared local governor – establishment
    All academy governance records (non-public)Added the following roles:

    Shared chair of local governing body – establishment

    Shared local governor – establishment

    Please note the new governance professional roles have been added to the appropriate public and non-public governance extracts also.

    Due to the above changes and the addition of the new governance role (governance professional) users will therefore see an overall increase in result numbers immediately and as the new governance professional roles are added to records.

    • Updated Gov.Notify emails for service exceptions and failures.
    • Completed technical improvements for the service and administrative purposes.

    For reference appendix C shows all the relevant service development tickets for this work.

    Regards

    GIAS support team



    Appendix A: Removal of Ofsted data from GIAS

    The following are the relevant service development tickets for reference:

    • 232199 - Remove the Ofsted rating and last inspection date fields
    • 232202 - Remove the Ofsted rating, last inspection date and Ofsted special measures (where applicable) fields from the scheduled extracts
    • 232200 - Remove the Ofsted rating, last inspection date and Ofsted special measures fields from the SOAP service XSD
    • 232468 - Remove the Ofsted rating and last inspection date fields from the bulk update establishments tool
    • 234873 - Remove the Ofsted rating, last inspection date and Ofsted special measures (where applicable) fields from the public downloads
    • 232608 - Remove the Ofsted rating and last inspection date fields from the establishment bulk update guidance
    • 232329 – Amend the wording for the Ofsted hyperlink to, ‘Rating and reports’ and add information text

    Appendix B: New features

    The following are the relevant service development tickets for reference:

    • 132829 - Use existing add governance role functionality as far as possible
    • 132830 - Apply validation of specific roles to specific establishment types
    • 132831 - Apply validation for only one governance professional at a time to the backend code
    • 133953 - Set the appointed by field for governance professional to N/A in the database tables
    • 132894 - Add governance professional to the bottom of the drop-down option list on the user interface
    • 132800 - Ensure view mode for a public (non-logged in) user matches the UED
    • 132799 - Ensure view mode for a logged-in user matches the UED
    • 132812 - Ensure the user interface field names and order match the UED and are mapped to the relevant database field name
    • 132809 - Ensure the governance role identifier (GID) field is visible for all governance roles and records (terms of office) including governance professional
    • 135237 - Removal of edit rules for live and historic records
    • 135249 - Make the GID visible and spell out

    (referenced under bug fixes and fine tuning to improve overall user experience also)

    • 135232 - Edit rules follow existing rules
    • 135234 – User interface (UI) edit screen design
    • 135235 - Edit and remove functionality to reflect current functionality for live and historic records
    • 135238 - Use existing functionality for adding governance professional to a group
    • 135243 - Governance professional types possible for the MAT
    • 143327 - Governance professional minimum fields required
    • 135242 – Layout and content on UI and in database - logged in
    • 135247 - Public user view of layout and content
    • 135248 - Logged in user view of layout and content
    • 135250 - Edit permissions for governance professional on groups follows existing rules
    • 135251 - Group UI matches user interface in edit mode for layout and content
    • 135252 - Edit reflects current live and historic record functionality
    • 135253 - Replicate removing functionality for live and historic records
    • 146233 - Downloads - all local authority-maintained governance records non public
    • 146230 - Downloads - all academy records non public
    • 146036 - Downloads - all multi academy trust governance
    • 146035 - Downloads - all academy governance records
    • 146034 - Downloads - all local authority (LA) maintained governance records download
    • 146033 - Downloads - governor field download
    • 132827 - Apply validation to the governance professional role from the front end and middle tier code
    • 135239 - Validation for the governance professional
    • 162525 - Searches - able to search by the GID for live and historic records
    • 146227 - Downloads - all governance data non public
    • 162523 - Searches - governance professional on name or role filter
    • 162543 - Searches - all governors search option for live and historic records
    • 162545 - Searches - name or role and governance professional type in searches
    • 173959 - Searches - establishment and group governance change history download for governance professionals on old backend
    • 173960 - Searches - establishment and group download governance change history for governance professionals
    • 173961 - Searches - establishment and group governance change history for governance professionals on old Edubase backend
    • 162546 - Searches - establishment and group governance change history download for governance professionals on old backend
    • 162524 - Searches - governance professional to appear in historic searches
    • 193395 - Governance professional to a secure single-academy trust (SSAT)
    • 162554 - Bulk governance update template contains governance professional roles
    • 135244 - Governance professional for establishments in a MAT - local or shared
    • 132830 - Apply validation of specific roles to specific establishment types
    • 191037 - Bulk update tool, validating governance professional role by establishment or group type
    • 162522 - Extracts - new governance roles
    • 153564 - Users must not be able to enter an appointment date before a former appointment ended date
    • 191487 - Governance professional to a single-academy trust (SAT)
    • 205763 - Governance professional - staff roles
    • 194036 - Capitalisation of staff role names
    • 195888 - Shared governor professional governor to a MAT - remove appointment date and date appointment ended
    • 232829 - Governance professionals display consistent sharing information for governance roles in GIAS
    • 232251 - All governance data non-public extract - shared governance professionals - establishment individual's information not showing
    • 234889 - All governance data non-public extract - shared governance professionals - group governance roles not showing
    • 232256 - Extract - all academy governance records (non-public) extract - shared governance professionals - establishment individual's information not showing
    • 232259 - Extract - ESFA_CRM_Governance_Download extract - shared governance professionals - establishment individual's information not showing
    • 231735 - Cannot search for a shared governance professional - establishment on role or name
    • 232502 - Date validation is happening at establishment level while adding shared local governor against governance professional
    • 232249 - Extract - governor fields public extract - shared governance professionals - establishment individual's name not showing
    • 231938 - Extract - all academy governance records public extract - shared governance professionals - establishment individual's name not showing
    • 220832 - Cannot create two live governance professional roles to a local authority-maintained school indent line highlighting wrong role in drop down option box
    • 223255 - Drop down option list - governance professional for a secure single-academy trust (SSAT) needs renaming
    • 222655 - Drop down option list - governance professional for a single-academy trust (SAT) needs renaming
    • 222656 - Search for governors - filter - governance professional to a local authority-maintained school
    • 222657 - Search for governors - filter - shared governance professional - establishment – amend
    • 222658 - Search for governors - filter - shared governance professional - group – amend
    • 220831 - Local authority-maintained school governance professional role historic and live records can be created with overlapping dates
    • 222589 - Same issues for a live governance professional role when removing a local authority-maintained school from a federation for the user interface visibility, editing and the change history
    • 222574 - Live governance professional to a local authority-maintained school is not visible, and therefore editable on the establishment record when it has been added to a federation
    • 222576 - Historic left within the last 12 months governance professional to a local authority-maintained school is not visible, and therefore editable on the establishment record when it has been added to a federation
    • 222580 - Where a live governance professional to a local authority-maintained school has transferred over cannot add a governance professional to a federation
    • 222582 - The change history is correct but has a reference to removal of the governance professional(s) to a local authority-maintained school which it should not
    • 222593 - Same issues for a historic left within the last 12 months governance professional role when removing a local authority-maintained school from a federation for the user interface visibility, editing and the change history
    • 223175 - Governance professional to a single-academy trust (SAT) role historic and live records can be created with overlapping dates
    • 223706 - MAT - establishment level - this establishment shares local governors with other academies in the trust option selected allows overlapping dates
    • 223702 - MAT - establishment level - this establishment has local governors, not shared governors option selected allows overlapping dates
    • 223699 - MAT - establishment level - this establishment has local governors and also shares governors with other academies in the trust option selected allows overlapping dates
    • 230911 - Governance sharing: has local governor and shared governors - when selecting shared governance professional - establishment should not need to add appointment end date
    • 231733 - Need to be able to add multiple shared governance professional - group at the MAT record level
    • 230908 - Naming conventions use dash instead of to a for governance professional
    • 236176 - Historic - shared governance professional - establishment - change date and error message come up

    Appendix C: Bug fixes and fine tuning to improve overall user experience

    The following are the relevant service development tickets:

    • 189508 - Other independent schools – remove the validation linking the high age range and official sixth form fields and automatically assigning official sixth form if high age range is 16 years of age or above
    • 189577 - Improve the performance of the extract generation process
    • 215376 - Granular HTTP request timeouts from the C#, to allow governor search API requests longer than other requests generally
    • 206466 - Friendly message to be displayed in GIAS for governors’ search results and when delays occur
    • 210658 - Search results for governors’ error message in GIAS
    • 225218 - Search for governors - filter - member - individual amend to make case consistent
    • 225221 - Search for governors - filter - member - organisation amend to make case consistent
    • 135249 - Make the GID visible and spell out as governor identifier

    (referenced under governance professional new feature also)

    • 236122 – Update governance extracts missing shared governance roles
    • 194750 - Scheduled extract failure email
    • 206833 - Add environment to email template for exceptions
    • 217880 - NuGet packages – part 1 (updates and patches)
    • 221867 - NuGet packages – part 2
    • 217881 - NPM packages – part 1 working (updates and patches)
    • 227829 - Vue Migration
    • 227833 – Polly
    • 230268 - GovUK-Frontend
    • 235765 - System.Text.Json vulnerability
    • 220917 - User in SOAP service is not identifiable
    • 194023 - Move HttpClient code from DownloadsController
    • 198726 - Add debouncing to the search suggestions
    • 208253 - Error code lookup

    System update
    8 January 2025

    Version 4.59 which was postponed on Tuesday 10/12/2025 will now be released at 6.00pm on Wednesday 15/01/2025. Please see the system update for December 06, 2024, for details of what will be in the release.

    Kind regards

    GIAS support team