System update 23 September 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. bug fixes, fine-tuning and changes to improve the overall user experience:
    1. 263305 – Web: Confirm governance details route typo – update
    2. 258910 - Reinstate chair of local governing body as a local governor – bug fix
    3. 263994 - Unable to amend an existing notification banner wording without amending the day and date to a future day/time (internal only) – bug fix
    4. 265156 - Schedule dbo.usp_StaffRecord_UpdateStatus sproc daily execution (related to 264108) (internal only) - update
    5. 256758 - Convert the Ofsted and the CSCP links on establishment records to be static – update
    6. 268004 - Specific search not working – bug fix
    7. 267542 - Remove out-going API requests to Schools Financial Benchmarking (internal only) – update
    8. 267779 - Convert the CSCP links on group records to be static – update
    9. 264153 – Update the privacy notice page – update
    10. 267246 - Adjust scheduled extract start times (internal only) – update
    11. 268009 - Amend the daily index defrag job schedule (internal only) – update
    12. 260794 – Update the website to the latest version of Government Digital Service (GDS) branding – update
    13. 275034 - View closed Companies House single-academy trusts (SATs), multi-academy trusts (MATs) and secure single-academy trusts (SSATs) spreadsheet not updating correctly (internal only) – bug fix

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

    Further information

    • Office for National Statistics (ONS) 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 May update and the August 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
      8. parliamentary constituency code
      9. urban/rural description name
      10. urban/rural description code
      11. middle super output area (MSOA) name
      12. middle super output area (MSOA) code
      13. lower super output area (LSOA) name
      14. lower super output area (LSOA) code

      • The next quarterly update will take place sometime in or after November 2025.

      As part of the May update the urban rural fields have been updated to reflect the ONS changes where applicable. You can find more information about this at the following link: 2021 Rural Urban Classification - Office for National Statistics.

    • 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 has been completed.

      The fields that have been updated (where applicable) 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) for independent schools only

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

      The public fields that have been updated (where applicable) are:

      1. number of pupils
      2. number of special pupils under a special educational needs (SEN) statement/education, health, and care (EHC) plan
      3. number of special pupils not under a special educational needs (SEN) statement/education, health, and care (EHC) plan

    • Accurate establishment and multi academy trust (MAT) records

      Please can establishment users ensure the establishment record, including the governance section, and multi-academy trust (MAT) users ensure the MAT governance section of the record are kept up to date.

      The main establishment email address field and the alternative establishment email address field (if applicable) must contain an up to date, valid, and actively monitored email address(es). There should be no personal work establishment email address or personal email address added to these fields.

      The headteacher email address field must contain an up to date, valid, and actively monitored personal work email address for the headteacher/principal/manager (as applicable). There should be no general establishment email address or personal email address added to this field.

      The website field should contain the current establishment website address, if the domain address has changed, the website field should reflect this.

    Kind regards

    GIAS support team



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