System update 14 October 2026

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

This release includes the following improvements:

  • bug fixes, fine-tuning and changes to improve the overall user experience:
    • 297413 - C# front-end connection to SQL database (internal only) - update
    • 313391 – create federation: prevent federation creation when a local authority-maintained school type has a live local authority governance professional role – bug fix
    • 310414 - update content security policy for Google Tag Manager (GTM) to allow de-bugging (internal only) - update
    • 175083 – OfstedFullExtract: add the effective date of an establishment joining a group to the establishment group relationships – for Ofsted webservice extract. This could affect users of the webservice functionality using the ‘Find’ and ‘Get’ functionality too – update
    • 281865 - restrict multi-academy trust (MAT) users from being able to edit the establishment type of establishments in their MATs – bug fix
    • 290408 – make the children's centres group manager email address optional to prevent any exemption messages – bug fix
    • 261469 – amend the error message for non-eligible local authority-maintained school establishment types joining a foundation trust to make it clear to the user that only foundation and foundation special school establishment types can join a foundation trust – update
    • 257982 - enable further education colleges to convert to academy 16–19 converters in the conversion tool (internal only) - update
    • 298831 – amend the error message to say, no results found, when the following format (three digits/ five digits) is added to the name or reference number search – bug fix
    • 317341 – update to the establishment bulk update guidance: add the value for not applicable for special educational needs (SEN) provision type – bug fix
    • API testing bug fixes: 261404 (internal only) – bug fixes
    • 300196 – ensure all applied filters clear when the clear filters control is selected when JavaScript is disabled – bug fix
    • 307069 – allow tracking of GIAS tools completed transactions for users who have accepted cookies within Google Tag Manager (GTM) (internal only) – update
    • 314030; 327316 - remove references to the United Kingdom Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) SOAP service process (internal only) - update

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

Further information

1. 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:

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

2. 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 August update.

The relevant fields updated (where applicable) are:

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

The next quarterly update will take place in or around November 2026.

3. Accurate establishment, group and governance records

The GIAS team would like to remind establishment and group users that it is their responsibility to keep their data up to date as it changes. If you cannot access your record, please send a service request but do not include personal data in this. It is multi-academy trust users’ responsibilities for keeping their governance records 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.

The address fields must be kept up to date if any changes occur as this information is widely used by Ofsted and other education sector organisations.

Kind regards

GIAS support team



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