School Status
DfE Performance Tables
Current operational status of the school
Understanding School Status
School status indicates whether the school is currently open and operating. Most schools in the database are open, but status helps identify any that have closed or are in transition.
Status Types
- Open: School is currently operating
- Closed: School has permanently closed
- Proposed to close: Closure process underway
- Proposed to open: New school in development
Why Schools Close
Schools close for various reasons: - Falling rolls and unsustainability - Merger with another school - Academy sponsor withdrawal - Building or safety issues
Academy Conversions
When a maintained school becomes an academy, the old school technically “closes” and a new academy “opens” — though it’s the same students and often same staff. Check both the predecessor and successor school.
For Parents
Always verify a school is open before applying. If researching historical data, closed schools may still appear in datasets but are obviously not options for current admissions.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- school_status
- Data Source
- DfE Performance Tables
Coverage by School Phase
How many schools have data available for this field.
This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.
Value Distribution by School Phase
Distribution of categorical values across schools.