Urban/Rural
GIAS
Urban or rural classification of school location
Understanding Urban/Rural Classification
This field classifies schools by their geographic setting — urban, suburban, or rural. The setting affects many aspects of school life and is important context for interpreting other data.
Classification Types
Schools may be classified as: - Urban: City centres and dense urban areas - Suburban: Town edges and residential areas - Rural: Countryside, villages, small towns
Why Setting Matters
Urban schools often: - Have larger intakes and more choice nearby - Serve diverse, mobile populations - Face different challenges (e.g., gang concerns, poverty) - May have better transport links
Rural schools often: - Serve as community hubs - Have smaller cohorts - Face recruitment challenges for staff - Have limited local alternatives
Context for Comparisons
Rural and urban schools face different challenges, so direct comparison requires care. A small rural school shouldn’t be judged against large urban comprehensives without context.
Consider urban/rural classification when comparing schools — like-for-like comparisons are most meaningful.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- urban_rural
- Data Source
- GIAS
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.