URN
DfE Performance Tables
Unique Reference Number - the primary identifier for each school
Understanding URN (Unique Reference Number)
The URN is a unique identifier assigned to every school in England by the Department for Education. It’s used to track schools across all government data systems.
Technical Purpose
The URN: - Uniquely identifies each school - Remains constant even if the school changes name - Links data across different government datasets - Enables accurate data matching
When Schools Get New URNs
Schools receive new URNs when: - Converting to academy status - Closing and reopening (e.g., after academy sponsorship) - Merging with another school
This can make tracking long-term performance complex, as historical data may be under a different URN.
For Parents
You don’t need to use the URN directly — it works behind the scenes to ensure accurate data. However, if researching a school’s history, be aware that academisation may have created a “new” school with a new URN, even though it’s operationally continuous.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- urn
- 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.