How UK School Explorer Works

In-depth information and guidance from UK School Explorer.

Understanding Our Data and Features

UK School Explorer combines multiple official government datasets to give you a comprehensive view of every state-funded school in England. Here's how it all works.

Our Data Sources

We use two main sources of official government data:

1. Department for Education (DfE) Performance Tables

The DfE publishes annual performance data for all state-funded schools, including:

  • School Information - Type, phase, address, pupil numbers, contact details
  • Key Stage 2 Results - Primary school (Year 6) reading, writing, and maths performance
  • Key Stage 4 Results - GCSE performance including Progress 8 and Attainment 8
  • Key Stage 5 Results - A-Level and equivalent qualification performance
  • Attendance Data - Absence rates and persistent absence figures
  • Destinations Data - Where pupils go after leaving school (employment, further education, university)
  • Subject Performance - Detailed breakdowns by subject area

2. Ofsted Inspection Reports

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) conducts independent inspections of schools. We include:

  • Overall Effectiveness - The school's overall grade or new report card assessment
  • Sub-grades - Quality of education, behaviour, personal development, leadership
  • Inspection Dates - When the school was last inspected
  • Safeguarding - Whether safeguarding is effective
  • Category of Concern - Special measures or serious weaknesses, if applicable

The New Ofsted Framework (November 2025)

From November 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word judgements with detailed report cards across six areas:

  1. Inclusion
  2. Curriculum and teaching
  3. Achievement
  4. Attendance and behaviour
  5. Personal development and wellbeing
  6. Leadership and governance

Each area receives one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, or Urgent improvement.

UK School Explorer displays both old-style judgements (for schools inspected before November 2025) and new report cards (for schools inspected under the new framework).

How We Process the Data

1. Data Collection

We download the latest datasets from official government sources. The DfE releases new performance tables annually (usually in January/February), and Ofsted updates inspection data continuously.

2. Data Integration

We combine multiple datasets using each school's unique URN (Unique Reference Number), creating a single comprehensive record for each school.

3. Geocoding

We convert school postcodes into geographic coordinates, allowing our interactive map to show precise school locations.

4. Quality Checks

We validate the data for consistency, handle missing values appropriately, and ensure all schools have the information parents need most.

5. Regular Updates

We update our data when new official releases are published, typically:

  • Performance tables: Annually in January/February
  • Ofsted reports: Continuously as schools are inspected
  • School information: Termly updates

Search and Filter

Our search engine allows you to find schools by:

  • Name or Location - Type a school name, postcode, or area
  • School Phase - Primary, Secondary, All-through, Nursery, etc.
  • School Type - Academy, Community, Voluntary Aided, etc.
  • Religious Character - Church of England, Catholic, None, etc.
  • Ofsted Rating - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, etc.
  • Local Authority - Filter by council area
  • Gender - Mixed, Boys, or Girls

You can combine multiple filters to narrow down your search.

School Comparison

Compare up to 5 schools side-by-side across:

  • Performance metrics (Progress 8, Attainment 8, KS2 scores)
  • Ofsted grades and inspection dates
  • Attendance rates
  • School characteristics (size, type, admissions)
  • Post-school destinations

Interactive Map

Our map shows:

  • Precise locations of all schools
  • Clustering of nearby schools for easy navigation
  • Filter schools by any criteria while viewing the map
  • Quick access to school details from map markers

Understanding the Metrics

For Primary Schools (Key Stage 2):

  • Meeting Expected Standard - Percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths
  • Average Scores - Average scaled scores (100 = expected standard, 110 = high standard)
  • Higher Standard - Percentage achieving the higher standard

For Secondary Schools (Key Stage 4 - GCSEs):

  • Progress 8 - How much progress pupils make compared to similar students nationally. Score of 0 = average, +1 = one grade above average per subject
  • Attainment 8 - Average grade across 8 qualifications (English double-weighted, maths double-weighted, 3 EBacc, 3 others)
  • EBacc Entry - Percentage entering the English Baccalaureate (English, maths, sciences, humanities, languages)
  • Basics (5+) - Percentage achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths

For Sixth Forms (Key Stage 5 - A-Levels):

  • Average Grade - Average grade per A-Level entry
  • Average Point Score - Points-based measure of achievement
  • Value Added - Progress made compared to GCSE starting points

Attendance:

  • Overall Absence - Percentage of sessions missed
  • Persistent Absence - Percentage of pupils missing 10% or more sessions

What the Data Doesn't Tell You

While our data is comprehensive, there are important factors it doesn't capture:

  • School Culture and Values - The "feel" of a school and its ethos
  • Teaching Quality Day-to-Day - How engaging and effective individual teachers are
  • Extracurricular Opportunities - Clubs, sports, music, and enrichment activities
  • Pastoral Care - How well the school supports individual pupil needs
  • Parent Community - The involvement and engagement of other parents

These factors are best assessed by:

  • Visiting schools on open days
  • Reading full Ofsted reports (we link to them)
  • Speaking to current parents
  • Talking to pupils who attend

Data Accuracy and Limitations

We display data exactly as published by the government. This means:

  • Some schools may have missing data (e.g., small cohorts suppressed for privacy)
  • Performance data is typically 1-2 years old (latest results take time to compile and publish)
  • School circumstances change - new leadership, building work, etc. may not be reflected
  • Ofsted reports represent a snapshot in time (2-3 days of observation)

Always check the dates on performance data and Ofsted reports to understand how current the information is.

Our Commitment to Quality

We strive to ensure:

  • Data is updated promptly when new official releases are available
  • All calculations and comparisons are accurate
  • Missing data is clearly indicated
  • Context is provided to help interpret the numbers

If you spot an error or inconsistency, please let us know so we can investigate and fix it.

UK School Explorer: Making official education data accessible and understandable for parents.

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