Autumn School Census 2026 – Bulletin
This FAQ lists the latest information regarding the School Census.
For Schools wanting the latest documentation for Census and using Bromcom – Click here to jump to the relevant section.
For Schools wanting the latest documentation for Census and using Arbor – Click here to jump to the relevant section.
For Schools wanting the latest documentation for the Post-16 Census – Click here to jump to the relevant section.
For information preparation for the upcoming Census click: How can I prepare data and be ready for the School Census Return?
DfE census documentation: here
Census Date: Thursday 1st of October 2026
DfE return date: Wednesday 28th of October 2026
| KNOWN ISSUES: | Please check back on regular basis – Known issues will be posted here |
| 12/08/2026 | Please see changes for the census for 26/27 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-school-census/changes-for-2026-to-2027 |
| 12/08/2026 | BROMCOM – The autumn census is not yet available to run – we will update this guide when Bromcom has been updated. This will also be confirmed on the Bromcom census guide Bromcom School Census Homepage – Bromcom – Documentation Centre
ARBOR – Dry run opens on 7/5/2026 |
| 12/08/2026 | BROMCOM – REFRESHING THE STUDENT CACHE – Please ensure that you refresh the student cache before running your summer census return – this will ensure that any recently updated data will be pulled through to your census return – this step is included in our FAQ BROMCOM – Quick Summary Guide – Pre-checks and Generating School Census |
Documentation – Bromcom
All Information released by Bromcom can be found on the Bromcom Census page – School Census – Bromcom
- Thursday 1st of October is census day
- Wednesday 28th of October 2026 is your census submission deadline (unless otherwise advised by your Local Authority)
SCOMIS – Census ‘Quick Summary Guide for Bromcom’ – ‘Pre-checks’ and ‘Generating School Census’ – CLICK HERE
Guides and Webinars
Please find a link to Bromcom’s Census Page & Errors Guide below
Census guide and Webinar Autumn 2026 School Census Guide
Post 16 Guide and Webinar Autumn 2026 Post 16 Guide
Errors guide Autumn 2026 Error Resolutions Guide
Documentation – Arbor
- Thursday 1st of October is census day
- Spring Census Dry Run opens 2 weeks before Census Day
- Wednesday 28th of October 2026 is your census submission deadline (unless otherwise advised by your Local Authority)
SCOMIS – Census ‘Quick Summary Guide for Arbor’ – ‘Pre-checks’ and ‘Generating School Census’ – CLICK HERE
Please find a link to Arbor’s Census Pages and Errors Guide below:
Overview census page here and a link to Arbor guide, errors and FAQ’s here.
Census guide – School Census guides – Arbor
Errors guide – School Error guides – Arbor
Documentation – Post 16
Here is all the guidance for Schools completing the Post 16 Census: Autumn Post 16 School Census 2026 Guide