Spring 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 information preparation for the upcoming Census click:   How can I prepare data and be ready for the School Census Return?

Census Date:   Thursday 15th January 2026    

DfE return date:   Wednesday 11th February 2026

KNOWN ISSUES: Please check back on regular basis – Known issues will be posted here
15/1/2026 Bromom Class Panel – recording mixed year group classes

Mixed year group classes will need to be as ‘M’
13/1/2026 Bromcom update 

The census is now available to run
9/1/2026 Bromcom known issue

Withdrawal group Staff with Post (SWF) set to Teaching Assistant are not showing in class information table under Support staff column.
9/1/2026  Bromcom – Error on DfE validation file – selected time

The DfE have advised that there is an error in the Selected Time specified in the census file. As such it will be necessary to update the Selected Time on the Census Return.

Please see the guide on amending this in Bromcom here
6/1/26 Update from Bromcom: The Spring 2026 Census is now available to run, however, the DfE Validation files have not yet been applied so incorrect errors may be generated.

This bulletin will be updated when the validation files have been applied.

 

Documentation – Bromcom 

All Information released by Bromcom can be found on the Bromcom Census page  –  School Census – Bromcom

Census Date – Thursday 15th January 2026

Return Date – Wednesday 11th February 2026

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  Spring 2026 School Census Guide

Details of how to book onto a webinar Webinar

Errors guide  Spring 2026 Error Resolutions Guide

Documentation – Arbor 

  • Thursday 15th January 2026 is census day
  • Spring Census Dry Run opens 2 weeks before Census Day
  • 11th of February 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

 

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