Summer 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 21st of May 2026
DfE return date: Wednesday 17th of June 2026 (LA Maintained schools should liaise with their census team on which upload date is required)
| KNOWN ISSUES: | Please check back on regular basis – Known issues will be posted here |
| 7/5/26 | BROMCOM – Bromcom have confirmed the summer census is now available to run (please be aware of known issues below)
ARBOR – Dry run opens today Please see below for Arbor/Bromcom guidance |
| 6/5/2026 UPDATED 13/5/26 | BROMCOM – Known Issues on the summer census – UPDATE 13/5/26 THESE ISSUES HAVE NOW BEEN RESOLVED
The currently applied version of the Summer 2026 Census validation file from the DfE, which controls how the census works on every MIS, has known issues with how the below codes are validated
The DfE have provided us with a new version of the Summer 2026 Census validation file as of 05/05/2026, we are working to implement these new files, which should eliminate the above known issues for codes 2500, 2520 and 1881Q. We will provide more information once available. There is also an issue with which students are being recorded with Extended Hours within the Summer 2026 Census file created on Bromcom
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| 21/4/2026 | BROMCOM – The summer 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 Summer 2026 School Census Homepage – Bromcom – Documentation Centre
ARBOR – Dry run opens on 7/5/2026 |
| 21/4/2026 | 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 21st of May 2026 is census day
- Wednesday 17th of June 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 Summer 2026 School Census Guide
Details of how to book onto a webinar Webinar
Errors guide Summer 2026 Error Resolutions Guide
Documentation – Arbor
- Thursday 21st of May 2026 is census day
- Dry Run opens on the 7th of May
- Wednesday 17th of June 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