1. New Academies Just a reminder that any maintained schools that have become academies (either through conversion or sponsorship) since the last School Census will need to update their School Type to “Academies” (type 49 on census) and School Governance to “Academies” in time for the Autumn return.

2. School Census – Data Quality Test (DQT) Thu 22 nd Sep – Fri 23 rd Sep BUT – if you’re ready, do the DQT now ! TEST COLLECT site already up (ignore certificate messages) https://datauat.education.gov.uk/SchoolCe nsusFamiliarisation/login.aspx

3. School Census – Data Quality Test Scope Pupil level detail only (name, DOB etc) FSM and SEN will be checked if time permits Purpose is to correct existing errors and processes before LIVE run to reduce pressure on all parties Summer 2011 result – 101 queries (DQT) reducing to 1 query (LIVE) DfE deadline achieved in Summer

4. School Census – Data Quality Test Scope Request for CTFs ASAP Student basic details and Address only Pupil Address to be resurrected in census from 2012-2013 Will therefore require CTFs for Summer and Autumn 2012

5. School Census – MIS Versions SIMS Min. 7.140 (Jul 2011) Facility Min. v11.2 (Aug 2011)

6. School Census - LIVE Thursday 6 th October 2011 DfE “staged” submission (1 day only) Thurrock COLLECT available from 7.30am onwards School actions required Upload Return via COLLECT Send Return(XML) via AVCO/LeapFILE Send Summary(HTML) via AVCO/LeapFILE

7. School Census - LIVE LA Deadline Wed 2 Nov 2011 15 working days (excl. Half Term) Importance of DQT to reduce pressure on LIVE run

8. School Census - LIVE Data Items to be Collected all pupils on the register on the Census day any additional pupils subject to any type of exclusion in the Spring Term 2011 any additional pupils who attended the school in the previous term (Summer 2011) Amalgamated schools (manor) issues

9. School Summary (HTML) To allow the school staff preparing the return and the head teacher authorising the return to check its accuracy and completeness before submitting the return to the LA and DfE Not all schools supplied summary in Summer

10. Authorisation Once the School Census data have been submitted to the DfE - via the LA - for maintained schools, it will be deemed to have been authorised by the head teacher. We recommend the summary is printed and a signed copy kept in school to satisfy local audit purposes.

11. Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) Census No formal DfE requirement for PRU Census Autumn 2011 LA to request CTF for all pupils to enable reconciliation with mainstream schools

12. COLLECT Secure Transfer of Data COLLECT sends data securely and safely Validates the data through the process using same rules as MIS Late breaking validation will be available as a Fileset (082) for import (Tools>Setups>Import Fileset) (SIMS) COLLECT errors are flagged immediately on LA system LA to notify school of all anomalies between MIS and LA system (IDEAR)

13. Attendance Code Changes An amendment has been made to how attendance codes D, Y and # should be used from September 2011 onwards. The DfE data collection system has been amended so that the national attendance Code D (Dual Registered) is not counted in the School Census as an attendance. Each school will only record the attendance and absence for the sessions the pupil is required to attend their school; each school will use code D to record all of the sessions that the pupil is due to attend the other school. The data collection system has been amended so that the national attendance Code Y (Unable to Attend due to Exceptional Circumstances) will be collected in the School Census for statistical purposes.

14. Attendance Code Changes Schools will use Code Y to record the sessions where a pupil is unable to attend because: the school site, or part of it, is closed due to an unavoidable cause; or the transport provided by the school or a local authority is not available and where their home is not within walking distance; or a local or national emergency has resulted in widespread disruption to travel which has prevented the pupil from attending school. A request for change has been submitted so that the national attendance Code # (Planned closure) can be applied to partial school closure (currently it can only be applied to whole school closure). This amendment will allow schools to use Code # to record different term dates for different pupils, for example: staggered starts or induction days; and any other planned partial closure. However, until this change can be implemented by their software supplier schools should continue to use Code Y to record planned partial closure. New guidance, that will reflect these changes will be published later in September 2011.

15. Pupil Disability Although the return of pupil disability remains voluntary for the 2012 School Census, providing disability information in School Census returns will help schools meet their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which includes an expectation to know exactly who their disabled pupils are, and have an evidence base to inform meeting their needs.

16. Online Admissions www.thurrock.gov.uk/admissions Secondary 2012 round now open online 1 September 2011 – 31 October 2011 Reception 2012 will be open from 1 November 2011 – 15 January 2012 Please refer Year 6 parents to the above site “Leaflet Secondary 2012 Admissions” document available on eBriefing

17. Online Admissions - SAM Schools Admissions Module (SAM) will be phased in during academic year 2011-2012 Volunteer schools – please “remind” me! More information to follow in due course Full demonstration in Spring 2012 ICES (4 January 2012)

18. Online Admissions - SAM Online and Realtime connection All applications made to school List of applicants offered a place Update attendance count (In Year) Select individual pupils for more detail List of withdrawn/declined applications List of applicants on waiting list

19. Online Admissions - SAM Year 6 Leavers and their destination school Verifying sibling and address details Export data to Excel Export CTF / ATF for import into school MIS AA schools rank waiting lists remotely

20. Any Questions?

21. Important Dates 2011-2012 (Bulletin 085)