Sources
There are two main data types used in the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT) service: Financial and Non-Financial data. Both are obtained from a range of sources within the Department for Education. This document outlines the list of raw data files used within the service, their update frequency, and information on how to retrieve them.
Financial Data:
FBIT performs four data releases each submission year. These are the Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) for Local Authority Maintained Schools, Section 251 (S251) for Local Authorities, Budget Forecast Returns (BFR)S for Academy Trusts, and Academy Account Returns (AAR) also for Academy Trusts.
CFR data is typically received between August and September when Local Authorities require schools to complete their financial returns. These returns cover the period of April to March of the respective submission year.
Section 251 data comprises of two parts; budget statements (planned spending) which is published in September and outturn statements (actual spending) which is published in December of the following year. This data details Local Authority funding and expenditure for education and children’s social care services.
BFR data submission occurs between August and September, this data provides a forecasted return for academies for the following 3 years.
AAR data is submitted in January when Academies complete their financial returns. This return covers a period of September to August of the respective submission year.
The table below provides an overview of the 7 financial data files used within the FBIT service.
| raw file name | raw file description | source | update frequency | access instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aar.csv | The academies’ financial returns | Sourced from the AnM database under the RA_Dataset | Yearly (January as part of the AAR release) | Access to the AnM database is required to extract this file. To gain the necessary permissions, submit an Analytical Data Access Request via the ServiceNow portal. The target view for extraction is RA_Datasets.AccountsReturn.vw_AR<Version>_Raw_Submission_Data_<Year>. For reference, an example of a resulting table name might be vw_AR8_Raw_Submission_Data_2023. This data gets pivoted to a form like RA_Datasets.AccountsReturn.vw_AR<Version>_BenchmarkReport_<Year>, but with new BAE/BAI/... form codes instead of BNCH . |
| aar_cs.csv | The central service financial returns | Sourced from the AnM database under the RA_Dataset | Yearly (January as part of the AAR release) | Access to the AnM database is required to extract this file. To gain the necessary permissions, submit an Analytical Data Access Request via the ServiceNow portal. The target view for extraction is RA_Datasets.AccountsReturn.vw_AR<Version>_CS_Raw_Submission_Data_<Year>. For reference, an example of a resulting table name might be vw_AR8_CS_Raw_Submission_Data_2023. This data gets pivoted to a form like RA_Datasets.AccountsReturn.vw_AR<Version>_CS_BenchmarkReport_<Year>, but with new BAE/BAI/... form codes instead of BNCH . |
| BFR_3Y_raw.csv | 3 year financial forecast for trusts spanning the 2nd, 3rd and 4th financial year from the current. | Sourced from the AnM database under the RA_Dataset | Yearly (August as part of the BFR release) frequency | Access to the AnM database is required to extract this file. To gain the necessary permissions, submit an Analytical Data Access Request via the ServiceNow portal. The target view for extraction is RA_Datasets.BFR.vw_Three_Year_Forecast_<Year>. For reference, an example of a resulting file name might be vw_Three_Year_Forecast_2023 |
| BFR_SOFA_raw.csv | Statement of Financial Accounts table containing the forecasted financial position of trusts for the current and next year (divided into 2 per year) | Sourced from the AnM database under the RA_Dataset | Yearly (August as part of the BFR release) | Access to the AnM database is required to extract this file. To gain the necessary permissions, submit an Analytical Data Access Request via the ServiceNow portal. The target view for extraction is RA_Datasets.BFR.vw_Sofa_<Year>. For reference, an example of such a file name might be vw_Sofa_2023. |
| CFR_YY-YY_Data.csv | Raw Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) returns from maintained schools. Used to generate the master list and transparency files. | Sourced from the Collect database (iStore). | Yearly (September as part of the CFR release) | You will require access to the Collect database and the ConsistentFinancialReporting views via an Analytical Data Access Request. |
| maintained_schools_master_list.csv | Contains financial returns of maintained schools | Sourced from the Collect database (iStore). | Yearly (September as part of the CFR release) | You will require access to the Collect database and the ConsistentFinancialReporting views via an Analytical Data Access Request. Note: Starting from the 2024/25 reporting year, the maintained_schools_master_list.csv is automatically generated directly by the FBIT Python data pipeline from the raw CFR return file (CFR_YY-YY_Data.csv) and does not require manual SQL script generation. See cfr-file-generation guide documentation for legacy manual processing details. |
| schools_othereducation_la_unrounded_data.csv | S251 Expenditure (budget) values for the last 6 years | Sourced from gov.uk | Yearly (June or July) | Contained in the data subfolder of the downloaded ZIP file obtained in Planned LA and school expenditure. Prior to 2024–2045 reporting year, the file was named plannedexpenditure_schools_other_education_la_unrounded_data.csv |
| s251_alleducation_la_regional_national.csv | S251 Expenditure (outturn) values for the last 6 years | Sourced from gov.uk | Yearly (June or July) | Contained in the data subfolder of the downloaded ZIP file obtained in LA and school expenditure |
| dedicated-schools- |
Pounds spent from the dedicated schools grant (DSG) per LA | Sourced from the Skills Funding Service | Yearly ( July) | DSG Funding |
| High_needs_place_numbers_for_the_ |
S251 High needs place numbers per school used to derive DSG recoupments per LA. the | Sourced from gov.uk | Yearly (September) | High Needs Place Numbers |
Non-Financial Data:
Non-financial data contains school metadata, encompassing items such as pupil and workforce census, and school building characteristics.
The majority of this data is extracted from GIAS and EES.
The table below provides an overview of the various non-financial data files used within the FBIT service.
| raw file name | raw file description | source | update frequency | access instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pru.csv | Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) figures. Used for CFR FTE derivations. | Sourced from the Collect database (iStore). | Yearly | You will require access to the Collect database and the ConsistentFinancialReporting views via an Analytical Data Access Request. |
| hospital_schools.csv | Pupil numbers (TotalHeadcount)for Hospital Schools. Used for CFR FTE derivations. | Sourced from the Collect database (iStore). | Yearly | You will require access to the Collect database and the ConsistentFinancialReporting views via an Analytical Data Access Request. |
| Lookup_LACodes.csv | Mapping file to resolve Local Authority codes to LA Names and Regions. | Static/Internal Lookup | Updated as required | Provided alongside the CFR raw data release. Placed in the default/<year>/ container. |
| academies_master_list.csv | Contains academies metadata | Sourced from the AnM database under the RA_Dataset | Yearly (January as part of the AAR release) | Access to the AnM database is required to extract this file. To gain the necessary permissions, submit an Analytical Data Access Request via the ServiceNow portal. The target view for extraction is RA_Datasets.AccountsReturn.vw_AR<Version>_BenchmarkReport_<Year>. For reference, an example of such a file name might be AR8_BenchmarkReport_2023 |
| cdc.csv * | Condition Data Collection containing building age and square meterage, combining extracts from CDC1 (2017-2019) and CDC2 (2021-2026) | Provided by the Product Owner (PO) | Update frequency occurs intermittently when a new survey is released ie every 5 years | The file was provided by the Product Owner (PO) for the previous data release. Note that successive surveys include different schools due to closures, openings, and agglomerations. Our cdc file combines the two most recent files to create a historical list of schools. The cuts from these 2 years are on FBIT Sharepoint under FBIT Source Data > CDC |
| census_pupils.csv | Census data for school pupils | Explore Education Statistics | Updated twice yearly as part of the latest AAR and CFR data drop | Access the website to download the reporting year’s data. spc_school_level_underlying_data_<Year>.csv file is located under “Supporting-files” subfolder of the downloaded zip folder. For example spc_school_level_underlying_data_2023.csv for “2022-2023” reporting year. |
| census_workforce.xlsx | Census data for school workforce, note this lags a year behind the current release year. i.e for the 2024 data release, the 2023 census data is the latest available report | Explore Education Statistics | Updated as part of the latest AAR or CFR data drop | Access the website to download the reporting year’s data. School_Tables_School_Workforce_Census_<Year>.xlsx file is located under “Supporting-files” subfolder of the downloaded zip folder. For example School_Tables_School_Workforce_Census_2023.xlsx for “2022-2023” reporting year. |
| Workforce_2010_2024_fte_hc_nat_reg_la_sch.csv | Additional census data for school workforce containing headteacher breakdowns as a full historical record to 2010. This file is from the 2025 release. | Explore Education Statistics | Updated as part of the latest AAR or CFR data drop. | Access the website to download the reporting year’s data. The file is located under “Supporting-files” subfolder of the downloaded zip folder. |
| cfo.xlsx | Chief Financial Officer contact information | Provided by the Product Owner (PO) | Updated intermittently at the request of the PO | The file was provided by the PO for the previous data release |
| gias.csv | Contains school metadata | GIAS | Updated once per year as part of the CFR drop, taking the most recent September release | Access website to download file, within “All Establishment Data” section, select “Establishment fields CSV” and download data |
| ILR R06 cut with FSM and EHCP.xlsx | Contains sixth-form metadata | Provided by DfE | Updated at several points during the year; we take the R06 data, relating to the data as of February | No direct access; data are acquired from internal DfE tools |
| HExP.csv | Contains high exec pay data | Provided by DfE | Updated at several points during the year; we take the R06 data, relating to the data as of February | Derived from AAR using this query |
| gias_links.csv | Containing data to link establishments | GIAS | Updated once per year as part of the CFR drop, taking the most recent September release | Access website to download file, within “All Establishment Data” section, select “Establishment links CSV” and download data |
| ks2.xlsx | KS2 progress metrics | Compare School Performance | Updated twice yearly as part of the latest AAR and CFR data drop | Select the submission year required, click continue, select all of england, click continue, select Key stage 2 results (final), and key stage 4 results (final), click continue. Choose “Data in XLS format” |
| ks4.xlsx | KS4 progress metrics | Compare School Performance | Updated twice yearly as part of the latest AAR and CFR data drop | Select the submission year required, click continue, select all of england, click continue, select Key stage 2 results (final), and key stage 4 results (final), click continue. Choose “Data in XLS format” |
| sen.csv | Special educational needs dataset containing information about the number of pupils requiring various SEN provisions | Explore Education Statistics | Updated twice yearly as part of the latest AAR and CFR data drop | Access the website to download the reporting year’s data. The file is located under “Supporting-files” subfolder of the downloaded zip folder. |
| SNsWithNewDorsetBCP.csv | Local Authorities statistical neighbours data | High needs benchmarking tool | A downloadable workbook designed to support local authorities in high needs planning. | This file is generated from a hidden sheet SNsWithNewDorsetBCP within the workbook. The data is expected to change infrequently. |
| 2018 SNPP Population persons.csv | Age-related population values for the years 2018-2043 | Sourced from ZIP file on Population projections – local authorities: SNPP Z1, 2018 based edition of this dataset | 5 years | |
| sen2_estab_caseload.csv | Local Authority SEN2 ECHP plan values | ZIP file on Education, health and care plans | Yearly |
LAA Risk Scores Data:
The Local Authority Risk Analysis (LAA) tool computes risk indicator scores for Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) Local Authority Maintained schools across three main categories: “Financial”, “Educational performance”, and “School and Pupil”. It combines current and historical CFR returns with three key non-financial ancillary raw files to determine overall risk scores and indicators.
The table below provides an overview of the LAA-specific non-financial ancillary data files used within the FBIT service.
| raw file name | raw file description | source | update frequency | access instructions / storage location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absence_YY_school.csv | School-level pupil absences data (including overall sessions missed). Used for main school risk metrics. | Explore Education Statistics | Yearly | Download from Explore Education Statistics. Upload to the Azure raw storage container under default/<year>/. |
| capacity_school_YYYYYY-YYYYYY.csv | School capacity data (number of school places). Used for main school risk metrics. | Explore Education Statistics | Yearly | Download from Explore Education Statistics. Upload to the Azure raw storage container under the base default/ directory (shared across years, not specific to a release year). |
| AppsandOffers_YY_SchoolLevel |
Secondary school applications and offers, used to compute parental first preference ratios for risk metrics. | Explore Education Statistics | Yearly | Download from Explore Education Statistics. Upload to the Azure raw storage container under default/<year>/. |
Data Source - Contact Information:
For help with any of the data sources used in this service, please reach out to the respective contact point, who can be found in the following sharepoint file.
* This data is restricted to users and requires a login to access.