Data Managers Guide to the Annual Dfe Data and Information Calendar
We’ve put together this article to guide Data Managers through the key Data and Performance tasks across the Academic Year. While the timing of some activities may vary slightly from school to school, the overall calendar is largely consistent and can serve as a reliable framework for your planning.
As a Data Manager, keeping track of the many annual tasks can be challenging. Planning ahead not only helps you organise your workload but also prevents last- minute pressure points.
To support this further, we also run an annual webinar that dives deeper into these tasks. Keep an eye out for the date and sign up via Events page.
Autumn Term
Month
School Calendar (4Matrix Tasks)
National Calendar (DfE/JCQ)
September
Update KS2 SAT data from GIAP (Get information About Pupils) for Year 7 and other students without data.
Define Assessment Calendar with dates for data collection and reporting, Set up data collection sheets/reports.
Check Courses and Grade structures on your MIS. Liaise with Exams Officers for correct QAN codes for each course.
Target Setting Y10 and Y12 as a minimum. Perhaps review all Years at some point this term.
Some school may set Baseline Tests for Year 7.
KS2 PA released on GIAP approx. late September.
October
Autumn School Census: Provides school funding, including Pupil Premium top up.
Data Collection 1.
Review results from Data Collection 1. Begin Intervention planning.
School Census.
November
Mid-term Reporting for all year groups.
Autumn Check Your Performance Measures Data (CYPMD) to view final 2024 results.
DfE Autumn CYPMD.
December
Final data collection before Christmas break.
Spring Term
Month
School Calendar (4Matrix Tasks)
National Calendar (DfE/JCQ)
January
Spring School Census. This is the main data collection that provides funding for the following academic year.
Data Collection 2. Final data collection before the Summer Exam Season.
Review results from Data Collection 2. Begin summer intervention planning.
Spring School Census.
February
Mid-term Reporting for all year groups.
March
Final Check Your Performance Measures Data (CYPMD) to view final 2025 results.
DfE Final CYPMD
Summer Term and Beyond
Month
School Calendar (4Matrix Tasks)
National Calendar (DfE/JCQ)
April
Final data collection before Easter break (sometimes called Data Collection 3).
April - May
NEA and practical elements of final exams begin.
External Exams
May
Summer Census, Collect last annual Attendance data for National Statistics – figures are only based on Terms 1-4.
External Exam Period – dates dictated by JCQ and Exam Boards.
School Census.
External Exams.
May – July
Data Collection 3 (including final predicted for Y11 and Y13).
June
for 2026 Cohorts based on your January census and ‘Add backs’ and request any student removals/additions – this is your only opportunity to amend the students that will count to your performance figures
New School Year Set- Up. Data Managers create the new academic year, pastoral and academic structure; import the timetable; and promote students into their new pastoral and academic groups. This includes Transitions students
KS4 and KS5 CYPMD.
July
KS2 results for incoming Year 7 cohort released on National Curriculum Assessments Portal.
Yr6 SAT results available on National Curriculum Assessments Portal
August
KS5 results generally released 2nd week of August – Wednesday released for centre download, Thursday released to students.
KS4 results generally released 3rd week of August – Wednesday released for centre download, Thursday released to students.
KS5 Results released.
KS4 Results released.
August/September
Results Analysis carried out for both Key stages.
KS4 and KS5
August/October
Post Results Service open for reviews of marking to request grade changes...
