Important Notice To All Schools

School Workforce Census
An Introduction

This is to inform you that the new statutory DCSF Data Collection, the School Workforce Census, is imminent and will start affecting schools in Norfolk from the Autumn Term 2008.

Questions

What is it? It is a data return to the DCSF that details teaching and non-teaching staff who work in your school.

Why is it being done? It will give the DCSF a single comprehensive data set on the school workforce and will streamline data collection by replacing other data returns.

When will we do it? It will be undertaken at the same time as the Pupil Census, three times a year. Norfolk's involvement starts in January and May 2009 with a minimum 10% of schools and the LA piloting the Census. In September 2009 there will be pilot for all schools, and the live Census taking place in January 2010.

What must we do? It is a statutory census like the School Pupil Census and will be conducted in a similar way. There may be parts of the data which will be provided by the LA. The pilot of the Census will determine the processes needed to fulfil the requirements. Schools' MIS will facilitate the process for them.

What data will it collect? It will collect data on individuals working in your school, the posts they hold, their contracts and pay, any absences from work, their qualifications and, for high school teachers only, the subjects and year groups they teach.

What are the benefits? All information on the school workforce will be collected in one data return. This information will be available to schools and the LA to inform strategic planning and leadership.

Who can we turn to? For further information please contact Nigel Peacock, Louise Hodgson, Peter Simmonds or Virginia Wakely, in Children's Services.

Please note that the information above is a brief summary and further information will be arriving in schools shortly. If in the meantime you wish to get further information about the SWF Census please visit the Norfolk Schools website pages or the appropriate section on the TeacherNet website which are regularly updated.