Guidance

School capacity survey: guide for local authorities

How local authorities should submit data for the annual school capacity survey (SCAP).

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 18 May 2021
• Last updated: 1 May 2024 — See all updates

The annual school capacity survey (SCAP) collects information on:

• primary, secondary, and specialist provision capacity for the current academic year
• mainstream primary pupil number forecasts for the next 5 academic years
• pupil number forecasts for primary specialist placements for the next 5 academic years
• mainstream secondary pupil number forecasts for the next 7 academic years
• pupil number forecasts for secondary specialist placements for the next 7 academic years
• plans for changes to the number of primary and secondary mainstream places for the next 3 academic years

The survey takes place every year in June and July.

SCAP is a statutory collection. You must complete statutory collections by law unless there’s a good reason not to.

Important dates

2024 SCAP dates:

• collection opens on Monday 3 June
• deadline for submitting your data is Friday 26 July

Submit your data

You’ll need to:

• register and log in with DfE Sign-in
• use COLLECT to submit your data

SCAP 2024 documents

Our guidance will help you complete the 2024 school capacity collection:

• summary guide for local authorities (PDF, 197 KB, 14 pages)
• survey guide for local authorities (PDF, 712 KB, 51 pages)
• local authority pupil planning areas guide (PDF, 353 KB, 26 pages)
• forecasting demand for SEND provision for SCAP24 (PDF, 484 KB, 23 pages)
• COLLECT guides

If you need help

DfE Sign-in

Read the help page for guidance on DfE Sign-in.

COLLECT

Use the service request form for:

• issues accessing COLLECT
• any technical problems

Data issues

Email SCAP.PPP@education.gov.uk for advice on the SCAP guidance or any other issues.

Published 18 May 2021
Last updated 1 May 2024 + show all updates

1. 1 May 2024

   Updated with information for the 2024 school capacity survey (SCAP). The 'survey guide for local authorities' and 'forecasting demand for SEND provision for SCAP24' documents have been updated.

2. 3 November 2023

   Added summary guide for local authorities.

3. 18 May 2023

   Updated the page with information for the 2023 survey. Added 'School Capacity (SCAP) Survey 2023: guide for local authorities' and removed the 2022 guide. Also added 'Forecasting demand for SEND provision for SCAP23'.

4. 23 May 2022

   Added 'School Capacity (SCAP) Survey 2022: guide for local authorities' and removed the 2021 guide.

5. 22 March 2022

   Added 2022 dates to 'Important dates'.

6. 6 September 2021

   Added advice for local authorities on structuring planning areas to help prepare for the 2022 collection.

7. 18 May 2021

   First published.