Guidance

Common basic data set (CBDS): database

The latest common basic data set (CBDS) and version control log for use by software suppliers developing management information systems.

From:: Department for Education
Published: 14 October 2013
Last updated: 48 ~~August~~September 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

CBDS database

ODS, ~~455~~457 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

CBDS database

MS Excel Spreadsheet, ~~720~~729 KB

Details

The CBDS is a file containing definitions for common data items that schools and local authorities use in certain software systems – for example, school management information systems.

The CBDS also gives information on the structure of other Department for Education data collections.

You should refer to the CBDS when reading any data collection specifications.

The CBDS spreadsheet organises definitions through:

CBDS levels – for example, pupil and school
CBDS modules – for example, school characteristics
data items – for example, ethnicity – and the code set defining them

You can filter the spreadsheet to provide data items relevant to a particular collection.

We regularly update the CBDS, publishing any changes and the reasons for them as request-for-change documents.

Published 14 October 2013

Last updated 48 ~~August~~September 2025 + show all updates

8 September 2025
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.

4 August 2025
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
8 November 2024
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
2 October 2024
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
29 August 2024
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
3 May 2024
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
28 February 2024
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
20 December 2023
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
29 August 2023
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
13 June 2023
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
5 June 2023
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
24 March 2023
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
29 December 2022
The CBDS database has been updated. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
28 September 2022
Updated the Common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
26 July 2022
Updated the Common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab.
25 April 2022
Updated the CBDS database. The version history tab lists the changes.
20 April 2022
Updated the CBDS database. The version history tab lists the changes.
1 April 2022
Updated the Common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab of the database.
7 February 2022
Updated the Common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab of the database.
24 November 2021
Updated the Common basic data set (CBDS) database. The changes are listed in the version history tab of the database.
6 September 2021
Updated CBDS database. Changes are listed in the version history tab.
28 July 2021
Updated CBDS database. Changes are listed in the version history tab.
9 July 2021
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS).
25 May 2021
Updated the 'CBDS database'.
30 April 2021
Updated CBDS database. Changes are listed in the version history tab.
23 March 2021
Updated CBDS database. Changes are listed in the version history tab.
19 February 2021
Replaced the CBDS database files with updated versions.
10 November 2020
Updated CBDS database. Changes are listed in the version history tab.
22 September 2020
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. Changes are described in the version history tab.
3 September 2020
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. Changes are described in the version history tab.
14 April 2020
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. Changes are described in the version history tab.
3 March 2020
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. The version history tab describes the changes.
17 February 2020
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. The version history tab describes the changes.
16 August 2019
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. The version history tab describes the changes.
7 June 2019
Updated CBDS database spreadsheet. The version history tab describes the changes.
15 March 2019
CBDS database replaced with an updated version. The version history describes the changes.
25 February 2019
Common basic data set (CBDS) updated, version history describes changes.
14 February 2019
Added updated common basic data set (CBDS).
10 January 2019
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS). The version history describes the changes.
24 August 2018
Updated CBDS database. Changes are described in the version history.
11 July 2018
Updated the common basic data set database.
9 May 2018
Updated the common basic data set database.
26 March 2018
Replaced CBDS with new versions.
16 February 2018
Updated the common basic data set database.
1 February 2018
CBDS database updated. CBDS version control log removed (this information is now on the CBDS database file). CBDS 'other data items' file added. (This file contains data items that are no longer maintained by the department and is for reference only).
5 October 2017
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
22 August 2017
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
6 March 2017
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
12 October 2016
Replaced documents with amended Italian language codeset.
8 August 2016
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
18 May 2016
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
11 May 2016
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
29 April 2016
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
3 March 2016
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
29 December 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
30 November 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
20 November 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
3 November 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
22 September 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
13 August 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
10 August 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
30 June 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
4 June 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
29 May 2015
Updated the common basic data set database and version control log files.
27 April 2015
Updated the common basic dataset set database and version control log files.
2 April 2015
Updated the common basic dataset set database and version control log files.
27 March 2015
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with the 25 March 2015 version.
11 March 2015
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 3 March 2015 version.
22 January 2015
Updated 'CBDS database' and 'CBDS version control log' documents.
17 October 2014
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 13 October 2014 version.
20 August 2014
Updated 'CBDS database' and 'CBDS version control log' documents.
19 June 2014
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 12 June 2014 version.
9 June 2014
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 4 June 2014 version.
29 April 2014
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 28 April 2014 version.
21 March 2014
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 18 March 2014 version.
4 February 2014
Updated the common basic data set (CBDS) database with 28 January 2014 version.
14 October 2013
First published.

Common basic data set (CBDS): database

Applies to England

Documents

CBDS database

CBDS database

Details

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