School capacity survey: guide for local authorities

The annual school capacity survey (SCAP) survey 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

20252026 SCAP dates:

• collection opens on Monday 21 June
• deadline for submitting your data is Friday 2531 July

Submit your data

You’ll need to:

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

SCAP 20252026 documents

OurYou guidanceshould willrefer helpto youSchool completecapacity the(SCAP) 2025survey school2026: capacity collection:

• summary guide for local authorities (PDF, 197for KB,help 14completing pages)
• the SCAP 2026 survey guideand submitting data using COLLECT.

  Forecasting demand for SEND provision for SCAP 2026: guidance for local authorities (PDF supports local authorities to produce forecasts of demand for specialist schools and alternative provision places for pupils with education, health and care plans in line with the data requirements for the SCAP, 441survey.

  The KB,following 54guidance pages)

will also help you complete the 2026 school capacity collection:
• local authority pupil planning areas guide (PDF, 353 KB, 26 pages)
• forecastingsummary demandguide for SENDlocal provision for SCAP 2025authorities (PDF, 323197 KB, 2414 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.