Data Sources
Full transparency on every data source that powers y.school. Student scores and government data are always kept separate.
Two Types of Data
Every school profile on y.school combines two completely independent data streams. They are displayed together for context but never mixed in calculations.
Student Scores
Calculated from anonymous student ratings on y.school. 164 atomic dimensions, freshness-weighted, with confidence tiers. No external data ever influences these scores.
Government Data
Official public datasets from the Department for Education and Ofsted. Displayed for context. Sourced from 11+ free government datasets covering profiles, performance, staffing, finance, demographics, and destinations.
Government Data Sources
All government data used on y.school comes from publicly available, free datasets published by UK government departments. Here is every source, what we use from it, and how often it updates.
Get Information About Schools (GIAS)
Department for EducationThe official register of all educational establishments in England.
School Performance Tables (KS2)
Department for EducationKey Stage 2 results for primary schools in England.
School Performance Tables (KS4 / GCSE)
Department for EducationGCSE and equivalent results for secondary schools.
School Performance Tables (KS5 / A-Level)
Department for EducationA-Level and equivalent results for sixth forms and post-16 providers.
Ofsted Inspection Ratings
OfstedOfficial school inspection outcomes and sub-judgement grades.
School Workforce Census
Department for EducationData on school staffing, turnover, and retention.
School-Level Finance Data
Department for EducationPer-pupil spending and financial data for maintained schools and academies.
Pupil Absence Statistics
Department for EducationAuthorised and unauthorised absence rates.
Free School Meals & Deprivation
Department for EducationSocioeconomic context indicators for schools.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Department for EducationProportion of pupils with SEN support or Education, Health and Care plans.
Destination Measures (KS4 & KS5)
Department for EducationWhere students go after leaving school or sixth form.
Student Review Data
Student scores are the core of y.school. They are generated entirely from anonymous student ratings and processed through our transparent scoring methodology.
Collection: Students answer branching slider questions (no text input, no account). Each answer maps to one of 164 atomic scoring dimensions.
Processing: Raw ratings are aggregated bottom-up — atoms to composites to dimensions to the Student Score. Freshness weighting (18-month half-life) ensures scores reflect current school conditions.
Integrity: Device fingerprinting, behavioural analysis, and rate limiting prevent duplicate or fraudulent submissions. Fingerprint hashes are deleted after 90 days.
Visibility: Schools need 5+ reviews and a confidence score of 0.3+ to display a Student Score. Teacher scores require 10+ reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does y.school get its school list?
The complete list of schools comes from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register, which is the official register of all educational establishments in England. It includes school name, address, type, phase, age range, and status.
Where do student scores come from?
Student scores are calculated entirely from anonymous ratings submitted by students on y.school. No external data source influences the Student Score. Students answer structured slider questions covering 164 atomic dimensions across six core areas.
Does y.school use Ofsted data?
Yes, but only for context. Ofsted ratings and sub-judgements are displayed alongside student scores but never influence the Student Score calculation. Ofsted data comes from Ofsted's official data feeds and is updated when new inspection reports are published.
How often is the data updated?
Student scores update continuously as new ratings are submitted. Government data (GIAS register, performance tables, Ofsted) is refreshed when new datasets are published, typically termly or annually depending on the source.
Want to understand how scores are calculated?