Frequently Asked Questions

Our 1-10 rating system combines three key factors:

• Academic Performance (40%): Student achievement in English, Maths, and Science
• Inspection Ratings (40%): Latest Ofsted or equivalent inspection results
• Attendance (20%): School attendance rates compared to local averages

Each factor is normalized to a 0-10 scale and weighted to produce the overall rating. Schools with incomplete data have their weights adjusted proportionally. See our Methodology page for full details.

All our data comes from official government sources:

• Department for Education (England)
• Ofsted inspection reports
• Education Scotland
• Estyn (Wales)
• Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland)
• Local authority education departments

We aggregate and standardize this data to make it easily comparable across schools. Visit our Data Sources page for more information.

Update frequency varies by data type:

• Performance data: Updated annually after official releases (usually autumn)
• Inspection reports: Added within 48 hours of publication
• School characteristics: Refreshed monthly from GIAS
• Attendance data: Updated termly
• Contact information: Checked monthly

Schools may have incomplete data for several reasons:

• New schools (less than 3 years old) haven't been inspected yet
• Small schools may not publish data to protect student privacy
• Independent schools aren't required to provide all data publicly
• Some schools don't participate in standard assessments
• Recent academy conversions may have data gaps

We clearly mark when ratings are based on partial data and show which components are missing.

You can search for schools in several ways:

• By name: Type the school name in the search box
• By postcode: Enter a UK postcode to find nearby schools
• By city: Search for a city name or browse our city pages
• By local authority: Find all schools in a council area

Our search includes autocomplete suggestions to help you find schools quickly.

Yes! You can compare schools side-by-side using our comparison tool. Simply:

• Search for schools you want to compare
• Click "Add to Compare" on each school profile
• View the comparison page to see metrics side-by-side

You can compare up to 4 schools at once, viewing their ratings, performance data, and key characteristics in a single view.

Enter your postcode in the search box to find schools in your area. The results will show:

• Schools within your postcode area
• Distance from the postcode center (when available)
• Options to filter by school type and phase

You can also browse by city or local authority to explore schools in wider areas.

To leave a review:

• Navigate to the school's profile page
• Click "Write a Review" button
• Rate the school on various aspects
• Write your detailed feedback
• Select your relationship to the school
• Submit your review

Reviews are moderated to ensure they meet our community guidelines before publication.

Reviews must be:

• Based on genuine experience with the school
• Respectful and constructive
• Free from profanity or hate speech
• Relevant to the school being reviewed
• Your own original content

We remove reviews that violate these guidelines, contain personal attacks, or include private information about individuals.

Currently, reviews cannot be edited once submitted to maintain integrity. If you need to update or remove a review due to errors or changed circumstances, please contact us through the Contact Form with:

• The school name and your review date
• Reason for the change request
• Your contact information

Most school data comes from official government sources and updates automatically. However, if you notice incorrect information:

• Contact us through our Contact Form
• Select "Report an Issue" as the subject
• Include your school's URN and specific corrections needed
• Provide supporting documentation if available

We'll verify and update the information within 48 hours.

We're developing a feature for schools to claim and enhance their profiles. This will allow schools to:

• Add photos and virtual tours
• Update contact information quickly
• Highlight special programs and achievements
• Respond to reviews professionally

Contact us at Contact Form if you're interested in early access to this feature.

Independent/private schools are included but may have limited data because they:

• Aren't required to publish all performance data
• May not participate in standard assessments
• Have different inspection schedules

We display all available public data and clearly mark when information is limited.

We maintain editorial independence and don't accept paid placements that would affect rankings or ratings. Schools interested in partnership opportunities should contact us to discuss:

• Enhanced profile features
• Open day announcements
• Sponsored content (clearly marked)

All paid features are clearly distinguished from our objective data and ratings.