School capacity survey: guide for local authorities
Help for local authorities submitting the required data for the annual school capacity (SCAP) survey.
Applies to England
The annual school capacity (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
2026 SCAP dates:
- collection opens on Monday 1 June
- deadline for submitting your data is Friday 31 July
Submit your data
You’ll need to:
- register and log in with DfE Sign-in
- use COLLECT to submit your data
SCAP 2026 documents
You should refer to School capacity (SCAP) survey 2026: guide for local authorities for help completing the SCAP 2026 survey and submitting data using COLLECT.
Forecasting demand for SEND provision for SCAP 2026: guidance for local authorities 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 survey.
The following guidance will also help you complete the 2026 school capacity collection:
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.
Updates to this page
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Updated for the 2026 school capacity survey.
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We have updated 2 documents for the 2025 survey. These are ‘survey guide for local authorities’ and ‘forecasting demand for SEND provision for SCAP 2025’. We have also added the 2025 survey dates.
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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.
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Added summary guide for local authorities.
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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'.
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Added 'School Capacity (SCAP) Survey 2022: guide for local authorities' and removed the 2021 guide.
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Added 2022 dates to 'Important dates'.
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Added advice for local authorities on structuring planning areas to help prepare for the 2022 collection.
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First published.