Guidance

Unique pupil numbers

Guide for schools and local authorities on unique pupil numbers (UPNs) and a tool for generating them.

From:
Department for Education
Published
13 September 2013
Last updated
7 June 2019 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

UPNs: guide for schools and local authorities

Ref: DFE-00116-2020 PDF, 565 KB, 20 pages

UPN generator

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 575 KB

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Details

The unique pupil number (UPN) is a 13-character code that identifies each pupil in the local-authority-maintained school system.

The guide is for schools and local authorities, and provides information on UPNs, including:

  • guidelines on maintaining UPNs
  • data protection
  • how to generate UPNs

The spreadsheet is a tool for generating UPNs.

Published 13 September 2013
Last updated 7 June 2019 + show all updates

  1. Replaced the UPN guide with an updated version.

  2. Updated 'UPNs: guide for schools and local authorities' and UPN generator.

  3. Reviewed and updated the unique pupil numbers guide, this includes data protection changes needed in 2018.

  4. Updated the UPN (unique pupil number) generator.

  5. Updated the UPN (unique pupil number) generator.

  6. Updated the UPN (unique pupil number) generator for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.

  7. Updated UPN generator for 2014 to 2015 academic year.

  8. First published.

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