Methodology

Grain

The ONS Postcode Directory is a unit postcode file. Census 2021 is imported at Output Area and rolled to LSOA, ward, and local authority. Police crime is counted at electoral ward. School performance is at establishment (URN) grain; a school's area is the GIAS postcode joined to ONSPD, not an admissions catchment.

Large-user / landmark postcodes (ONS USRTYPIND=1), such as SW1A 2AA, still report the electoral ward they sit in. That is a snap to the ward, not a 1-mile street search around the pin.

Best schools in a local authority

English local authority pages at /uk/schools/in/{slug} list open state-funded schools (including academies and free schools). Independents stay on school search.

1. Ofsted overall effectiveness first (Outstanding → Inadequate; uninspected last).
2. Then phase, so KS2 percentages are never compared with Progress 8: primary, then secondary, then other.
3. Then that phase's headline attainment (KS2 reading, writing and maths expected standard; Progress 8 then Attainment 8 for secondary).
4. FSM ever is a column for intake context. We do not rank a school down because more pupils have been eligible for free school meals.

Council admissions URLs are the official GOV.UK apply and admissions handoffs. We do not scrape per-council apply forms.

Datasets and dates