Data dictionary

Every table is a CSV file with a header row (UTF-8) and a sheet of the same name in the workbook. Dates are ISO (YYYY-MM-DD). Money is GBP as published. Empty means the source did not publish it.

renewals

Awarded contracts ending in the next 12 months or ended in the last 6 months (the re-procurement window), soonest first.

Column	Meaning
`renewal_bucket`	Where the contract end date falls relative to the snapshot date: next 6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, over 24 months, ended in the last 6 months, ended earlier, or not published.
`contract_end`	Contract end date as published. If the notice gives only a duration, the end is counted from the start, award or notice date (see contract_end_derived). Extensions are not added.
`months_to_end`	Months from the snapshot date to contract_end. Negative means it has already ended.
`est_reprocurement_window_start`	Estimate: contract_end minus 9 months. Typical start of re-procurement for school IT contracts (a planning guess, not a published date).
`est_reprocurement_window_end`	Estimate: contract_end minus 3 months. After this the buyer has usually decided to extend, renew or re-tender (a planning guess).
`extension_possible`	True if the notice states a renewal or extension option or a maximum extent date later than contract_end.
`max_extension_end`	Latest end date if every published extension were used (Find a Tender, where stated).
`renewal_note`	Renewal or extension wording from the notice, shortened.
`account_name`	The organisation to sell to: the academy trust, school, local authority or schools buying organisation behind the purchase.
`account_type`	Academy trust; Academy trust (now closed); School (local authority maintained); Local authority (school-related purchase); Schools buying organisation.
`trust_name`	Academy trust from GIAS (for trust accounts, and for schools that belong to one).
`trust_schools`	Open schools in the trust today (GIAS).
`trust_pupils`	Pupils on roll across those schools (GIAS census figures).
`school_name`	The school, when the buyer was matched to one school.
`la_name`	Local authority area of the school, or the authority that bought.
`region`	English region (GIAS government office region; for local authorities, the region of their schools).
`category`	Edtech category assigned from the notice title and main CPV code (see methodology).
`title`	Notice title as published.
`suppliers`	Winning supplier(s): the incumbent. Names of individuals and sole traders are withheld.
`contract_value_gbp`	Awarded value, or the estimated value when no award value is published. GBP; may be the whole term including VAT or not, as the buyer published it.
`awarded_value_gbp`	Awarded value as published.
`estimated_value_gbp`	Estimated value as published.
`award_date`	Date of the award decision or contract signature.
`contract_start`	Contract start date as published.
`contract_end_derived`	True if contract_end was calculated from a stated duration rather than published as a date.
`frameworks_mentioned`	Framework or buying organisation named in the notice text (for example RM6098, CPC, ESPO, YPO, KCS, LGfL).
`call_off_language`	True if the notice says it was a call-off, mini-competition or direct award under a framework.
`is_framework_agreement`	True if the notice itself sets up a framework rather than one contract.
`procurement_method`	Procedure as published (open, restricted, direct award and so on).
`cpv_main`	Main CPV code.
`cpv_description`	Main CPV description.
`source`	Contracts Finder or Find a Tender.
`notice_type`	Notice type where the source states it.
`published`	Date the chosen notice was published.
`notice_url`	Link to the official notice. Check it before acting on any row.
`record_api_url`	The same procurement in the official Contracts Finder or Find a Tender API (machine-readable JSON).
`related_notices`	Other notices merged into this row (for example the opportunity and the award for one procurement).
`later_notice_same_category`	A notice by the same account in the same category published at least 6 months later, which may show the contract was already re-procured.
`buyer_name`	Buyer name exactly as on the notice.
`match`	How the buyer was tied to GIAS: Companies House number, name and postcode, unique name, trust name, or local authority / buying organisation.
`trust_uid`	GIAS group UID of the trust, for joining to the trusts table.
`urn`	GIAS school URN, when matched to one school.

contracts

Every edtech-relevant procurement found since 2019 for the area, newest first: awards, tenders and early-engagement notices.

Column	Meaning
`renewal_bucket`	Where the contract end date falls relative to the snapshot date: next 6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, over 24 months, ended in the last 6 months, ended earlier, or not published.
`contract_end`	Contract end date as published. If the notice gives only a duration, the end is counted from the start, award or notice date (see contract_end_derived). Extensions are not added.
`months_to_end`	Months from the snapshot date to contract_end. Negative means it has already ended.
`est_reprocurement_window_start`	Estimate: contract_end minus 9 months. Typical start of re-procurement for school IT contracts (a planning guess, not a published date).
`est_reprocurement_window_end`	Estimate: contract_end minus 3 months. After this the buyer has usually decided to extend, renew or re-tender (a planning guess).
`extension_possible`	True if the notice states a renewal or extension option or a maximum extent date later than contract_end.
`max_extension_end`	Latest end date if every published extension were used (Find a Tender, where stated).
`renewal_note`	Renewal or extension wording from the notice, shortened.
`account_name`	The organisation to sell to: the academy trust, school, local authority or schools buying organisation behind the purchase.
`account_type`	Academy trust; Academy trust (now closed); School (local authority maintained); Local authority (school-related purchase); Schools buying organisation.
`trust_name`	Academy trust from GIAS (for trust accounts, and for schools that belong to one).
`trust_schools`	Open schools in the trust today (GIAS).
`trust_pupils`	Pupils on roll across those schools (GIAS census figures).
`school_name`	The school, when the buyer was matched to one school.
`la_name`	Local authority area of the school, or the authority that bought.
`region`	English region (GIAS government office region; for local authorities, the region of their schools).
`category`	Edtech category assigned from the notice title and main CPV code (see methodology).
`title`	Notice title as published.
`suppliers`	Winning supplier(s): the incumbent. Names of individuals and sole traders are withheld.
`contract_value_gbp`	Awarded value, or the estimated value when no award value is published. GBP; may be the whole term including VAT or not, as the buyer published it.
`awarded_value_gbp`	Awarded value as published.
`estimated_value_gbp`	Estimated value as published.
`award_date`	Date of the award decision or contract signature.
`contract_start`	Contract start date as published.
`contract_end_derived`	True if contract_end was calculated from a stated duration rather than published as a date.
`frameworks_mentioned`	Framework or buying organisation named in the notice text (for example RM6098, CPC, ESPO, YPO, KCS, LGfL).
`call_off_language`	True if the notice says it was a call-off, mini-competition or direct award under a framework.
`is_framework_agreement`	True if the notice itself sets up a framework rather than one contract.
`procurement_method`	Procedure as published (open, restricted, direct award and so on).
`cpv_main`	Main CPV code.
`cpv_description`	Main CPV description.
`source`	Contracts Finder or Find a Tender.
`notice_type`	Notice type where the source states it.
`published`	Date the chosen notice was published.
`notice_url`	Link to the official notice. Check it before acting on any row.
`record_api_url`	The same procurement in the official Contracts Finder or Find a Tender API (machine-readable JSON).
`related_notices`	Other notices merged into this row (for example the opportunity and the award for one procurement).
`later_notice_same_category`	A notice by the same account in the same category published at least 6 months later, which may show the contract was already re-procured.
`buyer_name`	Buyer name exactly as on the notice.
`match`	How the buyer was tied to GIAS: Companies House number, name and postcode, unique name, trust name, or local authority / buying organisation.
`trust_uid`	GIAS group UID of the trust, for joining to the trusts table.
`urn`	GIAS school URN, when matched to one school.

live_tenders

Open tenders and recent early-engagement notices with no award yet.

Column	Meaning
`stage`	tender (opportunity) or planning (pipeline, prior information or market engagement).
`deadline`	Response deadline where published.
`contract_start / contract_end`	Planned contract dates where published.
`other columns`	As in the contracts table.

trusts

Open multi- and single-academy trusts whose main region is the area, largest first.

Column	Meaning
`trust_uid`	GIAS group UID.
`trust_name`	Trust name (GIAS).
`trust_type`	Multi-academy trust or single-academy trust.
`companies_house_number`	Company number (GIAS).
`ukprn`	UK provider reference number.
`incorporated`	Incorporation date.
`town / postcode`	Registered address town and postcode (organisation address).
`schools`	Open schools in the trust.
`pupils`	Pupils on roll (latest GIAS census figures).
`primary / secondary / all_through / special_ap`	Open schools by phase; special_ap counts special schools.
`local_authorities`	Number of local authority areas the trust operates in.
`main_region / regions`	Region with most of its schools, and all regions.
`schools_gained_12m`	Schools that joined in the last 12 months (conversions, transfers in, new free schools).
`schools_lost_12m`	Schools that moved to another trust in the last 12 months.
`sponsor_pipeline_schools`	Schools DfE has matched to this trust as sponsor but which have not opened as academies yet.
`size_band`	1, 2-5, 6-10, 11-20, 21+ schools.
`companies_house_url / gias_url`	Source links.

trust_changes

What changed in the last 12 months and what is coming: conversions, transfers between trusts, trust closures and DfE academy pipeline.

Column	Meaning
`event_date`	Date the school joined its new trust, the trust closed, the academy order was approved or the school applied (pipeline), or the proposed opening date (sponsored pipeline).
`event`	Converted to academy; Moved to another trust; New free school opened; Trust closed; Pipeline: academy order approved; Pipeline: applied to convert; Pipeline: sponsored academy (proposed opening).
`urn / school_name / phase / la_name / region / pupils`	The school (GIAS).
`from / from_trust_uid`	Previous trust or local authority.
`to / to_trust_uid`	New trust or sponsor. DfE does not publish the receiving trust for converter pipeline schools.
`source`	GIAS snapshot pair or the DfE pipeline file used.

incumbents

Suppliers that won the awarded contracts in the area, by category.

Column	Meaning
`supplier`	Supplier name (most common spelling).
`category`	Edtech category.
`contracts`	Awarded contracts found.
`buyers`	Distinct accounts.
`live_contracts`	Contracts whose end date is still in the future.
`total_value_gbp`	Sum of contract_value_gbp.
`next_contract_end`	Soonest future end date among them.

framework_usage

Frameworks and buying organisations named in the notices: the routes schools actually use.

Column	Meaning
`framework`	Framework or buying organisation.
`category`	Edtech category.
`notices`	Notices naming it.
`buyers`	Distinct accounts.
`latest`	Latest notice date.
`suppliers_seen`	Suppliers on those notices (up to 8).

dfe_buying_options

DfE-listed buying options for ICT and business systems, with provider, reference and expiry, plus the planned DfE MIS framework.

Column	Meaning
`buying_option`	Name on Get help buying for schools.
`summary`	Short description.
`provider`	Framework provider (CPC, YPO, GCA, Procurement Services and so on).
`reference`	Provider reference.
`expires`	Expiry date shown by DfE.
`opens`	Planned launch date (MIS framework).
`url`	Source page.

schools

Every open state-funded school in the area (academies, free schools, maintained and special schools) with its trust.

Column	Meaning
`urn`	GIAS unique reference number.
`school_name`	Name.
`type / type_group / phase / age_range`	GIAS classification.
`pupils / capacity / pct_fsm`	Pupils on roll, capacity and % free school meals (GIAS census figures).
`la_name / region / town / postcode`	Location (organisation address).
`ukprn`	UK provider reference number.
`open_date`	Date the establishment opened (academies get a new URN on conversion).
`religious_character`	GIAS religious character.
`trust_uid / trust_name / trust_type / joined_trust`	Trust membership (GIAS).
`account_type`	Trust, local authority maintained, or standalone.
`website`	School website as recorded in GIAS.