[The Census](https://readinessindex.io/census)

[Q4 2026](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4)

[United Kingdom](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk)

Education

Sector

# Education in United Kingdom

The education segments measured in United Kingdom, each drawn from that country’s own register. They are different populations, so they are set side by side and never added together.

Index 12.1 · Census Q4 2026 · 4 segments, 4 measured

The segments

## Side by side, never added together

| Segment | Drawn from | Median and spread | Scanned | Gated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Universities](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk/education/universities) Every registered higher education provider in England, and the universities and colleges of higher education in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Office for Students (England); Medr (Wales); Scottish Funding Council (Scotland); NI Direct, Northern Ireland Executive (Northern Ireland) | **59** · 29–76 | 368/460 | 123 of 368 |
| [Further education colleges](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk/education/further-education) The general further education and sixth-form colleges of the four nations. | Department for Education (Get Information About Schools); Scottish Funding Council; Medr; NI Direct, Northern Ireland Executive | **60** · 16–76 | 226/284 | 86 of 226 |
| [Academy trusts](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk/education/academy-trusts) Every open multi-academy trust in England, the bodies that run most of its state schools. | Department for Education | **56** · 31–74 | 258/1203 | 62 of 258 |
| [Schools](https://readinessindex.io/census/2026-Q4/uk/education/schools) Every open school in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, state and independent. | Department for Education (GIAS); Scottish Government; Welsh Government; Department of Education Northern Ireland | **55** · 17–77 | 23504/29692 | 7121 of 23504 |

There is no single figure for education. Each segment is its own population, and a combined median would be a number about whichever segment has the most sites. How the Census is run, and what it can support, is on the [methodology page](https://readinessindex.io/census/methodology).