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Original poster

How do I find out if a school is real

39 replies

Hexandthecity · 19/10/2023 21:14

Don't want to be recognised, so I won't be mentioning names or locations, but I was just wondering how I can find out if a school in England actually exists? Or rather: confirm it doesn't? I've tried Googling it, looking up the name on the Ofsted website, looking it up on the ISI website and nothing. Does this mean the name etc are made up? Am I missing something, meaning I can't find it?

OP posts:
TeaGinandFags · 19/10/2023 21:54

Have you tried putting the post code into MAPS and searching on street view? The name may have changed but the building won't have gone.

If nothing comes up it probably doesn't exist.

Cordeliathecat · 19/10/2023 21:55

See here:

https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search?SelectedTab=Establishments

You can search by name or location. You can also search Trusts. The search can include closed schools.

Get Information about Schools - GOV.UK

https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search?SelectedTab=Establishments

Cordeliathecat · 19/10/2023 21:57

All schools regardless of whether or not they are a special school need to be registered with dfe

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
NoMoreCapsLock · 19/10/2023 21:57

bookgirl1982 · 19/10/2023 21:31

You can put the name or postcode into the gias website - it's the governments list of all schools

Yes GIAS. It stands for Get Information About Schools. It's a government website. Lists all schools and their predecessors and successors.

Nowherenew · 19/10/2023 22:01

Do you know the area?

Some schools, especially special schools change their names or close but there would still be something about it online.

Has the person said they worked there in the past 20 years?

Queenie8 · 19/10/2023 22:04

@Hexandthecity Department for Education website. Or if you know the county, look on their website. Schools often have nicknames by staff and pupils. Or a special school can have several.

I know of one special school that some call the Rivers and others call the phoenix.

LeefsPrings · 19/10/2023 22:22

Thanks OP for making me search online for my old secondary school - now long demolished. I found a facebook page with a load of my old classmates from 1975 on it!

Original poster
Hexandthecity · 19/10/2023 22:24

Thanks everyone. I have found out a bit more, and the reason I couldn't find it is a combination of it not yet being open and it having different names. Information still v thin on the ground but it's not complete fantasy. Thanks for your help!

OP posts:
WellIdontknowwhattocallmyself · 19/10/2023 22:25

Some schools aren’t on the web.

Original poster
Hexandthecity · 19/10/2023 22:25

LeefsPrings · 19/10/2023 22:22

Thanks OP for making me search online for my old secondary school - now long demolished. I found a facebook page with a load of my old classmates from 1975 on it!

Awww! Enjoy your trip down memory lane!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hexandthecity · 19/10/2023 22:27

mnahmnah · 19/10/2023 21:43

If it is a member of staff claiming to have worked at that school and you are now considering employing them, how did they think you wouldn’t notice?! Do they not think references would be taken or their background looked into?

It's not that 😊

OP posts:
SisterMichaelsHabit · 19/10/2023 22:29

WellIdontknowwhattocallmyself · 19/10/2023 22:25

Some schools aren’t on the web.

I thought it was a statutory requirement these days? Because it's statutory for maintained schools to publish specific information online and if they don't do it on their own website, they still have to put it on someone's website somewhere. So they are still on the web.

NashvilleQueen · 19/10/2023 22:31

Ofsted?

FindRachel · 20/10/2023 05:29

WellIdontknowwhattocallmyself · 19/10/2023 22:25

Some schools aren’t on the web.

Aren't they?

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