What is UPN (Unique Pupil Number)?
Also known as: unique pupil number
A UPN (unique pupil number) is a 13-character code that identifies a pupil in the state-funded school system. It is allocated when a child first enters a state school, usually at nursery or primary, and stays with them throughout their school career, even if they move school or local authority.
The UPN is generated using a nationally specified formula and follows a set format: a letter followed by 12 numbers, or a letter, 11 numbers and a final letter for a temporary UPN. It is used to link a pupil’s records across schools and data collections, such as the school census and the common transfer file. A UPN must never be reissued to another pupil.
If a pupil arrives without their UPN, the new school should ask the previous school for it, or for the common transfer file, rather than creating a new one. Duplicate UPNs cause problems with national data and with tracking a pupil’s history.
England and Wales
Both England and Wales use UPNs for pupils in maintained schools, and a Welsh UPN is required for the Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) in Wales. Pupils in independent schools may not have a UPN unless they have previously attended a state-funded school.
Why it matters for your setting
- Schools and local authorities may quote a UPN when they refer a pupil, as it identifies them without ambiguity.
- UPNs are personal data and should be protected like any other pupil information.
- If you share data with a school, the UPN helps it match your information to the right pupil.
PupilDB does not have a UPN field yet; it is on our roadmap.
Related terms
Last reviewed 24 September 2026. General information, not legal advice. Always check the current official guidance. Back to the glossary
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