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Data
13,546 schools were members of the Department for Education's Risk Protection Arrangement at the start of January 2026, around 62% of eligible schools. That is up from 13,323 in June 2025.
Part of: Commercial insurance
In short
According to the DfE's RPA summary as at 31 December 2025, 13,546 schools were RPA members at the start of January 2026, around 62% of eligible schools, up from 13,323 (about 61%) in June 2025. The RPA costs £29 per pupil in 2026/27. Members reported 1,470 claims in 2025/26 up to 31 December 2025, 972 of them property damage and business interruption, and the actuary estimates the year's ultimate claims at £154.3 million. The DfE's January 2026 census counts 24,499 schools in England.
The Department for Education publishes RPA membership and claims figures in its RPA actuarial analysis series, prepared by the Government Actuary's Department. The latest edition is the summary of ultimate claim estimates as at 31 December 2025, added to GOV.UK on 27 May 2026. The previous edition, as at 31 May 2025, gives the earlier membership figure. School numbers come from the DfE's Schools, pupils and their characteristics 2025/26, based on the January 2026 school census.
| Figure | Value | Source and period |
|---|---|---|
| Schools that are RPA members | 13,546 | DfE RPA summary as at 31 December 2025 (membership at start of January 2026) |
| Share of eligible schools in the RPA | Around 62% | DfE RPA summary as at 31 December 2025 |
| RPA members in June 2025 | 13,323 (approximately 61% of eligible schools) | DfE RPA summary as at 31 May 2025 (membership as of June 2025) |
| RPA cost per pupil, 2026/27 | £29 (£27 in 2025/26) | DfE RPA summary as at 31 December 2025; DfE joining guidance |
| Claims reported, 2025/26 academic year to 31 December 2025 | 1,470 | DfE RPA summary as at 31 December 2025 (partial year) |
| Estimated ultimate claims cost, 2025/26 | £154.3 million (£154,271,000) | DfE RPA summary as at 31 December 2025 (actuarial estimate) |
| Schools in England | 24,499 | DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026 |
| Pupils in schools in England | Just over 8.9 million | DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026 |
The 13,546 figure excludes 21 schools that are RPA members but are due to open at a future date. The RPA was originally only available to academies and was opened to local authority maintained schools from April 2020. The DfE does not split current membership between academies and maintained schools in this report. The 24,499 schools total covers all state funded and independent schools, so it is not the same as the number of schools eligible for the RPA.
Figures checked 30 October 2026.
The DfE reports the average number of RPA member schools over each academic year alongside its fire and flood claims tables. On that measure, membership rose from 6,387 schools in 2019/20 to 12,777 in 2024/25.
| Academic year | Average RPA member schools | Fire claims reported | Flood and storm claims reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 6,387 | 40 | 282 |
| 2020/21 | 7,716 | 28 | 227 |
| 2021/22 | 9,098 | 47 | 211 |
| 2022/23 | 10,008 | 57 | 374 |
| 2023/24 | 11,149 | 55 | 404 |
| 2024/25 | 12,777 | 59 | 463 |
| 2025/26 (to 31 December 2025) | 13,829 | 23 | 146 |
Source: DfE RPA summary as at 31 December 2025, tables 4 and 5. The 2025/26 row is a partial year. Because these are averages over each academic year, they differ from the point in time count of 13,546 at the start of January 2026.
The RPA is charged per pupil (or per place for special schools, alternative provision and PRUs) and does not depend on a school's claims. The DfE figures show the cost rising from £21 in 2022/23 to £23 in 2023/24, £25 in 2024/25, £27 in 2025/26 and £29 in 2026/27. The DfE joining guidance confirms £29 per pupil for academies from 1 September 2026 and for maintained schools from 1 April 2026.
The DfE breaks down claims reported in the 2025/26 academic year up to 31 December 2025, and the actuary's estimate of the eventual total cost for the year.
| Class of cover | Claims reported, 2025/26 to 31 Dec 2025 | Estimated ultimate claims, 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Property damage and business interruption | 972 | £104,474,000 |
| Employers' liability | 230 | £34,716,000 |
| Public liability | 85 | £12,530,000 |
| Travel | 183 | £2,551,000 |
| Total | 1,470 | £154,271,000 |
For comparison, the previous edition recorded 3,798 claims reported in the first nine months of 2024/25, to 31 May 2025. The estimated ultimate cost for 2024/25 is now £125.9 million, down 8% from the May 2025 estimate. The 2021/22 estimate rose 31%, which the DfE attributes to additional costs on a fire claim.
Fire is the most volatile peril. Reported fire losses were £38,782,176 in 2021/22 and £21,378,428 in 2023/24, but £4,134,199 in 2024/25, and £22,806,506 in 2025/26 up to 31 December 2025. Flood and storm losses reached £28,522,745 in 2024/25 from 463 claims.
The RPA is a government backed alternative to insurance, not an insurance policy, and what it covers is set by its membership rules. The DfE lists property damage, business interruption, employers' liability, third party liability, UK and overseas travel, legal expenses and cyber among the risks covered. Points schools and trusts often weigh up, which are our reading rather than anything in the statistics:
Independent schools are covered separately in our independent school renewal checklist.
How Apex helps: we arrange education insurance for schools, trusts and education businesses, including cover that sits alongside the RPA. Contact us for a review.
13,546 schools were members of the Risk Protection Arrangement at the start of January 2026, around 62% of eligible schools, according to the DfE's RPA summary as at 31 December 2025. That excludes 21 member schools due to open later. In June 2025 membership was 13,323, approximately 61% of eligible schools.
The RPA costs £29 per pupil in 2026/27, up from £27 in 2025/26 and £25 in 2024/25. Special schools, alternative provision academies and PRUs pay per place. For academies the year runs from 1 September 2026; for maintained schools it runs from 1 April 2026.
Yes. The RPA was originally only available to academies and was opened to local authority maintained schools from April 2020, according to the DfE's actuarial summary. Schools can join at any time of year, and converter academies are signed up automatically but can opt out.
Property damage and business interruption. Of 1,470 claims reported in 2025/26 up to 31 December 2025, 972 were property damage and business interruption, 230 employers' liability, 183 travel and 85 public liability. Property claims also make up most of the estimated £154.3 million ultimate cost for the year.
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