When deciding whether data collection exercise should be approved, the Star Chamber Secretariat will take the following into consideration:

• Whether the data collection exercise is absolutely necessary for policy development, implementation or evaluation;
• Whether the information required, or proxy information, could be obtained from an existing source;
• What use the data will be put to if collected;
• Whether the data collection exercise is intended to stand alone or to be merged with another exercise;
• That only essential data is requested;
• Whether the origin of the request in Ministerial, policy-based, or other;
• Whether the data gathered will be shared with schools and LAs;
• That the number of schools and/or LAs to be involved, and the planned frequency are justified;
• The compliance time and costs (for schools, LAs and DCSF) have been calculated accurately and justified in terms of the value of the exercise, especially when information may not be readily available to schools/LAs;
• That other relevant parties have been or will be consulted;
• Where applicable, whether the questionnaire has been piloted;
• A copy of the questionnaire (if applicable) has been made available, which meets the criteria set out in the questionnaire guidance;
• That the questionnaire will be 'pre-populated' as appropriate; and the data can be collected electronically if the schools and/or LAs prefer this.
• That one month's prior notice of the exercise will be given to the Local Government Analysis & Research, The Association of Directors of Children's Services. (The Society of Education Officers has been absorbed into this body.)
• That schools are given at least four working weeks to respond to the exercise from the point at which the request arrives with them (or LAs at least two weeks, where the exercise affects only them).