diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 7a8c4a2..6ac529f 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ PORT=80
 # =============================================================================
 # CORS
 # =============================================================================
-# Comma-separated list of allowed origins
+# JSON array of allowed origins (pydantic-settings format)
 # In production, only include your actual domain
 ALLOWED_ORIGINS=["https://schoolcompare.co.uk"]
 
@@ -33,13 +33,21 @@ ADMIN_API_KEY=CHANGE_THIS_TO_A_SECURE_RANDOM_KEY
 
 # Rate limiting (requests per minute per IP)
 RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE=60
-RATE_LIMIT_BURST=10
+GLOBAL_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE=3000
 
 # Maximum request body size in bytes (default 1MB)
 MAX_REQUEST_SIZE=1048576
 
 # =============================================================================
-# API
+# SEARCH AND OPTIONAL FEATURE FLAGS
 # =============================================================================
-DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE=50
-MAX_PAGE_SIZE=100
+TYPESENSE_URL=http://localhost:8108
+TYPESENSE_API_KEY=CHANGE_THIS_TO_YOUR_TYPESENSE_KEY
+
+# Empty URL disables Unleash-backed flags. Match the managed environment when used.
+UNLEASH_URL=
+UNLEASH_API_TOKEN=
+
+# Page-size limits are currently declared by route Query parameters.
+# DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE, MAX_PAGE_SIZE and RATE_LIMIT_BURST are not reliable tuning
+# controls in the current routes; see docs/LEGACY_CODE.md.
diff --git a/DOCKER_DEPLOY.md b/DOCKER_DEPLOY.md
index a92a220..2318bf9 100644
--- a/DOCKER_DEPLOY.md
+++ b/DOCKER_DEPLOY.md
@@ -1,191 +1,17 @@
-# Docker Deployment Guide
+# Docker deployment
 
-## Quick Start
+The maintained deployment runbook is [docs/DEPLOY.md](docs/DEPLOY.md).
 
-Deploy the complete SchoolCompare stack (PostgreSQL + FastAPI + Next.js) with one command:
+- Production: `docker-compose.portainer.yml`, using `:prod` images.
+- Staging: `docker-compose.portainer.staging.yml`, using `:staging` images.
+- Builds and deployment: `.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml`.
+- Human-approved production promotion: `.gitea/workflows/promote.yml`.
 
-```bash
-docker-compose up -d
-```
+The generic `docker-compose.yml` is not a supported one-command onboarding path:
+it still uses `:latest` tags that the release workflow no longer publishes and
+lacks the full current CMS setup. Review the [legacy inventory](docs/LEGACY_CODE.md)
+before using old compose examples. Starting an empty database does not populate
+school marts.
 
-This will start:
-- **PostgreSQL** on port 5432 (database)
-- **FastAPI** on port 8000 (backend API)
-- **Next.js** on port 3000 (frontend)
-
-## Service Details
-
-### PostgreSQL Database
-- **Port**: 5432
-- **Container**: `schoolcompare_db`
-- **Credentials**:
-  - User: `schoolcompare`
-  - Password: `schoolcompare`
-  - Database: `schoolcompare`
-- **Volume**: `postgres_data` (persistent storage)
-
-### FastAPI Backend
-- **Port**: 8000 → 80 (container)
-- **Container**: `schoolcompare_backend`
-- **Built from**: Root `Dockerfile`
-- **API Endpoint**: http://localhost:8000/api
-- **Health Check**: http://localhost:8000/api/data-info
-
-### Next.js Frontend
-- **Port**: 3000
-- **Container**: `schoolcompare_nextjs`
-- **Built from**: `nextjs-app/Dockerfile`
-- **URL**: http://localhost:3000
-- **Connects to**: Backend via internal network
-
-## Commands
-
-### Start all services
-```bash
-docker-compose up -d
-```
-
-### View logs
-```bash
-# All services
-docker-compose logs -f
-
-# Specific service
-docker-compose logs -f nextjs
-docker-compose logs -f backend
-docker-compose logs -f db
-```
-
-### Check status
-```bash
-docker-compose ps
-```
-
-### Stop all services
-```bash
-docker-compose down
-```
-
-### Rebuild after code changes
-```bash
-# Rebuild and restart specific service
-docker-compose up -d --build nextjs
-
-# Rebuild all services
-docker-compose up -d --build
-```
-
-### Clean restart (remove volumes)
-```bash
-docker-compose down -v
-docker-compose up -d
-```
-
-## Initial Database Setup
-
-After first start, you may need to initialize the database:
-
-```bash
-# Enter the backend container
-docker exec -it schoolcompare_backend bash
-
-# Run migrations or data loading
-python -m backend.data_loader
-```
-
-## Accessing Services
-
-Once running:
-- **Frontend**: http://localhost:3000
-- **Backend API**: http://localhost:8000/api
-- **API Docs**: http://localhost:8000/docs (Swagger UI)
-- **Database**: localhost:5432 (use any PostgreSQL client)
-
-## Environment Variables
-
-Create a `.env` file in the root directory to customize:
-
-```env
-# Database
-POSTGRES_USER=schoolcompare
-POSTGRES_PASSWORD=your_secure_password
-POSTGRES_DB=schoolcompare
-
-# Backend
-DATABASE_URL=postgresql://schoolcompare:your_secure_password@db:5432/schoolcompare
-
-# Frontend (for client-side access)
-NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:8000/api
-```
-
-Then run:
-```bash
-docker-compose up -d
-```
-
-## Troubleshooting
-
-### Backend not connecting to database
-```bash
-# Check database health
-docker-compose ps
-
-# View backend logs
-docker-compose logs backend
-
-# Restart backend
-docker-compose restart backend
-```
-
-### Frontend not connecting to backend
-```bash
-# Check backend health
-curl http://localhost:8000/api/data-info
-
-# Check Next.js environment variables
-docker exec schoolcompare_nextjs env | grep API
-```
-
-### Port already in use
-```bash
-# Change ports in docker-compose.yml
-# For example, change "3000:3000" to "3001:3000"
-```
-
-### Rebuild from scratch
-```bash
-docker-compose down -v
-docker system prune -a
-docker-compose up -d --build
-```
-
-## Production Deployment
-
-For production, update the following:
-
-1. **Use secure passwords** in `.env` file
-2. **Configure reverse proxy** (Nginx) in front of Next.js
-3. **Enable HTTPS** with SSL certificates
-4. **Set production environment variables**:
-   ```env
-   NODE_ENV=production
-   POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<strong-password>
-   ```
-5. **Backup database** regularly:
-   ```bash
-   docker exec schoolcompare_db pg_dump -U schoolcompare schoolcompare > backup.sql
-   ```
-
-## Network Architecture
-
-```
-Internet
-    ↓
-Next.js (port 3000) ← User browsers
-    ↓ (internal network)
-FastAPI (port 8000) ← API calls
-    ↓ (internal network)
-PostgreSQL (port 5432) ← Data queries
-```
-
-All services communicate via the `schoolcompare-network` Docker network.
+For architecture, configuration and test commands, see
+[ARCHITECTURE.md](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) and [DEVELOPMENT.md](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md).
diff --git a/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md b/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md
index ad49683..0c2bf40 100644
--- a/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md
+++ b/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+> Historical migration record, retained for context. Setup and architecture claims below may be obsolete. Use [README.md](README.md), [architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) and [deployment](docs/DEPLOY.md) for current guidance.
+
 # SchoolCompare: Vanilla JS → Next.js Migration Summary
 
 ## Overview
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ab8f59..2e6eaaa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,214 +1,67 @@
-# Primary School Compass 🧒📚
+# SchoolCompare
 
-A modern web application for comparing **primary school (KS2)** performance data in **Wandsworth and Merton** over the last 5 years. Built with FastAPI and vanilla JavaScript with Chart.js visualizations.
+SchoolCompare compares schools across England: primary (KS2), secondary (KS4),
+all-through and post-16 provision, with coverage depending on the source dataset.
+It provides school search, postcode maps, comparisons, rankings, place pages,
+Ofsted information, admissions and destination measures. Editorial content lives
+in a Payload CMS blog.
 
-![Python](https://img.shields.io/badge/Python-3.9+-blue)
-![FastAPI](https://img.shields.io/badge/FastAPI-0.109-green)
-![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow)
+## Start here
 
-## Features
+- [Architecture and data flow](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md)
+- [Development and validation](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md)
+- [Deployment and promotion](docs/DEPLOY.md)
+- [Legacy and unused-code inventory](docs/LEGACY_CODE.md)
+- [Frontend conventions](nextjs-app/README.md)
+- [CMS publishing](nextjs-app/docs/PUBLISHING.md)
 
-- 📊 **Interactive Charts** - Visualize KS2 performance trends over time
-- 🔍 **Smart Search** - Find primary schools by name in Wandsworth & Merton
-- ⚖️ **Side-by-Side Comparison** - Compare up to 5 schools simultaneously
-- 🏆 **Rankings** - View top-performing primary schools by various KS2 metrics
-- 📱 **Responsive Design** - Works beautifully on desktop and mobile
+## Repository map
 
-## Key Metrics (KS2)
+| Path | Responsibility |
+|---|---|
+| `backend/` | FastAPI routes, cached school data, read-only SQLAlchemy mappings, feature flags |
+| `nextjs-app/` | Next.js App Router, React UI, Payload CMS, frontend tests |
+| `pipeline/plugins/extractors/` | Custom Singer taps for GIAS, EES, Ofsted and other datasets |
+| `pipeline/transform/` | dbt staging/intermediate models, marts, seeds and data tests |
+| `pipeline/dags/` | Airflow extraction, transformation and publication workflows |
+| `pipeline/scripts/` | Search indexing, code generation and operational diagnostics |
+| `e2e/` | Playwright journeys against a running environment |
+| `.gitea/workflows/` | PR checks, staging deployment and manual production promotion |
+| `scripts/` | CI review tooling and historical data utilities; see the legacy inventory |
+| `docs/superpowers/`, `mockups/` | Design history and prototypes, not application entry points |
 
-The application tracks these Key Stage 2 performance indicators:
+## Runtime
 
-| Metric | Description |
-|--------|-------------|
-| **Reading Progress** | Progress in reading from KS1 to KS2 |
-| **Writing Progress** | Progress in writing from KS1 to KS2 |
-| **Maths Progress** | Progress in maths from KS1 to KS2 |
-| **Reading Expected %** | Percentage meeting expected standard in reading |
-| **Writing Expected %** | Percentage meeting expected standard in writing |
-| **Maths Expected %** | Percentage meeting expected standard in maths |
-| **Reading, Writing & Maths Combined %** | Percentage meeting expected standard in all three subjects |
+The public site is **Next.js**, not the FastAPI root page. Browser `/api/*`
+requests pass through a Next.js route handler to FastAPI. Server-rendered pages
+call FastAPI directly using `FASTAPI_URL`, including its `/api` suffix.
 
-## Quick Start
+PostgreSQL/PostGIS stores school data. Meltano/Singer extracts source data;
+dbt builds `marts.*`; FastAPI reads those tables. Typesense serves text search
+and autocomplete. Payload runs inside Next.js and owns a separate `payload`
+database schema and uploaded media.
 
-### 1. Clone and Setup
+There is **no automatic CSV import or sample dataset on startup**. A working
+school-data environment needs populated marts from the pipeline or an approved
+database snapshot. See [development](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) before choosing a setup.
 
-```bash
-cd school_results
+## Validation
 
-# Create virtual environment
-python -m venv venv
-source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
-
-# Install dependencies
-pip install -r requirements.txt
+```sh
+cd nextjs-app
+npm ci
+npm run typecheck
+npm test -- --runInBand
 ```
 
-### 2. Run the Application
+Backend checks, pipeline validation, runtime versions and E2E requirements are
+listed in [DEVELOPMENT.md](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md). No `npm run lint` script is
+currently defined.
 
-```bash
-# Start the server
-python -m uvicorn backend.app:app --reload --port 8000
-```
-
-Then open http://localhost:8000 in your browser.
-
-The app will run with **sample data** by default, showing **110 primary schools** (66 in Wandsworth, 44 in Merton) with 5 years of KS2 performance data.
-
-### 3. (Optional) Use Real Data
-
-To use real UK school performance data:
-
-1. Visit [Compare School Performance - Download Data](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/download-data)
-
-2. Download **Key Stage 2** data for the years you want (2019-2024)
-   - Select "Key Stage 2" as the data type
-
-3. Place the CSV files in the `data/` folder
-
-4. Restart the server - it will automatically load and filter to Wandsworth & Merton schools
-
-**Note:** The app only displays schools in Wandsworth and Merton. Data from other areas will be filtered out.
-
-See the helper script for more details:
-```bash
-python scripts/download_data.py
-```
-
-## Project Structure
-
-```
-school_results/
-├── backend/
-│   └── app.py           # FastAPI application with all API endpoints
-├── frontend/
-│   ├── index.html       # Main HTML page
-│   ├── styles.css       # Styling (warm, editorial design)
-│   └── app.js           # Frontend JavaScript
-├── data/
-│   └── .gitkeep         # Place CSV data files here
-├── scripts/
-│   └── download_data.py # Helper for downloading/processing data
-├── requirements.txt     # Python dependencies
-└── README.md
-```
-
-## API Endpoints
-
-| Endpoint | Description |
-|----------|-------------|
-| `GET /api/schools` | List schools with optional search/filter |
-| `GET /api/schools/{urn}` | Get detailed data for a specific school |
-| `GET /api/compare?urns=...` | Compare multiple schools |
-| `GET /api/rankings` | Get school rankings by metric |
-| `GET /api/filters` | Get available filter options |
-| `GET /api/metrics` | Get available performance metrics |
-
-### Example API Usage
-
-```bash
-# Search for schools
-curl "http://localhost:8000/api/schools?search=academy"
-
-# Get school details
-curl "http://localhost:8000/api/schools/100001"
-
-# Compare schools
-curl "http://localhost:8000/api/compare?urns=100001,100002,100003"
-
-# Get rankings
-curl "http://localhost:8000/api/rankings?metric=rwm_expected_pct&year=2024"
-```
-
-## Data Format
-
-If using your own CSV data, ensure it includes these columns (or similar):
-
-| Column | Type | Description |
-|--------|------|-------------|
-| URN | Integer | Unique Reference Number |
-| SCHNAME | String | School name |
-| LA | String | Local Authority (must be Wandsworth or Merton) |
-| READPROG | Float | Reading progress score |
-| WRITPROG | Float | Writing progress score |
-| MATPROG | Float | Maths progress score |
-| PTRWM_EXP | Float | % meeting expected standard in reading, writing & maths |
-| PTREAD_EXP | Float | % meeting expected standard in reading |
-| PTWRIT_EXP | Float | % meeting expected standard in writing |
-| PTMAT_EXP | Float | % meeting expected standard in maths |
-
-The application normalizes column names automatically and filters to only show Wandsworth and Merton schools.
-
-## Technology Stack
-
-- **Backend**: FastAPI (Python) - High-performance async API framework
-- **Frontend**: Vanilla JavaScript with Chart.js
-- **Styling**: Custom CSS with CSS variables for theming
-- **Data**: Pandas for CSV processing
-
-## Design Philosophy
-
-The UI features a warm, editorial design inspired by quality publications:
-- **Typography**: DM Sans for body text, Playfair Display for headings
-- **Color Palette**: Warm cream background with coral and teal accents
-- **Interactions**: Smooth animations and hover effects
-- **Charts**: Clean, readable data visualizations
-
-## Development
-
-```bash
-# Run with auto-reload
-python -m uvicorn backend.app:app --reload --port 8000
-
-# Or run directly
-python backend/app.py
-```
-
-## Coverage
-
-This application is specifically designed for:
-
-- **School Phase**: Primary schools only (Key Stage 2)
-- **Geographic Area**: Wandsworth and Merton (London boroughs)
-- **Time Period**: Last 5 years of data (2020-2024)
-
-Note: 2021 data shows as unavailable because SATs were cancelled due to COVID-19.
-
-## Data Source
-
-Data is sourced from the UK Government's [Compare School Performance](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/) service, which provides official school performance data for England.
-
-**Important**: When using real data, please comply with the [terms of use](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/download-data) and data protection regulations.
-
-## Scheduled Jobs
-
-### Geocoding Schools (Cron Job)
-
-School postcodes are geocoded by a scheduled job, not on-demand. This improves performance and reduces API calls.
-
-**Setup the cron job** (runs weekly on Sunday at 2am):
-
-```bash
-# Edit crontab
-crontab -e
-
-# Add this line (adjust paths as needed):
-0 2 * * 0 cd /path/to/school_compare && /path/to/venv/bin/python scripts/geocode_schools.py >> /var/log/geocode_schools.log 2>&1
-```
-
-**Manual run:**
-```bash
-# Geocode only schools missing coordinates
-python scripts/geocode_schools.py
-
-# Force re-geocode all schools
-python scripts/geocode_schools.py --force
-```
-
-## License
-
-MIT License - feel free to use this project for educational purposes.
-
----
-
-Built with ❤️ for Wandsworth & Merton families
+## Deployment
 
+Work on a feature branch and open a PR. Merging to `main` builds images and
+deploys staging. Production promotion is a separate, human-triggered Gitea
+workflow. Use [DEPLOY.md](docs/DEPLOY.md) and the Portainer compose files as the
+operational references. The generic compose examples still reference `:latest`,
+which the current release workflow does not publish.
diff --git a/claude.md b/claude.md
index 38b62af..29d6f7f 100644
--- a/claude.md
+++ b/claude.md
@@ -1,180 +1,37 @@
-# SchoolCompare.co.uk - Project Context
+# SchoolCompare project context
 
-## Overview
+## Maintained documentation
 
-SchoolCompare is a web application for comparing UK primary school (KS2) performance data. It allows users to:
-- Search and browse schools by name, location (postcode), or local authority
-- Compare multiple schools side-by-side with charts and tables
-- View school rankings by various KS2 metrics
-- See historical performance trends across years
+Read [README.md](README.md), [docs/ARCHITECTURE.md](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) and
+[docs/DEVELOPMENT.md](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) for the current implementation.
+[docs/LEGACY_CODE.md](docs/LEGACY_CODE.md) records obsolete paths and deliberate
+compatibility code. Historical design documents are not current setup instructions.
 
-## Architecture
+## Architecture constraints
 
-### Backend (Python/FastAPI)
-- **Framework**: FastAPI with uvicorn
-- **Database**: PostgreSQL with SQLAlchemy ORM
-- **Data Source**: UK Government "Compare School Performance" CSV downloads
-
-Key files:
-- `backend/app.py` - Main FastAPI application, API routes
-- `backend/config.py` - Configuration via pydantic-settings (env vars, .env file)
-- `backend/database.py` - SQLAlchemy engine, session management
-- `backend/models.py` - Database models (School, SchoolResult)
-- `backend/data_loader.py` - Data queries, geocoding, legacy DataFrame compatibility
-- `backend/schemas.py` - Column mappings, metric definitions, LA code mappings
-
-### Content / CMS (Payload)
-
-Payload CMS runs **inside** the Next.js app — one image, one container, no
-separate service. It powers `/blog`; `/about` is a plain coded page.
-
-- **Admin panel:** `/admin`. The only authenticated surface on the site.
-  `noindex` via both `robots.txt` and `X-Robots-Tag`.
-- **CMS API:** `/cms-api`, **not** `/api`. `/api/*` is a catch-all proxy to
-  FastAPI (`app/(frontend)/api/[...path]`) which would silently swallow every
-  admin call and forward it to the backend. Mount points are defined once in
-  `lib/payloadRoutes.ts`.
-- **Database:** the existing Postgres, in its own `payload` schema, so no
-  pipeline operation on `public` — including
-  `scripts/migrate_csv_to_db.py --drop` — can reach blog content.
-- **Uploads:** the `payload_media` Docker volume at `/app/media`. Not
-  reproducible from the pipeline; must be backed up.
-- **New env vars:** `DATABASE_URL` and `PAYLOAD_SECRET` on the frontend service.
-  Staging must use a different `PAYLOAD_SECRET` from production.
-- Publishing workflow and house style: `nextjs-app/docs/PUBLISHING.md`.
-- **Admin field components resolve through a generated import map**
-  (`app/(payload)/admin/importMap.js`). Payload hands the client a *path* per
-  field and looks it up there; a missing entry renders no field and reports no
-  error, while `required` still blocks the save. After adding or changing any
-  field, editor or lexical feature, run `npm run generate:importmap` in
-  `nextjs-app/` and commit the result.
-
-### Two route groups
-
-`nextjs-app/app/` has no root `layout.tsx`. It cannot: Payload's admin panel
-ships its own root layout rendering `<html>`/`<body>`, and Next permits
-multiple root layouts only when no `app/layout.tsx` exists.
-
-- `app/(frontend)/` — the site. Its `layout.tsx` is the site's root layout.
-- `app/(payload)/` — the admin panel and `/cms-api`.
-
-Route groups are invisible to routing, so every public URL is unchanged.
-
-**The metadata file conventions stay at the `app/` root** — `robots.ts`,
-`opengraph-image.tsx`, `icon.png`, `apple-icon.png`. Inside a route group Next
-treats them as segment-scoped: it renames `/icon.png` to `/icon-<hash>.png` and
-drops `/robots.txt` entirely. Route handlers are unaffected.
-
-The build must succeed with `DATABASE_URL` unset, because CI builds it that
-way. Never call `getCachedPayload()` at module scope, and never add
-`generateStaticParams` to a DB-backed route.
-
-### Frontend (Vanilla JS)
-- Single-page application with hash-based routing
-- Chart.js for data visualization
-- No build step required
-
-Key files:
-- `frontend/index.html` - Main HTML structure
-- `frontend/app.js` - All application logic, API calls, rendering
-- `frontend/styles.css` - Styling (CSS variables, responsive design)
-
-### Database Schema
-
-```
-schools                          school_results
-├── id (PK)                      ├── id (PK)
-├── urn (unique, indexed)        ├── school_id (FK → schools.id)
-├── school_name                  ├── year (indexed)
-├── local_authority              ├── rwm_expected_pct
-├── school_type                  ├── reading_expected_pct
-├── postcode                     ├── ... (all KS2 metrics)
-├── latitude, longitude          └── unique(school_id, year)
-└── results → SchoolResult[]
-```
-
-## Configuration
-
-Environment variables (or `.env` file):
-- `DATABASE_URL` - PostgreSQL connection string (default: `postgresql://schoolcompare:schoolcompare@localhost:5432/schoolcompare`)
-- `HOST`, `PORT` - Server binding (default: `0.0.0.0:80`)
-- `ALLOWED_ORIGINS` - CORS origins
-
-## Running Locally
-
-1. Start PostgreSQL:
-   ```bash
-   docker compose up -d db
-   ```
-
-2. Run migration to import CSV data:
-   ```bash
-   python scripts/migrate_csv_to_db.py --drop
-   # Add --geocode to geocode postcodes (slower, adds lat/long)
-   ```
-
-3. Start the app:
-   ```bash
-   uvicorn backend.app:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
-   ```
-
-## Docker Deployment
-
-```bash
-docker compose up -d
-```
-
-This starts:
-- `db` - PostgreSQL 16 with persistent volume
-- `app` - FastAPI application on port 80
-
-## Data
-
-- Source: UK Government Compare School Performance downloads
-- Location: `data/` directory with year folders (e.g., `2023-2024/england_ks2final.csv`)
-- The `scripts/download_data.py` can fetch data from the government website
-
-## Key Features
-
-- **Location Search**: Enter postcode to find nearby schools (uses postcodes.io API)
-- **Multi-school Comparison**: Select multiple schools, view metrics across years
-- **Rankings**: Top schools by any KS2 metric, filterable by local authority
-- **Variability Analysis**: Shows standard deviation of scores across years
-
-## API Endpoints
-
-- `GET /api/schools` - List/search schools (supports pagination, location search)
-- `GET /api/schools/{urn}` - School details with all yearly data
-- `GET /api/compare?urns=123,456` - Compare multiple schools
-- `GET /api/rankings` - School rankings by metric
-- `GET /api/filters` - Available filter options (LAs, types, years)
-- `GET /api/metrics` - Metric definitions (single source of truth)
-- `GET /api/data-info` - Database stats
+- Next.js serves the public UI. FastAPI serves school data from dbt-built `marts.*`.
+  The backend does not create school tables or import CSVs at startup.
+- School coverage spans England and multiple phases, not only primary schools in
+  Wandsworth and Merton.
+- `/api/*` belongs to the FastAPI proxy. Payload uses `/cms-api` and `/admin`.
+- Payload runs inside Next.js, with its own `payload` schema and persistent media.
+  Keep CMS migrations independent of school-data transformations.
+- Public and Payload route groups have separate root layouts. Do not introduce
+  `app/layout.tsx`. Keep site-wide metadata files at the `app/` root.
+- Builds must succeed with `DATABASE_URL` unset. Do not call `getCachedPayload()`
+  at module scope or add DB-backed `generateStaticParams`.
+- After changing CMS fields/editors, run `npm run generate:importmap` and commit
+  the generated import map. See `nextjs-app/docs/PUBLISHING.md`.
+- The backend and pipeline GIAS dictionary copies are generated together; preserve
+  their parity. Tests enforce it.
 
 ## SDLC
 
-Full details in `docs/DEPLOY.md`. The short version:
+Follow [docs/DEPLOY.md](docs/DEPLOY.md).
 
-- **Never push to `main` directly.** Work on a feature branch and open a PR;
-  branch protection requires the PR checks (typecheck, tests, builds, AI review)
-  to pass before merge.
-- Merging to `main` deploys automatically **to staging only**: images are
-  built once, deployed to the staging Portainer stack, and verified by the
-  Playwright journeys in `e2e/`. Production is a second, manual approval:
-  the "Promote to Production (manual)" workflow in Gitea Actions, run after
-  testing the feature on staging. It refuses commits whose staging E2E gate
-  isn't green. Never trigger it yourself — promotion is the human's call.
-- If you change user-facing behaviour, update or extend the `e2e/` journey
-  tests in the same PR — they gate whether staging is fit for human testing
-  and whether a commit is promotable.
-
-## Recent Changes
-
-- Added staging environment + automated staging→prod pipeline (Gitea Actions)
-- Migrated from CSV file storage to PostgreSQL database
-- Added location-based search using postcode geocoding
-- Added local authority filter to rankings
-- Improved frontend with featured schools, loading states, API caching
-
-# Important
-- Do not attempt to start a local server to test the application, it does not work
+- Never push directly to `main`. Use a feature branch and a PR with passing checks.
+- Merges deploy staging only. Production promotion is a separate human decision;
+  do not trigger the promotion workflow yourself.
+- Update E2E journeys in the same PR when changing user-facing behaviour.
+- Do not attempt to start a local server to test the application; use unit checks
+  and the configured integration environment.
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ea42cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+# Architecture
+
+This describes the implementation as reviewed on 2026-09-14. It distinguishes
+current behaviour from improvements still to be implemented.
+
+## Request flow
+
+```text
+Browser → Next.js public routes
+          ├─ /api/* proxy → FastAPI → cached DataFrames / PostgreSQL marts
+          │                         ├─ Typesense (search and suggestions)
+          │                         └─ postcodes.io (postcode lookup)
+          └─ /admin, /cms-api, /blog → Payload → payload schema + media volume
+
+Next.js server rendering → FastAPI directly through FASTAPI_URL
+```
+
+`nextjs-app/lib/api.ts` contains typed fetch wrappers and revalidation defaults.
+The proxy is `nextjs-app/app/(frontend)/api/[...path]/route.ts`. Payload uses
+`/cms-api` so its routes do not collide with the FastAPI proxy. The proxy denies
+`/api/flags`; server-side rendering reads flags directly from FastAPI.
+
+## Data ownership
+
+| Layer | Owner and role |
+|---|---|
+| Source data | GIAS, DfE EES, Ofsted, finance, deprivation and council admission-distance sources |
+| `raw` | Singer taps and the PostgreSQL target configured in `pipeline/meltano.yml` |
+| Staging/intermediate/marts | dbt models in `pipeline/transform`; marts are materialized tables |
+| `marts.dim_school`, `marts.dim_location` | School identity and location, filtered to supported England establishments |
+| `marts.fact_*` | Performance and supplementary datasets; coverage and years vary |
+| Typesense `schools` alias | Search documents built by `pipeline/scripts/sync_typesense.py` |
+| `payload` | CMS collections and migrations in `nextjs-app/`; independent of dbt |
+| Media volume | Uploaded blog media; requires backup and cannot be regenerated from school datasets |
+
+`backend/models.py` maps existing marts for reading. It does not create the school
+schema. There is no startup schema-version migration or CSV reimport. Payload's
+`nextjs-app/migrations/` is active and must not be confused with the removed
+legacy backend migration code.
+
+Coordinates normally come from GIAS British National Grid coordinates transformed
+by PostGIS in `dim_location.sql`. `pipeline/scripts/geocode_postcodes.py` is a
+manual fallback utility, not a task wired into the current school-data DAG.
+Backend postcode searches also use postcodes.io; that lookup does not populate
+school coordinates in the database.
+
+## Backend boundaries
+
+- `app.py`: routes, middleware, search filtering, sitemap/place publication and response assembly.
+- `data_loader.py`: SQL loading, process-local DataFrame caches, Typesense calls,
+  postcode lookups, supplementary queries and benchmark calculation.
+- `database.py`: synchronous SQLAlchemy engine and sessions.
+- `schemas.py`: metric definitions, column mappings and display metadata; despite
+  its name this is not a collection of Pydantic API response models.
+- `places.py` and `localities.py`: place registry and curated locality information.
+- `flags.py`: Unleash-backed feature flags, disabled when no server is configured.
+- `gias_codes.py` / `ofsted_codes.py`: source-code translation and display rules.
+
+Search starts from a cached latest-row-per-school snapshot. Detail pages read
+history from the full DataFrame and supplementary data from marts. Comparisons
+batch supplementary queries across selected URNs. Async routes still contain
+synchronous dependency calls; a fully asynchronous database layer is not present.
+
+## Frontend boundaries
+
+`app/(frontend)` owns the public root layout and pages. `app/(payload)` owns the
+CMS root layout. Do not add a shared `app/layout.tsx`: these groups deliberately
+have separate root layouts. Root metadata files remain in `app/`.
+
+Server pages fetch initial data and pass it to client views. Client state uses
+React hooks, URL search parameters and the comparison context/localStorage.
+There is no SWR dependency. Leaflet maps are loaded through dynamic wrappers;
+Chart.js renders performance and comparison charts.
+
+`components/school/` contains detail sections, with section decisions and data
+preparation in `lib/schoolSections.ts`. `lib/types.ts` contains manually maintained
+API types. `payload-types.ts` and the Payload import map are generated artifacts.
+
+## Publication and caching today
+
+1. Airflow DAGs extract and validate source data, then run selected dbt builds.
+2. Relevant DAGs rebuild Typesense and swap the `schools` alias.
+3. They call `POST /api/admin/reload` with `X-API-Key` to refresh school DataFrames.
+4. A separate weekly sitemap DAG calls `POST /api/admin/regenerate-sitemap`,
+   rebuilding places and sitemaps.
+
+GIAS is scheduled daily, Ofsted monthly, and annual datasets are manually
+triggered. The DAG definitions are authoritative for selectors and dependencies.
+
+Caches exist in several independent layers: backend DataFrames and registries,
+backend HTTP Cache-Control/ETags, Next.js fetch/page revalidation, and browser or
+shared HTTP caches where configured. Place fetches request a one-week revalidation
+interval. HTTP ETags are computed after route execution, not before database work.
+
+Known limitations: reload clears the old DataFrames before verifying replacement
+data; places/sitemaps refresh separately; Next.js caches are not explicitly purged
+by the pipeline; Typesense import results are not validated before alias publication.
+Do not describe this sequence as an atomic dataset release. These are follow-up
+reliability tasks, not changes implemented by the documentation cleanup.
+
+## Deployment references
+
+See [DEPLOY.md](DEPLOY.md). PR checks include frontend typechecking/tests, backend
+unit tests, image builds and AI review. Staging journeys run after merging.
+Production promotion retags a selected commit's images. Current health polling
+checks HTTP success, not the deployed commit identity; overlapping staging runs
+remain a release-verification concern.
diff --git a/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md b/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1ebb0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# Development and validation
+
+## Prerequisites and environment boundaries
+
+Use a feature branch. The deployed stack is the integration environment; do not
+assume a local server can run from a fresh checkout. This cleanup did not start
+local servers or provision databases. Unit tests use fixtures and mocks.
+
+The current versions are not yet aligned:
+
+| Component | Container | PR checks |
+|---|---|---|
+| Backend | Python 3.11 | Python 3.12 |
+| Frontend | Node 24 | Node 22 |
+| Pipeline | Python 3.13 | Pipeline image build |
+
+Use the component's container version when reproducing deployment behaviour.
+The backend dependency pins predate Python 3.14; do not assume the system Python
+can install or run them. Version alignment is a separate maintenance task.
+
+## Frontend checks
+
+```sh
+cd nextjs-app
+npm ci
+npm run typecheck
+npm test -- --runInBand
+```
+
+`npm run build` is the production build check. There is no `lint` script.
+Tests live in `__tests__/` and use Jest/React Testing Library. These checks do not
+prove that live PostgreSQL queries, Typesense or a deployed proxy work.
+
+The frontend `.env.example` documents runtime variables. Browser traffic normally
+uses `/api`; `FASTAPI_URL` is an absolute server-side URL ending in `/api`.
+Payload additionally needs `DATABASE_URL` and `PAYLOAD_SECRET` when used at runtime.
+Never commit credentials or real `.env` files.
+
+## Backend checks
+
+From the repository root, using an available Python 3.11 or 3.12 interpreter:
+
+```sh
+python3.11 -m venv /tmp/schoolcompare-backend-venv
+/tmp/schoolcompare-backend-venv/bin/python -m pip install -r requirements.txt pytest 'httpx<0.28'
+/tmp/schoolcompare-backend-venv/bin/python -m pytest backend/tests -q
+```
+
+Substitute `python3.12` if matching PR CI. The test dependencies above match the
+current workflow; they are not yet captured in a dedicated development lockfile.
+Backend configuration is defined in `backend/config.py`; `.env.example` documents
+commonly used values. `ALLOWED_ORIGINS` uses a JSON array, not a comma-separated string.
+
+## Data and pipeline work
+
+The app needs populated `marts.*` tables. A new Postgres instance alone is not a
+working school-data environment. Use the existing managed pipeline or an approved
+snapshot; the removed CSV importer cannot build the current schema.
+
+The pipeline container includes Meltano, dbt/Postgres, Airflow and the custom taps.
+Airflow commands/selectors live in `pipeline/dags/`. Schema tests live in
+`pipeline/transform/tests/` and model YAML files. Run the relevant `dbt build`
+selector in an isolated data environment for model changes; it writes tables and
+is not a read-only smoke test. Prefer `python -m dbt.cli.main` as the DAGs do.
+
+GIAS dictionaries are generated together by
+`pipeline/scripts/generate_gias_codes.py`. The backend and pipeline copies are
+intentional; `backend/tests/test_gias_codes.py` checks that they stay identical.
+
+For Payload collection/editor changes, run `npm run generate:importmap` in
+`nextjs-app/` and include the generated map. Preserve CMS migrations and the
+separate `payload` schema. See [publishing](../nextjs-app/docs/PUBLISHING.md).
+
+## End-to-end checks
+
+Against an existing, authorised test environment:
+
+```sh
+cd e2e
+npm ci
+npx playwright install chromium
+BASE_URL=https://your-test-environment.example npx playwright test
+```
+
+The suite does not start a web server. CI installs Chromium with system dependencies
+and runs against staging. Use the configured staging target: `docs/DEPLOY.md`
+records the public staging proxy limitation. User-visible behaviour changes should
+update the corresponding journeys.
+
+## Before requesting review
+
+Run checks relevant to the change, inspect `git diff --check`, and report checks
+that could not run. Do not publish or promote as part of local validation.
+[DEPLOY.md](DEPLOY.md) documents the PR and human promotion gates.
diff --git a/nextjs-app/.env.example b/nextjs-app/.env.example
index 83984a3..af1004b 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/.env.example
+++ b/nextjs-app/.env.example
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
-# API Configuration
-NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:8000/api
+# Browser requests use the same-origin Next.js proxy.
+NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=/api
 
-# Production API URL (for deployment)
-# NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=https://api.schoolcompare.co.uk/api
+# Absolute URL for server-side fetching and the proxy; include /api.
+# In the managed container network this is http://backend:80/api (staging differs).
+FASTAPI_URL=http://localhost:8000/api
+
+# Payload CMS runtime configuration. Use the managed environment's database;
+# Payload owns the payload schema, independently of the school marts.
+DATABASE_URL=postgresql://schoolcompare:CHANGE_THIS_PASSWORD@localhost:5432/schoolcompare
+# Generate a secret: python -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(32))"
+# Use distinct secrets for staging and production.
+PAYLOAD_SECRET=CHANGE_THIS_TO_A_SECURE_RANDOM_SECRET
 
 # Node Environment
 NODE_ENV=development
diff --git a/nextjs-app/DEPLOYMENT.md b/nextjs-app/DEPLOYMENT.md
index 4878fa1..b0acb0e 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/nextjs-app/DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -1,291 +1,15 @@
-# Deployment Guide
+# Frontend deployment
 
-This guide covers deployment options for the SchoolCompare Next.js application.
+Next.js and Payload run in the same frontend container. The maintained deployment
+procedure is [docs/DEPLOY.md](../docs/DEPLOY.md), with the production and staging
+Portainer compose files at the repository root.
 
-## Deployment Options
+The frontend Dockerfile builds a standalone Next.js image. Runtime configuration
+supplies `FASTAPI_URL`, `DATABASE_URL` and `PAYLOAD_SECRET`; uploaded CMS media is
+persisted in a volume. Promote the built image through the repository's Gitea
+workflow after human staging approval.
 
-### Option 1: Vercel (Recommended for Next.js)
-
-Vercel is the easiest and most optimized platform for Next.js applications.
-
-#### Steps:
-
-1. **Install Vercel CLI**:
-   ```bash
-   npm install -g vercel
-   ```
-
-2. **Login to Vercel**:
-   ```bash
-   vercel login
-   ```
-
-3. **Deploy**:
-   ```bash
-   vercel --prod
-   ```
-
-4. **Configure Environment Variables** in Vercel dashboard:
-   - `NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL`: Your FastAPI endpoint (e.g., `https://api.schoolcompare.co.uk/api`)
-   - `FASTAPI_URL`: Same as above for server-side requests
-
-#### Benefits:
-- Automatic HTTPS
-- Global CDN
-- Zero-config deployment
-- Automatic preview deployments
-- Built-in analytics
-
----
-
-### Option 2: Docker (Self-hosted)
-
-Deploy using Docker containers for full control.
-
-#### Prerequisites:
-- Docker 20+
-- Docker Compose 2+
-
-#### Steps:
-
-1. **Build Docker Image**:
-   ```bash
-   docker build -t schoolcompare-nextjs:latest .
-   ```
-
-2. **Run with Docker Compose**:
-   ```bash
-   # Create .env file with production variables
-   echo "NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=https://api.schoolcompare.co.uk/api" > .env
-   echo "FASTAPI_URL=http://backend:8000/api" >> .env
-
-   # Start services
-   docker-compose up -d
-   ```
-
-3. **Verify Deployment**:
-   ```bash
-   curl http://localhost:3000
-   ```
-
-#### Environment Variables:
-- `NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL`: Public API endpoint (client-side)
-- `FASTAPI_URL`: Internal API endpoint (server-side)
-- `NODE_ENV`: `production`
-
----
-
-### Option 3: PM2 (Node.js Process Manager)
-
-Deploy directly on a Node.js server using PM2.
-
-#### Prerequisites:
-- Node.js 24+
-- PM2 (`npm install -g pm2`)
-
-#### Steps:
-
-1. **Build Application**:
-   ```bash
-   npm run build
-   ```
-
-2. **Create PM2 Ecosystem File** (`ecosystem.config.js`):
-   ```javascript
-   module.exports = {
-     apps: [{
-       name: 'schoolcompare-nextjs',
-       script: 'npm',
-       args: 'start',
-       cwd: '/path/to/nextjs-app',
-       instances: 'max',
-       exec_mode: 'cluster',
-       env: {
-         NODE_ENV: 'production',
-         PORT: 3000,
-         NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL: 'https://api.schoolcompare.co.uk/api',
-         FASTAPI_URL: 'http://localhost:8000/api',
-       },
-     }],
-   };
-   ```
-
-3. **Start with PM2**:
-   ```bash
-   pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
-   pm2 save
-   pm2 startup
-   ```
-
----
-
-### Option 4: Nginx Reverse Proxy
-
-Use Nginx as a reverse proxy in front of Next.js.
-
-#### Nginx Configuration:
-
-```nginx
-server {
-    listen 80;
-    server_name schoolcompare.co.uk;
-
-    # Redirect to HTTPS
-    return 301 https://$server_name$request_uri;
-}
-
-server {
-    listen 443 ssl http2;
-    server_name schoolcompare.co.uk;
-
-    # SSL Configuration
-    ssl_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/schoolcompare.crt;
-    ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/private/schoolcompare.key;
-
-    # Security Headers
-    # frame-ancestors replaces X-Frame-Options so the analytics subdomain
-    # (Umami heatmap/recorder) can embed the site in an iframe.
-    add_header Content-Security-Policy "frame-ancestors 'self' https://analytics.schoolcompare.co.uk" always;
-    add_header X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff" always;
-    add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block" always;
-
-    # Proxy to Next.js
-    location / {
-        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
-        proxy_http_version 1.1;
-        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
-        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
-        proxy_set_header Host $host;
-        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
-        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
-        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
-        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
-    }
-
-    # Proxy to FastAPI
-    location /api/ {
-        proxy_pass http://localhost:8000;
-        proxy_http_version 1.1;
-        proxy_set_header Host $host;
-        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
-        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
-        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
-    }
-
-    # Cache static files
-    location /_next/static/ {
-        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
-        add_header Cache-Control "public, max-age=31536000, immutable";
-    }
-}
-```
-
----
-
-## Pre-Deployment Checklist
-
-- [ ] Run `npm run build` successfully
-- [ ] Run `npm test` - all tests pass
-- [ ] Environment variables configured
-- [ ] FastAPI backend accessible
-- [ ] Database migrations applied
-- [ ] SSL certificates configured (production)
-- [ ] Domain DNS configured
-- [ ] Monitoring/logging set up
-- [ ] Backup strategy in place
-
----
-
-## Post-Deployment Verification
-
-1. **Health Check**:
-   ```bash
-   curl https://schoolcompare.co.uk
-   ```
-
-2. **Test Routes**:
-   - Home: `https://schoolcompare.co.uk/`
-   - School Page: `https://schoolcompare.co.uk/school/100001`
-   - Compare: `https://schoolcompare.co.uk/compare`
-   - Rankings: `https://schoolcompare.co.uk/rankings`
-
-3. **Check SEO**:
-   - Sitemap: `https://schoolcompare.co.uk/sitemap.xml`
-   - Robots: `https://schoolcompare.co.uk/robots.txt`
-
-4. **Performance Audit**:
-   - Run Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools
-   - Target scores: 90+ for Performance, Accessibility, Best Practices, SEO
-
----
-
-## Monitoring
-
-### Recommended Tools:
-- **Vercel Analytics** (if using Vercel)
-- **Sentry** for error tracking
-- **Google Analytics** for user analytics
-- **Uptime Robot** for uptime monitoring
-
-### Health Check Endpoint:
-The application automatically serves health data at the root route.
-
----
-
-## Rollback Procedure
-
-### Vercel:
-```bash
-vercel rollback
-```
-
-### Docker:
-```bash
-docker-compose down
-docker-compose up -d --force-recreate
-```
-
-### PM2:
-```bash
-pm2 stop schoolcompare-nextjs
-# Restore previous build
-pm2 start schoolcompare-nextjs
-```
-
----
-
-## Troubleshooting
-
-### Issue: API requests failing
-- **Solution**: Check `NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL` and `FASTAPI_URL` environment variables
-- **Verify**: FastAPI backend is accessible from Next.js container/server
-
-### Issue: Build fails
-- **Solution**: Check Node.js version (requires 24+)
-- **Clear cache**: `rm -rf .next node_modules && npm install && npm run build`
-
-### Issue: Slow page loads
-- **Solution**: Enable caching in API calls
-- **Check**: Network latency to FastAPI backend
-- **Verify**: CDN is serving static assets
-
----
-
-## Security Considerations
-
-- ✅ HTTPS enabled
-- ✅ Security headers configured (X-Frame-Options, CSP, etc.)
-- ✅ API keys in environment variables (never in code)
-- ✅ CORS properly configured
-- ✅ Rate limiting on API endpoints
-- ✅ Regular security updates
-- ✅ Dependency vulnerability scanning
-
----
-
-## Support
-
-For deployment issues, contact the DevOps team or refer to:
-- [Next.js Deployment Docs](https://nextjs.org/docs/deployment)
-- [Vercel Documentation](https://vercel.com/docs)
-- [Docker Documentation](https://docs.docker.com/)
+Earlier Vercel and standalone deployment recipes have been retired from this file
+because they do not describe the current CMS, persistence and promotion setup.
+See [development](../docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) for checks and
+[publishing](docs/PUBLISHING.md) for CMS operations.
diff --git a/nextjs-app/README.md b/nextjs-app/README.md
index f91a2af..1cfb8e9 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/README.md
+++ b/nextjs-app/README.md
@@ -1,156 +1,58 @@
-# SchoolCompare Next.js Application
+# SchoolCompare frontend and CMS
 
-Modern Next.js application for comparing primary school KS2 performance across England.
+Next.js App Router with React, TypeScript, CSS Modules, Chart.js, Leaflet and
+Payload CMS. It serves school search, comparisons, rankings, school/place detail
+pages and editorial content across England.
 
-## Features
+Start with the [repository overview](../README.md),
+[architecture](../docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) and [development checks](../docs/DEVELOPMENT.md).
 
-- **Server-Side Rendering (SSR)**: Fast initial page loads with pre-rendered content
-- **Individual School Pages**: Dedicated pages for each school with full SEO optimization
-- **Side-by-Side Comparison**: Compare up to 5 schools simultaneously
-- **School Rankings**: Top-performing schools by various metrics
-- **Interactive Maps**: Leaflet integration for geographic visualization
-- **Performance Charts**: Chart.js visualizations for historical data
-- **Responsive Design**: Mobile-first approach with full responsive support
-- **SEO Optimized**: Dynamic sitemaps, meta tags, and structured data
+## Source map
 
-## Tech Stack
+| Path | Purpose |
+|---|---|
+| `app/(frontend)/` | Public root layout, server pages and FastAPI proxy |
+| `app/(payload)/` | Payload root layout, `/admin` and `/cms-api` |
+| `app/robots.ts`, `app/opengraph-image.tsx`, root icons | Site-wide metadata endpoints |
+| `components/` | Client views and reusable display components |
+| `components/school/` | School detail sections |
+| `lib/api.ts`, `lib/types.ts` | Fetch wrappers and manual school API types |
+| `lib/schoolSections.ts`, `lib/compareLogic.ts` | Presentation decisions and data preparation |
+| `context/`, `hooks/` | Comparison state, suggestion state and responsive behaviour |
+| `collections/`, `blocks/`, `migrations/` | CMS schema and production migrations |
+| `__tests__/` | Jest and React Testing Library tests |
 
-- **Framework**: Next.js 16 (App Router)
-- **Language**: TypeScript 5
-- **Styling**: CSS Modules + CSS Variables
-- **State Management**: React Context API + URL state
-- **Data Fetching**: SWR (client-side) + Next.js fetch (server-side)
-- **Charts**: Chart.js + react-chartjs-2
-- **Maps**: Leaflet + react-leaflet
-- **Testing**: Jest + React Testing Library
-- **Validation**: Zod
+Do not introduce a shared `app/layout.tsx`: public pages and Payload have separate
+root layouts. Keep root metadata files outside the route groups.
 
-## Getting Started
+## Data and state
 
-### Prerequisites
+Server pages fetch initial data directly from `FASTAPI_URL`. Browser fetches use
+`/api` by default, forwarded by `app/(frontend)/api/[...path]/route.ts`.
+`FASTAPI_URL` must include `/api`. See `.env.example` for CMS and API settings.
 
-- Node.js 24+ (using nvm recommended)
-- FastAPI backend running on port 8000
+State uses React hooks/context, URL search parameters and localStorage for the
+comparison basket. SWR is not installed. Maps use dynamic Leaflet wrappers.
+Revalidation intervals are configured in fetch wrappers and pages; they vary by
+resource. Backend reloads do not automatically invalidate every Next.js cache.
 
-### Installation
+## Commands
 
-```bash
-# Install dependencies
-npm install
-
-# Copy environment variables
-cp .env.example .env.local
-
-# Update .env.local with your configuration
-```
-
-### Development
-
-```bash
-# Start development server
-npm run dev
-
-# Open http://localhost:3000
-```
-
-### Building
-
-```bash
-# Build for production
+```sh
+npm ci
+npm run typecheck
+npm test -- --runInBand
 npm run build
-
-# Start production server
-npm start
 ```
 
-### Testing
+`test:watch` and `test:coverage` are also available. There is no `lint` script.
+A running application needs the backend/data environment described in the
+[development guide](../docs/DEVELOPMENT.md).
 
-```bash
-# Run tests
-npm test
+After CMS field or editor changes, run `npm run generate:importmap`. Keep
+`payload-types.ts` generated from the CMS schema rather than editing it by hand.
+The build must work without a database connection; avoid module-scope CMS queries
+and DB-backed `generateStaticParams` functions.
 
-# Run tests in watch mode
-npm run test:watch
-
-# Run tests with coverage
-npm run test:coverage
-```
-
-### Linting
-
-```bash
-# Run ESLint
-npm run lint
-```
-
-## Project Structure
-
-```
-nextjs-app/
-├── app/                      # App Router pages
-│   ├── layout.tsx           # Root layout
-│   ├── page.tsx             # Home page
-│   ├── compare/             # Compare page
-│   ├── rankings/            # Rankings page
-│   ├── school/[urn]/        # Individual school pages
-│   ├── sitemap.ts           # Dynamic sitemap
-│   └── robots.ts            # Robots.txt
-├── components/              # React components
-│   ├── SchoolCard.tsx       # School card component
-│   ├── FilterBar.tsx        # Search/filter controls
-│   ├── ComparisonView.tsx   # Comparison interface
-│   ├── RankingsView.tsx     # Rankings table
-│   └── ...
-├── lib/                     # Utility libraries
-│   ├── api.ts              # API client
-│   ├── types.ts            # TypeScript types
-│   └── utils.ts            # Helper functions
-├── hooks/                   # Custom React hooks
-├── context/                 # React Context providers
-├── styles/                  # Global styles
-├── public/                  # Static assets
-└── __tests__/              # Test files
-```
-
-## Environment Variables
-
-| Variable | Description | Default |
-|----------|-------------|---------|
-| `NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL` | Public API endpoint (client-side) | `http://localhost:8000/api` |
-| `FASTAPI_URL` | Server-side API endpoint | `http://localhost:8000/api` |
-| `NODE_ENV` | Environment mode | `development` |
-
-## Performance Optimizations
-
-- **Server-Side Rendering**: Initial HTML rendered on server
-- **Static Generation**: Where possible, pages are pre-generated
-- **Image Optimization**: Next.js Image component with AVIF/WebP support
-- **Code Splitting**: Automatic route-based code splitting
-- **Dynamic Imports**: Heavy components loaded on demand
-- **API Caching**: Configurable revalidation for data fetching
-- **Bundle Optimization**: Tree shaking and minification
-- **Compression**: Gzip compression enabled
-
-## SEO Features
-
-- **Dynamic Meta Tags**: Generated per page with Next.js Metadata API
-- **Open Graph**: Social media optimization
-- **JSON-LD**: Structured data for search engines
-- **Sitemap**: Auto-generated from database
-- **Robots.txt**: Search engine crawling rules
-- **Canonical URLs**: Duplicate content prevention
-
-## Browser Support
-
-- Chrome (latest)
-- Firefox (latest)
-- Safari (latest)
-- Edge (latest)
-
-## License
-
-Proprietary - SchoolCompare
-
-## Support
-
-For issues and questions, please contact the development team.
+See [publishing](docs/PUBLISHING.md) for CMS operations and
+[deployment](../docs/DEPLOY.md) for staging and production promotion.