Friday Five: sources of FE learner and provider data

This week’s blog signposts the way to five government websites, that each publish a range of further education (FE) data. Many of you probably know most, if not all of these already, but for those among you who are new to this field and in the hopes that the odd link might be helpful even to the old hands, here is my list:

Statistical First Release (SFR)
The SFR covers post-16 education and skills, showing learner participation, outcomes and the level of highest qualification held. The SFR is produced quarterly by the Data Service, on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and is a National Statistics publication.

The Data Service MI Library
The library complements the Statistical First Release (SFR) and acts as a ‘one stop shop’ for reports and information on learners, learning programmes and learner achievement.

Performance Tables
2011 saw the launch of new-look Performance Tables. They give information on the achievements of pupils in primary, secondary and 16-18 provision in schools and colleges, and how they compare with other schools in the Local Authority (LA) area and in England as a whole.

The 2011 Tables present a much wider range of key performance measures than in previous years and now include information on finance, absence, workforce and the most recent Ofsted reports.

FYI, the Department for Education (DfE) has published an easy guide to the 2011 Performance Tables on YouTube which you might also find useful

FE Choices website
Part of the Further Education Public Information (FEPI) framework (formerly known as the Framework for Excellence), the FE Choices website enables learners and providers to compare performance information about all further education providers that receive government funds. 

Information is provided about organisations that offer academic and vocational subjects, apprenticeships, and training on and off the job.

FE Choices enables users to search and compare provider ratings for each of the following performance indicators:

• Success rates
• Learner destinations (including employment rate and learning rate);
• Learner satisfaction; and
• Employer satisfaction.

More information about FE Choices can be found on the Skills Funding Agency website

The Publication Hub: Children, Education and Skills
The Publication Hub is the gateway to UK National Statistics data. The Children, Education and Skills National Statistics area contains statistics released by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, organised into the following categories:

• Schools and Colleges
• Pupils and Students
• School and College Personnel
• School and College Attainment and Behaviour
• School and College Skills and Qualifications  

That’s the lot for this Friday, but if you would like to share any other useful sites with the feconnect community then you’re more than welcome to add your own signposts in the comments section at the end of the post.

This week’s news round up:

Reminder: R08 ILR return due on 06 March
You only need to send learner data for this return if this has changed since submission of the R06 ILR return. There is no R07 ILR return this year as the data previously requested for R07 is now incorporated within the R06 return.

ILR 2011/12 specification and support documents

Date for your diary
Wednesday 28 March, the 2012 FE Data Conference –‘Simplification and what it means for MI managers in the FE and Skills sector’.

Keynote speakers and workshops from the Skills Funding Agency and the YPLA as well as the information authority, the Data Service and the Learning Records Service – an event not to be missed. Booking site will go live next week, watch this space!

All the best
Greta