Termly School Census Standard Files 2007/2008

Note: This page is from an older version of the Data Dictionary and may therefore contain information that is now out of date. It is included here for reference only.

PURPOSE

1. The termly census is the most recent data collection for schools, running from 2007/08 onwards. Returns are made in the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms, followed by two additional returns with provisional and then final achievement data matched in. In this way, the Termly Census is similar to the ILR.

DETAILED DEFINITION

2. The 2007/08 data set comprises three data files created by the MI Service from the raw data provided by the DCSF:

• A learner level file - similar to the PLASC return described below. It includes demographic and E&D data, such as gender, ethnicity, first language, information on any statement of special educational needs, whether the learner is in care or has free school meals.
• An aims level file - including the same measures as the learner file, but also with additional information on the aims themselves. Both the aims and learner files include SLNs and full level 2/3 flags.
• An admin file - providing information on the school and local authority.

3. Standard business rules:

1. Sixth form – Analysis on SSF activity typically (but not exclusively) focuses on the school year of the learner, rather than the age of the learner. The termly census includes a significant number of learners from years 10 and 11, where we are mainly only interested in sixth form activity. The standard selection is:
   Select if any(NCYearActual,’12’,’13’,’14’,’15’)



2. Live aims and learners – as in FE, some non-live aims exist – typically these are aims that are discontinued within 6 weeks. The standard business rule for liveness is to apply a selection at the level
   1. Live aims – to select live aims:
      Select if a_live_b gt 1
   2. Live learners are learners with at least one live aim. To select live learners
      Select if l_live_b gt 1
   
   
   
3. Entitlement - As young people in schools get additional funding for ‘entitlement’ (worth 114 guided learning hours), an additional learning aim has been created for all those in the sixth form. This aim can be identified by A09=’Entitlem’. Analysts should be careful when carrying out aim level analyses, particularly when matching to the Learning Aim Database (LAD). Note that those in year 11 and those undertaking re-sits only don’t receive the entitlement.



4. Main school – in a small number of cases learners operate at more than one school. The standard business rule is to count learners at their main school only. The selection is:
   select EnrolStatus = C or M

4. Full level 2/3 flags are included in the termly census data file. These have been calculated in the same way as the LSC’s other standard files. The Full Level 2 and 3 data definition is available for reference.