Presentation to Linking London Lifelong Learning Network 10

Presentation to Linking. London Lifelong Learning Network 10 February 2011

Agenda • What does the LRS provide? • PLR for the QCF • HE pilots • Support for progression

Learning Records Service • A shared service for the education sector delivered by the Skills Funding Agency • Objectives to: • streamline collection, handling and sharing of information across the UK education sector • facilitate a learner-centric approach to learner information • Developed with over 40 partner organisations • Continues to have wide stakeholder group (schools, FE, HE, Government depts & agencies, devolved administrations)

Learning Records Service • LRS offers the following services • • The UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN) The Unique Learner Number (ULN) The Personal Learning Record (PLR) The Learner Plan • All services support bringing information together to directly benefit learners, IAG services, employers, schools, colleges and universities

The Unique Learner Number A lifelong number that is never reallocated to another learner The ULN is: • • used by a learner throughout their education a 10 digit number, currently 12 million ULNs issued designed to simplify the collection and sharing of data the enabler for a number of initiatives in the education sector in England including 14 – 19 Diplomas, QCF, ‘My Next Step’ and Offender Learning (OLASS) • … and for the Baccalaureate and CQFW in Wales The ULN is required to be shared

How is the ULN being used? • Aggregation for 14 -19 Diplomas • By some awarding organisations for other qualifications • For funding by Skills Funding Agency and YPLA – mandatory in the ILR for most provision • Captured in HESA returns • As part of UCAS ‘Apply’ system • By some HEIs as part of enrolment

Personal Learning Record Over 7. 0 million Personal Learning Records contain participation and achievement data • Currently holds data from academic year 2008/09 onwards • Schools data at key stage 4 & 5 (GCSE, A/S Level and GNVQs) • FE & Skills achievement and participation • QCF achievements can now be uploaded by AOs direct to the PLR • Over 300 Providers and their learners acting as early adopters of the Personal Learning Record

Sample of a Personal Learning Record Learning Events Incorrect?

How is the PLR being used? • Starting to be used for enrolment in FE • In UCAS pilots to support university applications • As the learner record for QCF supporting credit accumulation and transfer • Within ‘My Next Step’ as verified achievement record

PLR for the QCF • Direct upload from AOs of QCF units and qualifications • Enables build of QCF qualifications over time and with different providers / AOs • Support QCF queries such as: – ‘What QCF units could I do? ’ – ‘What QCF units do I need to complete this qualification? ’

UCAS Pilots Stage 1 – Completed October 2010 • Verified learner details against PLR on sample from UCAS Apply for 2010 entry • Compared verified qualification data with data entered into Apply Stage 2 – December 2010 -April 2011 • Develop test version of UCAS Apply to be used by volunteer applicants for 2011 entry • Assess feedback from learners, UCAS and HEIs If successful, potential for PLR to be used in UCAS Apply in future years

HE Pilots in 2010 A wide range of HE sector organisations. . . . Participants: • UCAS • HESA • University of the West of England • De Montfort University • London South Bank University • University of Manchester • University of Keele • Southampton Solent University • The Open University HESA Data Tracking, Widening Participation, Business Change. . . .

Findings – LRS Potential Many potential benefits discovered. . . . • • Accuracy of HESA data Administrative and efficiency savings Better data sharing to support collaboration Better data sharing to support flexible delivery of learning in HE • Informed and empowered learners • Support secure HE achievement and participation records (HEAR) • Widening participation and improving retention Detailed case studies available from: http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearning/eadministration/ucaspilots. aspx Detailed Case Studies available on JISC website

Support for Progression • ULN to match learners moving institutions • PLR data to support enrolment, IAG • ULN for long term tracking of interventions (widening participation agenda) • QCF credit accumulation and transfer using PLR

Questions?

Contact Details Una Bennett, Head of Learning Records Service una. bennett@learningrecordsservice. org. uk Learning Records Service, Cheylesmore House, Quinton Road Coventry CV 1 2 WT T. 08456 022 589 F. 02476 825681