Presentation to

LinkingLondon Lifelong Learning Network10 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

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

A lifelong number that is never reallocated to another learner

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

• 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

Over 7.0 million Personal Learning Records contain participation and achievement data

Sample of a Personal Learning Record

Learning Events

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

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

A wide range of HE sector organisations.......

HESA Data Tracking, Widening Participation, Business Change........

Findings – LRS Potential

• 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

Many potential benefits discovered........

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

Learning Records Service, Cheylesmore House, Quinton RoadCoventry CV1 2WT

T. 08456 022 589 F. 02476 825681

Una Bennett, Head of Learning Records Service una.bennett@learningrecordsservice.org.uk