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Individualised Learner Records The Learning and Skills Council has launched a five-week consultation to reduce significantly the burden of red tape for colleges and training providers by creating a common and simple method of data collection using the latest techniques of data capture. This reduction in bureaucracy will be achieved by taking on the views of providers in the introduction of Individualised Learner Records (ILR) for 2002/03 and removing the need for colleges to establish the individual qualifications students have on arrival. The ILR aims to create a single method of data collection on learners by 2004/05 from all providers who receive funding from the Learning and Skills Council, including Further Education institutions and work-based learning providers. For an individual learner in receipt of further education or work-based learning funding, the aim is that 75 per cent of data fields will be harmonised for 2002/03. (A data field is a piece of information, so could take the form of a name or an address for instance). Commenting on the LSC's consultation on the new Individualised Learner Record for 2002/03, Ken Pascoe, Director of Operations, said: "Currently, data on learners and learning is collected in a variety of ways and at different times. We want to do away with this confusion by making data collection simpler and consistent across all providers. "Our aim is to collect data once and then use it for a number of purposes; to share information with partner organisations; and to make better use of the new technology at our finger-tips to ease the process for all. "In this way we can reduce the burden on colleges and providers, free up their time and enable them to focus their energies on delivering in the classroom. "This rationalisation will harmonise data collections. However, we don't want to be prescriptive in our approach, we want to hear the views of providers and their representative groups about the best way of going about this. "This consultation proposes a sensible and co-ordinated approach to data sharing within the LSC and among LSCs and partner organisations such as the Adult Learning Inspectorate, Ofsted and the Sector Skills Council to streamline the process. "In addition, we want to bring data capture into the 21st century by using the Internet and other technological advances. The LSC is confident that most people prefer the interactive nature of working via a website rather than putting data into envelopes. "The LSC is also proposing that colleges no longer need to record the individual qualifications people have on arrival at college. We are suggesting that we match up our database with information on young people collected by the Department for Education and Skills. "Of course we want to track what students do when they leave further education. We are conducting a feasibility study on how to collect this information." Sir George Sweeney, Chairman of the LSC's Bureaucracy-Busting Taskforce, established to cut red tape for colleges, welcomed the consultation document: "Again, the LSC is demonstrating its determination to deliver its undertaking to significantly cut red tape. I urge college principals to make a constructive contribution to the LSC's data collection consultation. "A collaborative approach is the only way we can make sensible changes to the way in which we all work and are held to account." "We are looking to find a balance. We want to cut the amount of bureaucracy to give us enough time to concentrate on delivering teaching. At the same time we need to gather information to enable us to remain accountable. This is a course we must navigate together." The original press notice can be seen at: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/news_detail.cfm?ID=244 |