Authorised Validating Agencies; (AVAs') collection and provision of statistics about Access to HE allows QAA to publish national data about Access to HE programmes and learner profiles which can be compared over time. Each year, QAA publishes a statistical overview (Key Statistics), and a more detailed report (the Access to HE Joint Agency Statistical Report). Both documents are circulated widely to Access to HE providers, higher education institutions and a range of national agencies with an interest in Access to HE throughout England and Wales. It would not be possible to produce these publications without the statistics which are gathered by AVAs and submitted to QAA through this data collection exercise. The accuracy and completeness of the national data thus relies on the contributions of individual providers and AVAs.
In addition, AVAs are expected to refer to, and make use of, the data in monitoring and evaluating their own work, and informing their strategic planning and the development of Access to HE within the AVA. AVAs' statistics also enable QAA to monitor the success of the provision as a whole, and to assess the contribution made by individual AVAs in widening participation to higher education. AVAs' statistics are monitored through their inclusion within AVAs' annual reports to QAA, and they are also considered at AVA reviews, with key data being included in published review reports.
QAA expects AVAs to collect learner data direct from providers' central management information systems: individual tutors or course coordinators will not normally be involved in collecting data from Access to HE students for the AVA, other than through any involvement that they may have in the college's internal mechanisms for gathering data. The only exception to this may be for data on intended learner progression.
The guidance which follows relates to the submission of data by AVAs for 2005-06 to QAA by 1 December 2006.
Provider: a 'provider' is an educational institution or other organisation which is responsible for the registration of learners on programmes for the purposes of funding. (In most instances, this relates to the registration of learners on the LSC's ILR, or on DELLS' LLWR.) Providers may offer more than one programme.
Programme: a 'programme' is a course of study, comprising a defined and coherent set of learning experiences designed to provide a progression route to higher education, and which leads to the award of a QAA-recognised Access to HE certificate. QAA-recognised Access to HE programmes are recognised by licensed AVAs through approved procedures and according to agreed criteria.
Access to HE programmes may be organised, managed and delivered in any one of a variety of different ways, including the following:
Definitions a to d all describe routes which may be followed by individual learners and which have been approved by the AVA as leading to the award of the Access to HE certificate. Definition e refers to the totality of a provider's Access to HE provision, which, because separate routes are not defined at recognition, cannot be so described. The way in which provision has been recognised by the AVA is significant for the classification made in this statistical return. For the purposes of this exercise, pathways defined at the point of recognition should be regarded as separate programmes which require separate counting; pathways defined by negotiation between learner and programme provider at the point of learner registration or later, should be regarded as part of a single programme, which is the complete framework. Such a 'complete framework' refers to a framework managed by a single provider: it does not refer to the totality of an AVA's recognised Access to HE provision.
Registrations: numbers of registrations of individual learners (not learning aims of students) and details of learner profiles recorded here should be consistent with information recorded by providers for the LSC's F04 returns in September 2006 and DELLS' LLWR data return. The baseline number of learners recorded should be that which is supplied to the LSC or DELLS by providers together with any learners registered on QAA-recognised Access to HE programmes for whom data is not supplied to the LSC or DELLS. This figure should therefore represent the total number of all Access to HE learners who are registered by the provider with the Access to HE certificate as their primary learning aim at the point of registration, and also those with a learning aim other than the Access to HE certificate at initial registration, but whose learning aim is changed to the Access to HE certificate by the provider during the report year (see below - B1). The number of registrations should be equivalent to the number of individual learners, not FTEs.
If, for its own purposes, the AVA registers learners at a different point, it must ensure that the data it presents to QAA is based on providers' F04 returns in September 2006 to the LSC or full year LLWR returns to DELLS and not on data it may collect for other purposes.
All learners who are studying on a recognised Access to HE programme during the report year should be included within Section B. The 'total learners registered' should be the same in all sections.
(ref: LSC's ILR field no - L03, [with reference to A09 for learning aim and with reference to LSC's ILR field no- A27/A28 for start date ] or
DELLS' LLWR field no - LN02, [with reference to LP17 for programme type and LA09/LA10 for start and expected end dates])
This category recognises that AVAs' statistics are prepared retrospectively, after certificates have been awarded, and that some learners who are ultimately awarded Access to HE certificates, may not have started with that learning aim. It should therefore include those learners who transfer into an Access to HE programme or start with more limited learning aims (such as a sub-set of the Access to HE programme's units) and later extend their learning aim to include the Access to HE certificate. (See definition of 'registrations' above) .
The overall total given must account for all registered learners in 2005-06 and must be consistent with totals of learner registrations given under sections B2, B3, B4, and C1.
Definitions relate to the LSC's categories provided for eligibility for disadvantage uplift funding. This does not involve systematic collection of data about all learners who may be considered to be disadvantaged, and AVAs should not attempt to use this exercise for such purposes. The categories given here represent a summary of information supplied by providers to the LSC to support claims for uplift funding. QAA does not ask for information about individuals: data should be anonymous and aggregated. (DELLS' LLWR does not collect disadvantage information.)
While the LSC and DELLS collect information about different types of disability and learning difficulty, this detail is not required and information should be aggregated here. The five categories within this section will indicate numbers who, when asked by the provider, a considered that they had a disability or disabilities, b considered that they had a learning difficulty or difficulties, c considered that they had both a disability or disabilities and a learning difficulty or difficulties, d considered that they did not have any disabilities or learning difficulties, e did not provide any information.
All registered learners recorded under section B1 should be accounted for within section C1. Cross-tabulation in this area requires the number of learners in each category of learner completion to be broken down according to their achievement. The total of all completion categories should equal the total of all achievement categories. Achievement categories should equate to awards made by the AVA.
Completion ( ref: LSC's ILR field no - A34 or DELLS' LLWR field no - LP41 [informed by LA31])
Achievement ( ref: LSC's ILR field no - A35 or DELLS' LLWR field no - AW12)
This section records the number of learners registered on each programme type, classified by the designated progression routes used to describe programmes running, as identified under A2, and the number of learners who are awarded Access to HE certificates within each route.
This section records information collected by the AVA about intended destinations for registered learners who were recorded as expected to complete the programme before 1 August 2006under Section B1, as well as for registered learners who were awarded Access to HE certificates. The total of the 'learner registrations' column should therefore be equivalent to the two categories under B1 'New learners registered: expected end date before 1 August 2006' and 'Re-registered (same programme): expected end date before 1 August 2006'.
* Learners who are offered a place on a further or higher education course but who formally defer entry for one year should be included in the section further education (within FE or HE institution) or higher education (within FE or HE institution), as appropriate.Learners who indicate an intention to apply for a course at afuture date, but who have not engaged in the formal admissions process should be recorded under the section that most closely describes their immediate progression route.
includes:
Pre-clinical Medicine
Pre-clinical Dentistry
Clinical Medicine
Clinical Dentistry
Others in Medicine and Dentistry
includes:
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy
Complementary Medicine
Nutrition
Ophthalmics
Aural and Oral Sciences
Nursing
Medical Technology
Others in Subjects Allied to Medicine
includes:
Biology
Botany
Zoology
Genetics
Microbiology
Sports Science
Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry
Psychology
Others in Biological Sciences
includes:
Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry
Animal Science
Agriculture
Forestry
Food and Beverage Studies
Agricultural Sciences
Others in Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects
includes:
Chemistry
Materials Science
Physics
Forensic and Archaeological Science
Astronomy
Geology
Ocean Sciences
Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences
Others in Physical Sciences
includes:
Mathematics
Operational Research
Statistics
Computer Science
Information Systems
Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Others in Mathematical and Computer Sciences
includes:
General Engineering
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Naval Architecture
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Production and Manufacturing Engineering
Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering
Others in Engineering
includes:
Minerals Technology
Metallurgy
Ceramics and Glass
Polymers and Textiles
Materials Technology not otherwise specified
Maritime Technology
Industrial Biotechnology
Others in Technology
includes:
Architecture
Building
Landscape Design
Planning (Urban, Rural and Regional)
Others in Architecture, Building and Planning
includes:
Economics
Politics
Sociology
Social Policy
Social Work
Anthropology
Human and Social Geography
Others in Social Studies
includes:
Law by Area
Law by Topic
Others in Law
includes:
Business Studies
Management Studies
Finance
Accounting
Marketing
Human Resource Management
Office Skills
Tourism, Transport and Travel
Others in Business and Administrative Studies
includes:
Information Services
Publicity Studies
Media Studies
Publishing
Journalism
Others in Mass Communications and Documentation
includes:
Linguistics
Comparative Literary Studies
English Studies
Ancient Language studies
Celtic Studies
Latin Studies
Classical Greek Studies
Classical Studies
Others in Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
includes:
French Studies
German Studies
Italian Studies
Spanish Studies
Portuguese Studies
Scandinavian Studies
Russian and East European Studies
Others in European Languages, Literature and related subjects
includes:
Chinese Studies
Japanese Studies
South Asian Studies
Other Asian Studies
African studies
Modern Middle-Eastern Studies
American Studies
Australasian Studies
Others in Eastern, Asiatic, African, American and Australasian Languages, Literature and related subjects
includes:
History by Period
History by Area
History by Topic
Archaeology
Philosophy
Theology and Religious Studies
Others in Historical and Philosophical Studies
includes:
Fine Art
Design Studies
Music
Drama
Dance
Cinematics and Photography
Crafts
Imaginative Writing
Others in Creative Arts and Design
includes:
Training Teachers
Research and Study Skills in Education
Academic studies in Education
Others in Education
|
AVA code |
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AVA name |
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Phone number |
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Email address |
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Contact name |
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Providers offering programmes |
Programmes available |
Programmes running |
New programmes recognised |
Place of delivery |
|
HE institutions |
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FE institutions |
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Sixth form colleges |
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Adult/community education centres |
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Schools |
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Voluntary organisations |
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Employers and employer organisations |
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Private training providers |
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Other |
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Total |
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Go back to section A1
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2005-06 |
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Programmes available |
Programmes running |
|
A Medicine and Dentistry |
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B Subjects Allied to Medicine (Equal to B1 + B2 + B3) |
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B1 Nursing |
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B2 Health Studies |
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B3 Other Allied to Medicine |
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C Biological Sciences |
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D Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects |
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F Physical Sciences |
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G Mathematical and Computer Sciences |
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H Engineering |
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J Technologies |
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K Architecture, Building and Planning |
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L Social Studies (Equal to L1 + L2) |
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L1 Social Work |
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L2 Other Social Studies |
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M Law |
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N Business and Administrative Studies |
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P Mass Communication and Documentation |
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Q Linguistics, Classics and related studies |
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R European Languages, Literature and related studies |
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T Other Languages, Literature and related studies |
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V Historical and Philosophical Studies |
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W Creative Arts and Design |
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X Education (Equal to X1 + X2) |
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X1 Teaching |
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X2 Other Education |
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Z1 Combined Arts |
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Z2 Combined Sciences |
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Z3 Combined Social Sciences |
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Z4 Science Combined with Social Studies/Arts |
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Z5 Social Studies Combined with Arts |
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Z6 Other General and Combined Studies |
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Total |
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Go back to section A2
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Learning aim at initial registration |
Total Access to HE Learners |
|
New learners registered: planned end date before 1 August 2006 |
|
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Re-registered (same programme): planned end date before |
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Sub total planned end date before 1 August 2006 |
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New learners registered: planned end date on or after |
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Re-registered (same programme): planned end date on or after |
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Sub total planned end date after 1 August 2006 |
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Total |
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Go back to section B1
|
Age |
Under 20 |
20-29 |
30-39 |
40-49 |
50-59 |
60+ |
Age unknown |
Total |
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|||||||
|
Sex |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|
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|
Asian or Asian British-Bangladeshi |
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Asian or Asian British-Indian |
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Asian or Asian British-Pakistani |
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Asian or Asian British-any other Asian background |
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|
Black or Black British-African |
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Black or Black British-Caribbean |
|
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|
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Black or Black British-any other Black background |
|
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|
|
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Chinese |
|
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|
|
|
Mixed-White and Asian |
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|
|
|
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Mixed-White and Black African |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mixed White and Black Caribbean |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mixed-any other mixed background |
|
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White-British |
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|
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|
|
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White-Irish |
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|
|
|
|
White-any other white background |
|
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any other |
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|
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not known/not provided |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Total |
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|
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|
Grand Total |
Go back to section B2
|
|
2005-06 |
|
From deprived area (ward based uplift) - postcode on LSC's file |
|
|
From deprived area (ward based uplift) - postcode not on LSC's file |
|
|
Other LSC-defined disadvantage (uplift funding claimed) |
|
|
Not eligible for disadvantage uplift/unknown |
|
|
Total (of all registrations) |
|
Go back to section B3
|
|
2005-06 |
|
Disability/ies |
|
|
Learning difficulty/ies |
|
|
Disability and learning difficulty/ies |
|
|
No disability or learning difficulties |
|
|
No information provided |
|
|
Total (of all registrations) |
|
Go back to section B4
|
Achievement |
Access to HE certificate awarded |
Partial achievement accredited |
No achievement accredited |
Study continuing |
Total |
|
Continuing programme |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Completed programme |
|
|
|
|
|
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Withdrawn from programme |
|
|
|
|
|
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Transferred from programme |
|
|
|
|
|
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Unknown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
Go back to section C1
|
|
2005-06 |
|
|
|
Registered Learners |
Access to HE certificates awarded |
|
A Medicine and Dentistry |
|
|
|
B Subjects Allied to Medicine (Equal to B1 + B2 + B3) |
|
|
|
B1 Nursing |
|
|
|
B2 Health Studies |
|
|
|
B3 Other Allied to Medicine |
|
|
|
C Biological Sciences |
|
|
|
D Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects |
|
|
|
F Physical Sciences |
|
|
|
G Mathematical and Computer Sciences |
|
|
|
H Engineering |
|
|
|
J Technologies |
|
|
|
K Architecture, Building and Planning |
|
|
|
L Social Studies (Equal to L1 + L2) |
|
|
|
L1 Social Work |
|
|
|
L2 Other Social Studies |
|
|
|
M Law |
|
|
|
N Business and Administrative Studies |
|
|
|
P Mass Communication and Documentation |
|
|
|
Q Linguistics, Classics and related studies |
|
|
|
R European Languages, Literature and related studies |
|
|
|
T Other Languages, Literature and related studies |
|
|
|
V Historical and Philosophical Studies |
|
|
|
W Creative Arts and Design |
|
|
|
X Education (Equal to X1 + X2) |
|
|
|
X1 Teaching |
|
|
|
X2 Other Education |
|
|
|
Z1 Combined Arts |
|
|
|
Z2 Combined Sciences |
|
|
|
Z3 Combined Social Sciences |
|
|
|
Z4 Science Combined with Social Studies/Arts |
|
|
|
Z5 Social Studies Combined with Arts |
|
|
|
Z6 Other General and Combined Studies |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Go back to section C2
|
|
Registered |
Access to HE certificates |
|
Continuing existing programme of study |
|
|
|
Further education (within FE or HE institution) |
|
|
|
Higher education (within FE or HE institution) |
|
|
|
Employment |
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
Destination unknown |
|
|
|
Withdrawn |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Go back to section C3