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LAD changes between versions

Release 15 (July 07):

The following changes, described in detail in Planned Changes to the LAD for 2007/08, have been made in release 15:

New fields added to support ILR changes (LDCS Code2 and LDCS Code3).
Some fields renamed to reflect current terminology (QCF - Qualifications and Credit Framework, formerly FFA - Framework for Achievement).
New search field for finding/excluding QCF aims.
Map code field displayed on aim details screen.

Release 14 (Sept 06):

Internal changes only.

Release 13 (June 06):

The following changes, described in detail in Planned Changes to the LAD for 2006/07, have been made in release 13:

New fields and tables added to support Train to Gain.
New fields and table added to support proposed future policies (SLN, WAGLH, vocationally related).
Field added to final annual values table.
Some fields renamed to reflect current terminology and some obsolete fields removed.
Multiple awarding body aim references displayed.
Self extracting download formats removed.
Date fields in downloads changed to UK format.

Release 12 (June 05):

A number of changes, described in detail in Planned Changes to the LAD for 2005/06, have been made in release 12:

New fields added to accommodate Framework for Achievement.
Fields renamed due to policy changes (MAs changed to apprenticeships and Basic Skills changed to Skills for Life).
Search screen updated to include level 2 and 3 entitlement and notional NVQ level version 2.
Technical Certificate download includes 4 more fields.

Release 11 (May 05):

Internal changes only.

Release 10 (Oct 04):

Release 10 of the LAD includes updates to:

Add quick search facility.
Add framework search.
Improve search screen (search for records changed between dates, date aim last changed, map code, inspection code).
Improve search results page (obsolete aims highlighted, annual values statuses shown and awarding body description available on ‘mouseover’).
Add key details tab.
Include new hierarchy and map code downloads.
Streamline individual year downloads by removing aims with only status 9 or no annual values records, and removing annual value records with status 9.

Release 9 (June 04):

A number of changes, described in detail in Data Collections Document DCD 04/01, have been made:

New fields and tables added to support SSA codes, Basic Skills, WBL rates, level 2 and 3 entitlement, notional NVQ level version 2, framework mandatory key skills, date last changed, inspection and map codes.
New table added (Final Annual Values) to keep historic record of aims.
Replace field that holds GLH.
Obsolete download formats removed (DBF and PSV).
New fields displayed on the website.
Obsolete fields no longer displayed.
Minor change to Shared Annual Values page to highlight learning aims which have been discontinued by awarding bodies.
Date Created displayed as well as Last Changed Date on Learning Aim / Annual Values pages.
Web search includes Sector Subject Area option (when data available).
Web search will accept * and ? as wildcards.
Search results displays maximum of 500 aims.

Release 8 (19 Jan 2004):

A number of changes have been made to enhance existing functionality and to support the proposed new process for removing from the LAD learning aims which are no longer required. The changes are as follows:

New Miscellaneous Downloads Menu item and Screen:

Technical Certificate and Sector Codes downloads moved from the LAD Search screen to a new Miscellaneous Downloads page. This is accessed via a new Menu item "Misc Downloads". Sector Code Table Display option remains on the LAD Search screen.

New Downloads - Imminent Deletions and Deleted Aims:

New Imminent Deletions downloads, accessed from the new Misc Downloads menu item. Provide summary details of Learning Aims planned for removal from the LAD within a given time frame. (The precise length of this 'early warning' period is still the subject of consultation.)
New Deleted Aims downloads, also accessed from the new Misc Downloads menu item. Provide summary details of all Learning Aims which have been removed from the LAD.
Each available in MS Access, CSV and Pipe Delimited formats, as either a Zip or Self extracting file.

Search Results screen:

Search criteria now displayed at the top of the Search Results screen - but not on the search results download.

Aim Details screens:

Aim Details screen - Planned Removal Date now shown in red when set.
Revised screen layouts for FE Annual Values and WBL Annual Values screens.

LAD Downloads

LAD downloads now independent of the database - so the LAD downloads will now normally be available overnight, for example.
Structure of LAD downloads unchanged by this release.

Release 7 (18 Oct 2003):

Internal changes only.

Release 6 (31 July 2003):

A number of changes have been made to the LAD in response to requests from users to enhance search functionality and provide additional features. The changes are as follows:

General:

Label “Academic Year” updated to “Teaching Year” throughout (but please note table names / column headings / field names in existing downloads are unchanged)
Access to a new ‘Links’ screen containing links to other useful web sites

Search screen / Search Results screen:

Additional Search criteria:
o Area of Learning
o WBL Funding Category
o Programme Weight Factor
o Aims which count towards Basic Skills Target
o Technical Certificates
o Listed / Load Banded aims
o FE / HE aims
o Aims New or Changed Since dd/mm/yyyy (up to 5,000)
Use of wildcards directly in searches based on the current ‘Look up’ fields
New Search Tips button has been added
Entry of ‘/’ characters in the learning aim reference allowed
‘Recommended Aims only’ is set automatically on entry to the screen
New screen to download the Technical Certificate Data Extract (aka Technical Certificate Spreadsheet)
"Recommended Indicator" and "Notional NVQ Level" fields added to Search

Results screen

Selected Teaching Year is displayed at the top of the Search Results screen
Search results can be saved as a csv or pipe delimited file

Aim Details screens

Teaching Year displayed at the top of the screen
Annual values tabs for which there is no record are greyed out
Tabs remain visible on page when scrolling through details
Entire area of tabs is selectable by mouse click
New facility to print complete aim details by the click of one button, typically on 2-3 pages
Revised screen layout for Shared Annual Values
Warning message when Approval End Date is within or older than current teaching year

Downloads:

Link to new screens displaying the number of records changed in summary and by database table (“Change Summary / Detail”)

Release 5 (18 June 2003):

Search facility improved to allow searches on:
o Recommended aims (information being populated shortly)
o Search on LSC Funding Status
o Search on Notional Level
o Search for ACL aims (information being populated shortly)
New table for ACL Annual Values
New table for Learning Aim Cross Reference - awarding body ref.
Changes to the Learning Aims table - five new fields added
Changes to the All Annual Values table - seven new fields
Changes to the WBL Annual Values Table - two new fields
Changes to the Sector Framework Aims table - one new field
Changes to the Sector Frameworks table - one new field and the ability to view and download this through the public website
New lookup tables for the new data fields
Multiple downloads for individual academic years
Additional information on changes can be found in data news item 03/053.

Releases 2 – 4 (March – May 2003):

Internal changes only.

Release 1b (8 November 2002):

Pipe delimited file format and download modified - previously missing fields have been added to the file format, and the download contains one file for each academic year.

Release 1a (29 October 2002):

New search criteria added to search page - allows search on awarding body aim reference and/or sector framework code
Sector framework information available - it is possible to return a list of learning aims in a specified sector framework, and also view sector framework information for any NVQ/technical certificate
Minor cosmetic changes

Last Modified: 2 July 2007