Data Protection - sharing data
The Learning and Skills Council deals with many organisations in executing its functions as a funding provider for education and training in England.
Key partners with whom data will be shared in order to provide services are listed below. You are encouraged to visit the sites of these partners to learn more about their role in education and skills in England and Wales.
In most instances, data shared with these partners will be anonymised or aggregated data, however in the event that personal and sensitive data needs to be shared, your wishes in respect of being included in research and surveys, detailed on learning enrolment forms will be taken into consideration, in line with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Any partners that receive personal or sensitive personal data are marked with an *.
Adult Learning Inspectorate
The Adult Learning Inspectorate reports, both to the Secretary of State for Education and the public, on the quality of education and training received by adult learners and young people in England. The ALI is responsible for inspecting all publicly funded work-based training for people over 16 and learning for post-19s.
ALI inspectors are also responsible for inspecting learning in prisons, all adult and community education, area inspections of provision for 16-19 year olds in support of OfSTED, and e-learning via learndirect provided on-line by the University for Industry. In addition, the ALI will inspect training offered and funded by employers at their invitation.
Connexions Service*
Connexions is the government's support service for all young people aged 13 - 19 in England. The service aims to provide integrated advice, guidance and access to personal development opportunities for this group and to help them make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life. The success of Connexions depends on the involvement of young people - listening to and taking account of their views in the design and delivery of Connexions will be essential.
Connexions brings together the work of six government Departments and their agencies and organisations on the ground, together with private and voluntary sector groups and youth and careers services. It brings together all the services and support young people need during their teenage years. It offers practical help with choosing the right courses and careers, including access to broader personal development through activities like sport, performing arts and volunteering activities.
Department for Education and Skills
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is the government department responsible for all education and training in the country. Head by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, the department heads up all initiatives and other departments that have responsibility to providing education and training, and the funding of such.
Department of Trade and Industry
The DTI is working to create the conditions for business success and help the UK respond to the challenge of globalisation.
As the Department responsible for trade, business, employees, consumers, science and energy, the Department is in a unique position to contribute to the wider challenge of globalisation - enabling business and employees to prosper in the UK.
Delivering outcomes will require ever closer working with others - reaching out to more stakeholders, and working with Whitehall Departments to raise awareness of the Government role in addressing globalisation.
Employment Service
Now part of the Jobcentre Plus department, which is itself part of the Department for Work and Pensions, the aim of this service is to advise and process claims for benefit and help people find work.
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) distributes public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges. In doing so, it aims to promote high quality education and research, within a financially healthy sector. The Council also plays a key role in ensuring accountability and promoting good practice.
Higher Education Statistics Agency
HESA is a central source for higher education statistics. It processes and publishes statistical data on education and training.
Learner data shared with the HESA will be used for statistical purposes only.
Learner Registration Service
LSC is responsible for the development and operation of the Learner Registration Service (LRS) and also the creation of a learner record.
For learners of 14 years and over and for learners registering for post-14 qualifications, identification information will be passed to the LRS to create and maintain a unique learner number (ULN). In addition, participation and achievement information will be passed to the LRS to create and maintain a learner record.
The Learner Registration Service will enable, for the first time, a learner to have direct access to information held about them which learners are able to challenge, if appropriate.
The Learner Registration Service will enable organisations allowed by Law and detailed at http://miap.gov.uk to access the ULN and integrate it into their systems. In addition, such organisations will have access to the participation and achievement information attributed to each person, using their ULN and thereby saving individuals having to supply the same information repeatedly to different organisations.
Individuals are able to opt-out of sharing participation and achievement information in their learner record with those organisations detailed at http://miap.gov.uk, if they so wish. Details of how to opt-out can also be found at http://miap.gov.uk or by telephoning 0845 6022589.
Learning and Skills Development Agency
The Learning and Skills Development Agency is a strategic national resource for the development of policy and practice in post-16 education and training. The Agency was previously known as the Further Education Development Agency (FEDA).
Learning Partnerships
These partnerships are involved in encouraging and developing life long learning. They promote life long learning for all sectors of the community.
National Training Organisations
NTOs are employer-led bodies responsible for the development of skills to meet the business needs of employment sectors throughout the UK. They have a primary role in galvanising employer involvement in the development and uptake of competence-based standards, education, training and qualifications to help businesses improve competitiveness at home and abroad.
Please see the Sector Skills Councils below for more detailed information.
Learner data passed to NTO's will be for statistical and research purposes only.
The National Organisation for Adult Learning
This is a non-governmental organisation. It is involved in funding and research projects to help further education in England and Wales.
Learner data shared with this organisation will be used for research and statistics and to carry out its obligations.
Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED)
OFSTED is the government department responsible for reviewing and monitoring the standards of education and training.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
The QCA are involved in progress of standards in education and training. They work with others to maintain and develop the school curriculum and associated assessments, and to accredit and monitor qualifications in schools, colleges and in the work place.
Regional Development Agencies
Regional development agencies, linked through "HERO" are involved in research and statistics regarding learning in England and Wales.
Sector Skills Development Agency/Councils*
A network of UK wide Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) has been charged to lead the skills and productivity drive in industry or business sectors recognised by employers. They bring together employers, trade unions and professional bodies working with government to develop the skills that UK business needs.
The Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) has been established to underpin the SSC network and promote effective working between sectors.
University for Industry (Ufi)
Ufi is taking forward the Government's vision of a 'University for Industry'. Working as a public-private partnership in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ufi aims to put individuals in a better position to get jobs, improve their career prospects and boost business competitiveness.
Ufi's learning services are being delivered through Learn Direct.
Local Authorities and Others*
The LSC shares data for educational purposes (funding, planning, and encouraging education and training) with local authorities and other educational institutions, agencies, and bodies.
Other Partners
The Learning and Skills Council provides anonymised and aggregated data to other private organisations for research and statistical purposes. There are many such partners each performing research work for different industry sectors. All such partners have to be registered with the Office of the Information Commissioner, even though they only receive non-identifiable data.
Use of Personal and Sensitive Data
Learners' data that might be of a personal or sensitive nature is only shared with organisations that have a legal need to access such data. Organisations can request personal and sensitive personal data for legitimate purposes, however each request is considered individually and in all cases, individual learner's wishes are taken into account in respect of the data protection questions asked on enrolment forms.
At no time will personal or sensitive personal data be disclosed to organisations for marketing and sales, or for any purpose other than to fulfil a legitimate need on behalf of the organisation concerned.
For each type of data sharing activity there exists guidelines and protocols. These can be found within this site.
If you have any queries about how your data may be used, then you may e-mail dataprotectionqueries@lsc.gov.uk
Learning and Skills Councils Data Sharing Policy, Guidelines and Protocols
In order to ensure that learner data is managed and used properly, sensitively and in line with the Data Protection Act 1998, a number of protocols are being developed, which are to be used by the LSC for data sharing.
These are:
- Protocol for the Sharing of Non-Personal and Non-Sensitive Data
- Protocol for the Sharing of Data between Education and Training Providers and the Learning and Skills Council
- Protocol for the Request of Personal and Sensitive Data
- Protocol for the Sharing of Data with Connexions Partnerships
- Confidentiality and Release Guidelines for Personal and Sensitive Data
- Data Sharing Policy
Some of these protocols have already been published and are available from the Data Sharing Protocols page in the Data Protection folder.
Last Modified: 7 Jan 08
