Harmonising Ofsted and LSC Qualification Success Rates

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) uses qualification success rates (QSRs) for a variety of purposes including planning, commissioning, funding and performance assessment. Ofsted uses QSRs for individual qualifications and for aggregations as evidence for its inspection judgements and as part of its inspection planning process.

It was recognised that the QSRs used by the LSC and Ofsted differ, even when they are nominally reporting the same thing. The information authority commissioned a report to identify the specific issues behind this and make recommendations on how QSRs could be harmonised across and within the two organisations.

The LSC and Ofsted have successfully worked together to align their data collection processes and agreed specifications for ‘freezing data’ to ensure that published FE success rates and those used for inspection are the same.

At the meeting of the joint harmonisation group on 18 September 2008, it was confirmed that FE success rates for 2006/07 and 2007/08 will have been harmonised across the LSC and Ofsted, and that these will be identical in future years. This is expected to remove significant frustration within the sector.

Issues and queries about success rate harmonisation

If you have any queries about the work to harmonise success rates please log your call with the Service Desk on 08702 670001 or e-mail servicedesk@thedataservice.org.uk.