Advisory Group and Stakeholder Meetings

Advisory groups

We run advisory group meetings throughout the year to encourage sector-wide participation and collaboration in order to improve information systems and avoid, identify and resolve information and data issues.

 Advisory Groups - Terms of Reference (30Kb)

College Group
This group is for representatives from colleges who are responsible for preparing and returning ILR data.

Community Learning Group  (previously Adult Safeguarded Learning Group)
This group is for representatives from community learning providers who are responsible for preparing and sending community learning (ASL) ILR returns.

Data Users Group
This group is made up of key users of further education data. Organisations invited include the Skills Funding Agency, YPLA, BIS, DfE, DWP, JCP, Connexions, HEFCE and Ofsted.

Own Software Writers Group  
This group consists of staff who write in-house management information (MI) systems for their employers.

Software Suppliers Group
This group is for commercial software houses who supply MI systems to learning providers. 

Training Organisation Group 
This group is for representatives from training organisations, apart from colleges, who are responsible for preparing and returning ILR data.

Task and Finish Groups

We facilitate occasional task and finish groups in order to consult with MI professionals on specific sector issues.

Technical User Group (2012/13)
This group of learning provider MI experts act as critical friends to the Data Service; helping to ensure that learning providers have a direct input to the systems and software being developed.

Own Software Writers' Change Management Group (2011/12)
This group offered specific assistance to learning providers who write their own software, in light of the move to a Single ILR in XML format from 2011/12.

FE Data Management Group (2010) 
This group was set up to advise the information authority on developing guidance for the sector on data management issues, so that users of the data can be assured of the quality and reliability of information relating to Further Education and Skills. 

F05 Hard Close Sub-Group (2010)
This group had a specific remit to monitor any issues arising from the new F05 close date, during summer and autumn 2010.