Information for participants
The Observatory carries out trend analyses using pseudonymised educational records provided by the devolved governments in the United Kingdom. As part of a broader programme of work, with this data we will use the unique opportunity provided by the data linkages to explore how high achievers in Key Stage 1 and 2 progress on to GCSE, A-level Mathematics and ultimately into undergraduate and postgraduate mathematics-based degrees. In particular, we will focus on how progression and attainment vary by key demographic factors such as ethnicity, free school meal status, IDACI score, alongside school effects and broader geographical factors. We also follow these individuals into work to look at the long-term impacts of educational choices on employment and pay. The public benefit of this work will be to provide key insights into understanding the mathematical education system with the aim of informing policy debates and improving mathematics learner outcomes for all.
If you undertook national examinations in the England in particular, but also potentially Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish systems and were born in the early 1980s then the likelihood is that your records are held by the devolved government administrations. These provide access to third party researchers such as ourselves under licence through the Office for National Statistics Secure Research Service and the UK Data Archive. Statistical disclosure control is carried out on any outputs to ensure that no individual or institution is identified in the approved outputs. We provide an information sheet and privacy notice below, and we will respond to requests for information on the research as appropriate.
Information sheet for participants
Privacy notice for research participants