GovWire

Background

DfE can share personal data with external organisations through certain channels.

Where we can share data underthe Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA), we will:

• manage project approval through theOffice for National Statistics (ONS)Research Accreditation Service
• share it via the ONS Secure Research Service (SRS)

In time, we will share this data via the Integrated Data Service.

DfEwill only share personal data underDEAwhen the ONS has already de-identified it, for individuals and body corporates.The ONSis the service provider andDEAaccredited processor for disclosure.

Where we cannot share data underDEA, the DfE data sharing service will manage project approval underDfElegislation. DfEs default route for sharing personal data is through ONS Secure Research Service under DfE legislation.

In some circumstances, DfE may allow personal data to be shared with some organisations via a direct supply of data to that organisation.

Apply for access to linked DfE and Ministry of Justice data

Visit Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data first for access to the linked MoJ and DfE data set.

You will need to complete the MoJ application form.

Apply to ONS Research Accreditation Service for access to DfE personal data

You can currently apply directly toONSResearch Accreditation Service for the following DfE datasets:

• the longitudinal education outcomes (LEO) study
• thegrowing up in England (GUiE) dataset
• thechildcare and early years survey of parents (CEYSP)
• thefurther education workforce data collection (FEWDC)

Were also working to make the followingDfEdatasets directly available fromONS, including:

• a refresh of thegrading and admission data for Englandinitiative
• longitudinal young persons study in England
• working lives of teachers and leaders
• Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents Wave 2
• SIES: The Student Income and Expenditure Survey
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Futures
• Children of the 2020s

It is our ambition to make the following data available to external researchers via ONS Research Accreditation Service in a similar way to LEO, including:

• national pupil database (NPD)
• pupil parent matched data

We are not yet able to confirm when this will be possible.

Apply to DfE data sharing service

You can apply for access to any DfE personal data that:

• you cannot currently get access to via ONS Research Accreditation Service
• has data variables not included within the datasets available from ONS Research Accreditation Service

By default, all DfE personal data shared under DfE legislation will be made available via the ONS Secure Research Service.

Where theSRSis not suitable and you provide evidence to support this, we will consider the following exemptions on the use ofSRSfor sharing data:

• data is being processed to fulfil an essential public task, such as the running of education or childrens services
• you are doing research funded or commissioned by DfE and its executive agencies or other government departments
• you are doing research that is sponsored or supported byDfEand its executive agencies as it adds significant value to the evidence base supporting education or childrens services

If you are unsure, contactdata.sharing@education.gov.uk.

Application process

To apply, you need to:

• complete theapplication form(MS Word Document,184 KB)using the accompanyingDfE data sharing service application form guidance(PDF,492 KB,41 pages)
• submit your data requirements on the relevantdata tables

You may also find the digitalfind and exploreNPDtoolhelpful when working out which data items you need from the national pupil database (NPD).

If you are aDfEcontractor who wants to apply for personal data for aDfE-commissioned research project, contact your contract manager or research project lead to discuss how to complete theDfE commissioned research application form.

The data sharing service is here to help you:

• progress your application through the data sharing service
• access the right data for your project
• document the data share through a signed data sharing agreement, memorandum of understanding, or commercial contract - contactdata.sharing@education.gov.ukfor a copy of our standard terms and conditions

Data tables

Use these data tables to provide your data requirements:

• higher education (MS Excel Spreadsheet,
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