Education Outcomes Linkage 2018/19-2021/22 - Northern Ireland
The Education Outcomes Linkage 2018/19-2021/22 is a longitudinal relational database comprised of a range of tables containing schools’ data for pupils aged 14 and over in Northern Ireland. It links together a number of datasets held by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland; the school census (including attendance data); the school leavers survey; and the exams database.
The Education Outcomes Linkage (EOL) is the second phase of this dataset (the first being the EOL 2018/19) . This version adds an additional three years of data and continues to build the first stage of the development of a Longitudinal Education Outcomes database for Northern Ireland. The Longitudinal Education Outcomes - England dataset was developed by the Department for Education in England, and is a dataset which connects individuals’ education data with their earnings, benefits and tax data. There are also Scottish and Welsh equivalents.
The EOL 2018/19-2021/22 dataset was developed by Department of Education, Department for the Economy, and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Research Support Unit.
Component datasets and linkage
The dataset includes five tables, all of which are linkable using the common EOL_PID (pupil ID) variable. Only pupils who are present in both the school census in at least one of the academic years 2018/19; 2019/20; 2021/21 and 2021/22, and the exams database for the corresponding year(s), are included in the EOL 2018/19-2021/22. These two tables (school census and exams database) act as the spine for the linkage. Some pupils will not appear in the attendance table or the school leavers survey table, and not every pupil will appear in the school census 2015/16-2021/22.
| Timeframe | Exams database 2018/19 through to 2021/22 (available for core members). School leavers survey 2018/19 through to 2021/22. School census and attendance 2018/19 through to 2021/22 (and 2015/16-2017/18 available for core members). |
|---|---|
| Update Frequency | One-off update |
| Population | Pupils aged 14+ |
| Coverage | Northern Ireland only |
| Size | 122,273 |
Examples of research questions
- What are the best predictors of educational attainment?
- How do the outcomes of students eligible for Free School Meals differ from those who are not?
- What are the educational outcomes of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
- What is the relationship between factors such as geographical comparisons, ethnicity, religion, and first language and exam performance?
- Did Covid-19 impact educational attainment?
Core documentation
Other supporting resources
| Resource | Description |
| Synthetic data | Available for this dataset on request. Please contact rsu@nisra.gov.uk. |
| School census | Information about the school census. |
| School leavers survey | Information about the school leavers survey. |
Published research using the data
The first project using the EOL 2018/19 dataset, ‘Post-primary school size and educational outcomes in Northern Ireland’, is examining the post-primary school size in Northern Ireland and its impact, if any, on qualifications as a key educational outcome. It will take account of other drivers of educational outcomes at the pupil, school and area level. The results could be used to inform area planning policies in respect to post-primary education by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland.
A further project is using the EOL 2018/19 dataset to enable a comprehensive understanding of the underlying dynamics of social inequalities. This study importantly builds on previous research using administrative data to explore the relationship between education attainment and a range of measures of deprivation.
Changing demographics in Northern Ireland have led to an increase in children starting or joining school with little or no English language skills, or “newcomer” children. However, there is no current assessment of how newcomers' educational outcomes can vary in Northern Ireland, and potential sources of this variation. Understanding this variation will be crucial for developing an effective strategy for addressing newcomers’ needs. To achieve this, the first project using the EOL 2018/19-2021/22 will involve an analysis to identify subgroups within the newcomer population, allowing future interventions to target those most in need.
Accessing the data
1. Apply to become an accredited researcher under the Digital Economy Act 2017.
- Complete the application form through the ONS Research Accreditation Service. Contact srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk with any questions.
2. Apply to access the EOL 2018/19-2021/22.
- Submit a completed themed dataset initial research proposal form to rsu@nisra.gov.uk.
- Submit an application to the Research Accreditation Service: Apply for an accredited research project.
3. Access the data securely via the NISRA Secure Environment or the ONS Secure Research Service.
- NISRA Secure Environment in Colby House – complete a Research Support Unit Secure Environment Researcher Booking Request Form and submit it to rsu@nisra.gov.uk.
- Safe Rooms – based in the ONS offices in Titchfield and Newport, open Monday-Friday, 9.00-16.00.
- SafePod Network – a small, self-contained secure room with a single workstation.
- Assured Organisational Connectivity – the ability to access the ONS Secure Research Service from your office. Check what arrangements your institution already has or can put in place.
Further information on how to apply for approval is available on the NISRA Research Support Unit page or by contacting rsu@nisra.gov.uk.
Information about policy research priorities
The Education Outcomes Linkage 2018-19-2021/22 can offer an evidence base for policy development and decision making as well as the monitoring of public policy in Northern Ireland. Research questions which it could inform include:
- the impact of free school meals
- the best predictors of educational attainment
- an exploration of special educational needs outcomes
- the impact of geography, ethnicity, religion, and first language on exam performance
- area planning including the impact of school size on education attainment.
Find out more
More information is available from the Education Outcomes Linkage 2018/19-2021/22 webpage on the NISRA website.
