FE Choices: performance indicators
Source: data.gov.uk (2015-09-04)

The May 2015 release of employer satisfaction open data contains 2013/14 survey data. Scores by provider can be found in the provider open data csv file.

The November 2015 release of learner satisfaction open data contains 2013/14 survey data. Scores by provider can be found in the provider open data csv file.

Please also refer to the FE Choices Learner Satisfaction Open Data Guide.

Users should refer to the May 2014 release for information on the Employer Satisfaction , Learner Destinations and Success Rates performance indicators, and for Learner Satisfaction (2009/10 to 2012/13).

If you have any queries please contact servicedesk@sfa.bis.gov.uk or 0370 267 0001

Improve our Service

If you would be willing to share details about how you plan to use the data you are downloading to help us improve our service to you please contact servicedesk@sfa.bis.gov.uk with the term Open Data in your email title and we will be back in touch.

An amendment has been made (on 17 December 2014) to the FE Choices Learner Satisfaction Open Data Guide published on 27 November. The survey type “S” refers to “all learners” and not “non-apprenticeships”. 
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

FE Choices provides clear, comparable information to learners and employers so that they can make informed choices about post-16 further education and training based on the following performance indicators: 

* Success Rates, 
* Learner Destinations (including Employment Rate and Learning Rate)
* Learner Satisfaction 
* Employer Satisfaction

FE Choices also helps further education institutions to assess their own performance.

FE Choices 
 Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Correction: On 17 December 2014, the survey_type “S” has been changed to 
reflect that this data is for “All learners” and not “Non-apprenticeships” as initially 
reported on 27 November 2014. 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
 
 
Page 2 of 9 
Contents 
1. Introduction 
3 
1.1 
Purpose 
3 
2. File Contents 
3 
2.1 
Files Published 
3 
2.2 
Format of the Provider File 
4 
2.3 
Format of the Response File 
5 
2.4 
Format of the Question File 
7 
3. Suppression 
9 
3.1 
Purpose 
9 
 
 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
 
 
Page 3 of 9 
1. Introduction 
1.1 Purpose 
This FE Choices Learner Satisfaction open data guidance describes the formatting and 
content of the Open Data files for Learner Satisfaction. 
 
2. File Contents 
2.1 Files Published 
 
Provider File - Displays summary information for the provider, such as the providers 
overall score and comparison scores. Where data isn’t available, the file also 
contains missing score reason  
 
 
Response File – Displays the number of survey responses and the number of 
learners for each age range, level or subject area 
 
 
Question File – Displays the individual question scores for each age range, level or 
subject area 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
Page 4 of 9 
2.2 Format of the Provider File 
Field Name 
Description 
Format 
Length  Mandatory Example Data 
UKPRN 
The UKPRN of the provider 
Text 
8 
Yes 
10000534  
UPIN 
The UPIN of the provider 
Text 
6 
Yes 
105000 
Provider_Name 
The name of the provider 
Text 
255 
Yes 
Birmingham MET 
Organisation_Type 
The organisation type of the provider 
Text 
255 
Yes 
Private Sector Public 
Funded 
Final_Score 
Final score 
Text 
2.1 
No 
8.3 
MSRC_Description 
Missing Score Reason Code Description  
 
 
There was not enough data to award a score 
 
This organisation did not participate in the survey 
 
Data will be available in a later refresh 
 
Text 
100 
No 
There was not 
enough data to 
award a score 
 
Learners 
Number of eligible learners for all ages and levels, including unknowns 
Integer 
6 
Yes 
6650 
Responses 
Number of valid survey responses for all ages and levels, including 
unknowns 
Integer 
6 
Yes 
868 
NoOfOrgs 
The number of organisations with valid responses 
Text 
3 
Yes 
155 
NoOfOrgsbyOrgType The number of organisations per organisation type with valid responses  
Text 
4 
Yes 
1050 
OrgLowest 
The lowest score awarded for providers of the same type 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
OrgMiddle 
The middle score awarded for providers of the same type 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
OrgHighest 
The highest score awarded for providers of the same type 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
AllLowest 
The lowest score awarded for providers of all types  
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
AllMiddle 
The middle score awarded for providers of all types 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
AllHighest 
The highest score awarded for providers of all types 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
 
Note. For fields with decimal places the first number is the number of digits before the decimal point, and the second is the maximum 
number of decimal places. 
 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
Page 5 of 9 
2.3 Format of the Response File 
Field Name 
Description 
Format 
Length  Mandatory Example Data 
UKPRN 
The UKPRN of the provider 
Text 
8 
Yes 
10000534  
UPIN 
The UPIN of the provider 
Text 
6 
Yes 
105000 
Provider_Name 
The name of the provider 
Text 
255 
Yes 
Birmingham MET 
Age_Band 
The age range of the learners surveyed. The values are 16-18, 19+ 
and All 
Text 
5 
Yes 
16-18 
Survey_Type 
The type of survey information. The values are: 
L - level information 
S - sector subject area level information for all learners 
SA - sector subject area level information for apprenticeships 
Text 
2 
Yes 
L 
Survey_Level_Description The level of the survey information. The values are: 
 
For a Survey Type of L (Level) 
 
 
Entry 
 
Level 1 
 
Level 2 
 
Level 3 
 
A Level 
 
All 
 
For a Survey Type of S (Subject – all learners) 
 
 
Health, Public Services and Care 
 
Science and Mathematics 
 
Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 
 
Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 
 
Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 
 
Information and Communication Technology 
 
Retail and Commercial Enterprise 
 
Leisure, Travel and Tourism 
 
Arts, Media and Publishing 
 
History, Philosophy and Theology 
Text 
255 
Yes 
Level 3 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
Page 6 of 9 
Field Name 
Description 
Format 
Length  Mandatory Example Data 
 
Social Sciences 
 
Languages, Literature and Culture 
 
Education and Training 
 
Preparation for Life and Work 
 
Business, Administration and Law 
 
For Survey Type of SA (Subject – apprenticeships) 
 
 
Health, Public Services and Care 
 
Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 
 
Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 
 
Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 
 
Information and Communication Technology 
 
Retail and Commercial Enterprise 
 
Leisure, Travel and Tourism 
 
Arts, Media and Publishing 
 
Education and Training 
 
Business, Administration and Law 
 
Other 
Learners 
Number of eligible learners.This column will have “-” where the 
numbers have had to be suppressed. 
Text 
6 
Yes 
142 
Responses 
Number of valid survey responses, This column will have “-” where the 
numbers have had to be suppressed. 
Text 
6 
Yes 
37 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
Page 7 of 9 
2.4 Format of the Question File 
Field Name 
Description 
Format 
Length  Mandatory Example Data 
UKPRN 
The UKPRN of the provider 
Text 
8 
Yes 
10000534  
UPIN 
The UPIN of the provider 
Text 
6 
Yes 
105000 
Provider_Name 
The name of the provider 
Text 
255 
Yes 
Birmingham MET 
Age_Band 
The age range of the learners surveyed. The values are 16-18, 19+ 
and All 
Text 
5 
Yes 
16-18 
Survey_Type 
The type of survey information. The values are the same as in the 
Response file 
Text 
2 
Yes 
L 
Survey_Level_Description The level of the survey information. The values are the same as in the 
Response file 
Text 
255 
Yes 
Level 3 
Question 
The number of the survey question. The values are Q1 to Q10: 
 
 
Q1- Prior Information 
 
Q2- Help in the first few weeks 
 
Q3 - Teaching/Training 
 
Q4 - Respect from staff 
 
Q5 - Advice on what to do next 
 
Q6 - Support 
 
Q7 - Listening to learners' views 
 
Q8 - Acting on learners’ views 
 
Q9 - How good or bad is this organisation 
 
Q10 - How likely is it that you would recommend the 
college/training provider to friends or family? 
Text 
5 
Yes 
Q6 
Score 
The score relating to the survey question. For questions 1 to 9 this is a 
score out of 10. For survey question 10 this is a score out of 100. This 
column will have “-” where the score has been suppressed. 
Text 
3.1  
Yes 
7.9 
OrgLowest 
The lowest score awarded for providers of the same type. Comparison 
data is not available for Survey_Type S and SA 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
OrgMiddle 
The middle score awarded for providers of the same type. Comparison 
data is not available for Survey_Type S and SA 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
OrgHighest 
The highest score awarded for providers of the same type. 
Comparison data is not available for Survey_Type S and SA 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
Page 8 of 9 
Field Name 
Description 
Format 
Length  Mandatory Example Data 
AllLowest 
The lowest score awarded for providers of all types. Comparison data 
is not available for Survey_Type S and SA 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
AllMiddle 
The middle score awarded for providers of all types. Comparison data 
is not available for Survey_Type S and SA 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
AllHighest 
The highest score awarded for providers of all types. Comparison data 
is not available for Survey_Type S and SA 
Text 
3.1 
Yes 
2.1 
 
Note. For fields with decimal places the first number is the number of digits before the decimal point, and the second is the maximum 
number of decimal places. 
 

FE Choices Open Data Guide  
for Learner Satisfaction 2013/14  
 
 
Page 9 of 9 
3. Suppression 
3.1 Purpose 
To protect the identity of individual learners participating in the survey we have had to suppress some of the values in the files. Where this 
is the case the “-“ character is used instead of the original value. We do this to make sure no individual learning at a particular provider can 
be identified from the data we release. 
 
Suppression is required in statistical publications to protect the possible identification of individuals’ identities and thereby ensure 
compliance with the Data Protection Act. Suppression may also be used as a way of controlling the rigour of the statistics reported.