Sex: Field
Definition
The legal sex of the learner.
Reason Required
To describe the structure and nature of the learner population in the sector.
Schema Definitions
- XML Entity Name
- Sex
- Field Length
- 1
- Data type
- RestrictedString
- Minimum occurrences
- 1
- Maximum occurrences
- 1
- Part of
- Learner
Collection Requirements
- Collected for all learners
Attribute Codes
| Code | Definition |
|---|---|
| F |
Female |
| M |
Male |
Notes
We understand there is interest to be able to receive protected characteristics of learners such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability (LLDD), SEN, marital status, religion, paternity/ maternity leave etc. We don’t have an operational use for these characteristics centrally that justifies increasing the burden on the administrative collection. We therefore only collect LLDD, ethnicity and historically sex within further education data.
Whilst we understand the importance of the other characteristics mentioned being used to understand the balance of learners/ apprentices, our policy has always been not to collect such data. This is as the onus of the collection lies upon the learning providers, FE colleges and employers to collect this information as well as take informed action based on the data such as putting in place reasonable adjustment, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.
Furthermore, our data collection system for FE (ILR) is an administrative data collection system with it’s primary purpose being a funding data collection for providers. Asking for extra items would also burden providers in extending their collection and adapting their system to meet these requirements.