Socio-Economic Indicator: Field
Definition
To identify the socio-economic classification of learners participating in HE. Used to record the socio-economic classification of the learner if aged 21 or over at the start of the engagement, or of the learner's parent or guardian, if the learner is under 21. It can be derived from the UCAS admissions system for UCAS entrants.
Reason Required
Required by the OfS to classify the social background of students in a standard way, aligned to classifications defined by the Office for National Statistics. Used to monitor the impact of equality of opportunity policies, and analyses relating to widening access and data quality.
Schema Definitions
- XML Entity Name
- SEC
- Field Length
- 1
- Data type
- xs:int
- Minimum occurrences
- 0
- Maximum occurrences
- 1
- Part of
- LearningDeliveryHE
Collection Requirements
- Learners entering through UCAS
Attribute Codes
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Higher managerial and professional occupations |
| 2 | Lower managerial and professional occupations |
| 3 | Intermediate occupations |
| 4 | Small employers and own-account workers |
| 5 | Lower supervisory and technical occupations |
| 6 | Semi-routine occupations |
| 7 | Routine occupations |
| 8 | Never worked and long term unemployed |
| 9 | Not classified |
Notes
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This field relates to the learner on entry to the engagement. New entrants from UCAS will have this completed by UCAS and sent to providers.
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Providers are encouraged to provide this information for other full-time undergraduates in order to provide more complete statistical information for the sector.
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Code 9 'Not classified' includes the 3 categories:
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students
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occupations not stated or inadequately described
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not classifiable for other reasons.
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A full coding frame for SEC can been obtained from the Office for National Statistics.
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The student should be asked about parental occupation or, if 21 or over on entry to the engagement, their own occupation. If the parent or guardian is retired or unemployed, the classification is based on their most recent occupation.