All Providers Qualifications
Improving outcomes for children and young people is a core priority in Scotland, reflected in Scottish Government policies such as Getting It Right For Every Child, The Promise and the Scottish Attainment Challenge.
This year, ADR Scotland made a new national, linkable dataset available to enhance how education is understood, analysed and improved. The All Providers Qualifications dataset is now available within the Scottish National Safe Haven, bringing together approximately 35 million records from 2008 to 2023, making an important step forward in the availability of research-ready education data.
A defining feature of the dataset is its breadth. It goes beyond traditional Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) awards to include qualifications from a diverse range of providers, including colleges, Young Enterprise Scotland, Sports Leaders UK and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. This broader scope offers a more complete view of how learners gain skills and recognition, reflecting the increasingly varied pathways young people take through education and training.
The dataset also unlocks powerful new opportunities for data linkage. It can be securely linked to other datasets such as the Pupil Census and Attendance and Absence records, enabling more sophisticated and longitudinal analysis.
Research questions could include:
How has the range and uptake of qualifications changed between 2008-2023 and what impact have attainment policy initiatives had on qualification patterns?
How do different qualification pathways relate to later educational, training or employment outcomes?
How do qualification outcomes vary by socioeconomic backgrounds, geography or school characteristics?
These enhanced insights can support Scotland’s key policy priorities. By improving understanding of attainment, progression and outcomes, the dataset can inform evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing child poverty, raising educational attainment and improving wellbeing.
