Kevin,

Thank you for your prompt response. Whilst you are correct in
your assumption that details such as year of programme are
readily available on most universities' student databases, my
concern was in the apparent lack of recognition on the TTA's part
of the time required to amend the reporting mechanisms (ie
getting the data OUT of our systems) to facilitate the new
requirements. Our systems people work on a vast range of
projects, and we cannot make demands on them for re-programming
at such short notice. On with the 'paper trail'!

Judy Evans

On Wed, 19 Sep 2001 16:07:17 +0100 Watkins Kevin
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Judy,
>
> Thanks for this email.  I am sorry if the information we have
> asked for seems to be a significant increase to that of previous
> years.
>
> The notification to providers of the census' data requirements
> has been delayed this year because the finalisation of some of
> the TTA funding responsibilities (e.g. ITT fast track scheme) for
> 2001/02.  Some of these responsibilities were not agreed until
> late August.  Obviously the TTA could not notify ITT providers of
> changes to the census before these responsibilities were
> finalised. In anticipation to additional data requirements, we
> submitted a proposal for these changes to the TTA's internal Star
> Chamber in June 2001 - of which was approved.  The changes
> outlined in this proposal showed that, under the new
> requirements, some providers would need to provide more
> information, others less.  In your particular situation, it looks
> as if there will be a small increase in the amount of information
> we require.  The TTA Star Chamber is represented by the TTA, DfES
> and ITT providers; its purpose is to ensure that there are no
> unnecessary data burdens placed on ITT providers.
>
> As I am sure you will agree, the most significant change this
> year is that we now require registration information at year of
> course level.  This is so the TTA is more able to accurately
> identify how many trainees there are in the system and when these
> trainees are likely to complete their courses - obviously this is
> particularly important when setting future intake targets. We
> assumed that this information would be readily available from
> providers' registrations databases.
>
> Please accept my apologies for the late notification of the census
> requirements - I hope it will not cause too much inconvenience.
>
> Kevin Watkins
> Teacher Training Agency
> Funding and Allocations
> Tel: 020-7925-3724
> Fax: 020-7925-3791
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>       -----Original Message-----
>       From:   Judy Evans [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>       Sent:   Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:23 PM
>       To:     [log in to unmask]
>       Cc:     [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask]
>       Subject:        2001 ITT Trainee Numbers Census
>
>       Colleagues,
>
>       I have just received the ITT data requirements for the 2001 ITT
>       census from the TTA, letter dated 18th September 2001.
> The census    date for this survey is 10th October 2001, with a
> return date to        TTA by no later than 17th October 2001.
>
>       Given the annual nature of this request, we had previously
>       anticipated the requirement and have already put measures
> in    place to ensure that ITT students get priority in terms
> of data       entry onto our Student Record system, given the
> very short time       frame between our term start and this
> census. Our assumption has    also been, in the absence of any
> indications to the contrary,  that the standard data items
> would be required, and our reporting  mechanisms have been
> checked and updated to ensure compliance.
>
>       I was therefore somewhat disheartened to find that the TTA have
>       decided to require additional data from us this year, for which
>       we have had no forewarning. Thus at the busiest time of the year
>       for us in terms of data collection and entry, we are now
> required      to amend our reporting mechanisms to ensure that
> the data we are       required to report to them is readily
> available for us to do this   task. In the absence of time and
> resources, we will no doubt have      to resort to
> 'paper-chasing' to provide the information now asked  for.
>
>       HEFCE normally provide a three month lead-in time to any changes
>       to HESES, for which we are grateful, but which still
> proves        challenging to meet. To be given three weeks is derisory.
>
>       Am I alone in feeling frustrated and aggrieved?
>
>       Judy
>       ----------------------  Judy Evans
>       Head of Management Information  University of North London
>       166-220 Holloway Road   London N7 8DB
>
>       tel : 020 7753 5146
>       fax : 020 7753 5120
>
>       email : [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
>
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----------------------
Judy Evans
Head of Management Information
University of North London
166-220 Holloway Road
London N7 8DB

tel : 020 7753 5146
fax : 020 7753 5120

email : [log in to unmask]