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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