Data Access
Procedures for requesting access to data held by the Education Analytical Services (EAS) Division of the Scottish Government Education Directorate
The EAS Division plays a key and leading role in the collection, analysis and publication of analytical evidence across the School Education and Young People sector. EAS Division works with stakeholders to ensure that necessary evidence is gathered, that overlap is minimised, that collections are harmonised and comprehensive and that publications are focused, relevant and accessible. As part of this agenda, EAS Division has put in place a process for receiving and responding to requests from outside the Scottish Government, for access to our data.
The following links provide information and advice
It should be noted that these procedures have not been introduced to deal with Freedom of Information (FoI)requests. Requests being dealt with through the Data Access procedures are predominately regarding access for statistical or research purposes to detailed - in some cases individual level - data.
For further information on the Data Access procedures please contact
How EAS Division responds to requests for access to data
The effective and appropriate use of data is considered by EAS Division to be an important aspect of the work of the Division, and as such EAS Division looks to facilitate the sharing of data with the education and wider community. Decisions on whether to enable access to data held by EAS Division are ultimately taken by the Head of the Division, but advice is provided by the Data Access Panel, who consider applications against a range of agreed criteria.
The further sharing of data held by EAS Division is predominately for the purposes of statistical analysis and research. Access is only agreed where is it clear that EAS Division has the right to share data, where the use of the information is considered consistent with the original purposes for collecting the data, where no individuals will be publicly identified as a result of the analyses and where appropriate safeguards and checks are in place to ensure the security of the data throughout its exchange and use.
In order to seek access to the data held by EAS Division, a data access form must be completed. This form is then considered by the Data Access Panel and decisions taken on whether to support the application, seek further information or advise against the request. Should access be agreed, the Scottish Government and requestor sign a data sharing agreement.
Data Sharing forms
The first formal stage of an application to access data held by EAS Division is the completion of the 'Application Form for Data Access'.
The Data Access Panel will then consider the application form against the criteria set out in the 'Issues for Data Access Panel to Consider' paper.
Should the access to data be agreed by EAS Division, the attached agreement 'Data Access Agreement' will be signed.
Data Access Panel
The Data Access Panel was formed in May 2006 to advise EAS Division on how to respond to the access to data requests being received. The Panel provides the EAS Division with the opportunity to discuss applications with colleagues from across the education sector.
Papers from the Data Access Panel meetings will be published on this site.
Meetings :
Previous and current data access agreements
All successful applications to access data held by EAS Division will be published on this site. The 'data access spreadsheet' provides some basic details on each request. Further information can be requested from Pete Whitehouse.