1. Introduction
1.1 Administrative Data Research in Northern Ireland (ADR NI)
Since 2013 the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), has funded NISRA (in partnership with the Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University) to host an Administrative Data Research Centre in Northern Ireland (known as the ADR NI and which is part of the wider ADR UK). The aim of the ADR NI has been to provide a secure and accredited research environment to enable agreed, ethically approved and cross-cutting research to be conducted using administrative data sets that are routinely collected and analysed by NICS departments and other bodies. The objectives of the joined-up approach are to inform the development and monitoring of public policy and to help ensure that decision making is evidence based and the research provides a benefit to society. The ADR NI makes it possible for trained and accredited researchers to use de-identified administrative data for social and economic research, while making sure the data remain safe and the privacy of individuals and businesses are protected.
2. LEO NI
2.1 Longitudinal Education Outcomes Northern Ireland (LEO NI)
The Longitudinal Education Outcomes Northern Ireland (LEO NI) dataset is a de-identified, linked administrative dataset that brings together education, training and apprenticeship data from across Northern Ireland government.
LEO NI has been developed through a partnership between the Department of Education (DE), the Department for the Economy (DfE), and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Research Support Unit (RSU).
The dataset enables researchers to examine educational pathways and outcomes over time, from post-primary education through further education, higher education, training and apprenticeships. It has been designed to support research that delivers public benefit and informs policy development.
LEO NI contains information relating to Post-primary and special school pupils aged 14 years and over who appeared in at least one School Census between 2016/17 and 2023/24 and learners participating in further education, higher education, training and apprenticeship programmes from 2017/18 onwards, including those who do not appear in the school population.
LEO NI currently includes data covering academic years 2016/17 to 2023/24 and brings together information from the following sources:
Department of Education (DE)
- School Census (2016/17–2023/24)
- Attendance Data (2016/17–2023/24*)
- School Leavers Survey (2016/17–2023/24)
- Exams Database (2018/19–2023/24)
*Attendance data for 2022/23 is unavailable due to Action Short of Strike (ASOS).
Department for the Economy (DfE)
- Training for Success, Skills for Life and Work and ApprenticeshipsNI (2017/18-2023/24)
- Further Education (2017/18–2023/24)
- Higher Education (2017/18–2022/23)
The dataset currently contains over 540,000 individuals linked across approximately 4.8 million records, creating a rich resource for longitudinal research. Future phases of LEO NI are expected to incorporate employment, earnings and benefits data, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of educational and labour market outcomes.
2.2 Areas of research interest
LEO NI has the potential to support a wide range of policy priorities across both the Department of Education (DE) and the Department for the Economy (DfE) by providing evidence on how individuals progress through education, training and skills systems over time. By linking school, attendance, examinations and school leaver data with further education, higher education, apprenticeship and training records, the dataset enables analysis of educational attainment, participation, progression and outcomes across the learner journey. This will support policy development and evaluation in areas such as educational disadvantage, equality of opportunity, school improvement, special educational needs, attendance, curriculum and qualifications, post-16 pathways, social mobility, widening participation, workforce development, skills provision, apprenticeships and regional inequalities. LEO NI also provides a valuable resource for assessing the effectiveness of education and skills interventions, identifying factors associated with successful outcomes, and strengthening the evidence base for improving opportunities and outcomes for learners across Northern Ireland.
At present the LEO NI is a standalone dataset and cannot be linked to other datasets.
As the dataset expands in future phases to include employment and benefits data, it will further enhance the ability of DE and DfE to evaluate the longer-term social and economic impact of education and skills policies. A list of key policy areas of research interest will be made available.
2.3 Data Linkage
The LEO NI is a suite of linked tables connected through an anonymised unique identifier, enabling researchers to examine educational pathways and outcomes over time and across numerous education and training settings. Researchers will be permitted to link longitudinally (where data is available) and across each of the datasets.
Linkage quality is high, with independent clerical review indicating accuracy levels in excess of 99%. More information on the linkage and associated caveats can be found in the guidance document and the linkage report.
3. LEO NI Data
3.1 The Data
There is a suite of documents available to support researchers in understanding LEO NI. This includes the LEO NI Metadata and Data Dictionary, LEO NI Researcher Guidance and Matching Methodology Report. These documents provide detailed information on dataset coverage, variable content and availability, linkage methodology, disclosure controls and known data limitations.
3.2 Accessing the LEO NI data
Access to the LEO NI dataset is limited to researchers and research teams with accredited researcher status under the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) and subject to approval by each of the data providers and the UK Statistics Authority Research Accreditation Panel (RAP). In the first instance, researchers should contact RSU (rsu@nisra.gov.uk) to discuss their research proposal and provide an abstract outlining their proposal. RSU, in consultation with the data providers, will determine the feasibility of the project prior to the completion of a full application form by the researcher(s) to be submitted to RAP. The full application will require researchers to detail the main aims and objectives of the proposed project as well as the methodological approach that they are intending to use. Researchers will need to include details of the data required (including variable list with justifications) and cohort required. Researchers will also be required to detail any public engagement activities planned as part of the project. Ethical approval will also be required for each project. Ethics are assessed through the full application form by the UKSA Data Ethics. RSU will support the research team throughout the application process.
The LEO NI dataset may be accessed in the RSU secure research environment or via the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS) subject to data owner and RAP approval.
4. Other Useful information
4.1 Organisation Name
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
ADR UK - Administrative Data Research UK(external link opens in a new window / tab)
4.2 Quality/Background Documentation
Background Quality Report Enrolments at schools and in funded pre-school centres 2025.pdf
School Leavers Survey Background Quality Report May 2023.pdf (education-ni.gov.uk)
Quality of higher education statistics | Department for the Economy
Quality report - further education activity | Department for the Economy
Contact the team
Research Support Unit
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
BELFAST
BT9 5RR
Telephone: +44(0) 28 90 388488
Email: rsu@nisra.gov.uk
Web page: Research Support Unit