Introduction to using linked data between the Ministry of Justice and Department for Education

This short online course provides an introduction to an existing data linkage between the Ministry of Justice and Department for Education, with a particular focus on the Police National Computer (PNC) and National Pupil Database (NPD). The course will include a mixture of lectures, interactive sessions, and practical exercises to put learning into practice.

The course covers: 

• Accessing the data share

• Overview of available data 

• Tips and considerations for data cleaning

• Successfully clearing outputs

• Case studies using the linked dataset

By the end of the course participants will:

• Know how to access the data share
• Be familiar with the content of the data
• Know how to navigate some data cleaning challenges
• Understand some strengths and limitations of the data
• Know how to create successful outputs for clearance

This course will suit anyone interested in conducting quantitative data analyses using linked education and crime data in England. This may include, but is not limited to, quantitative researchers in academic, government, or third sector settings. People at any stage in their research career would be welcome, but the course will likely most interest PhD students, early career researchers, and mid career researchers.  

No specialist prior knowledge of the NPD, PNC, or statistical software is needed to attend, but a basic knowledge of research design and quantitative data analysis would be beneficial.

No prior reading is required for this training, but applicants may wish to explore existing outputs arising from the NPD and PNC, such as:

• https://www.adruk.org/news-publications/publications-reports/moj-dfe-linked-dataset-feasibility-study-data-quality-report/
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-childrens-social-care-and-offending

THIS COURSE IS BEING TAUGHT OVER TWO MORNINGS AND EQUATES TO ONE TEACHING DAY FOR PAYMENT PURPOSES.