NOTICE OF THE ACCREDITATION LAUNCH EVENT for Privileged early access to Performance Data through the RAISEonline Replacement Service

** New Information added 16.11.2016**

An event that suppliers can attend to learn more about the new accreditation process, walkthrough the draft application document set and gain an insight into the high-level technical architecture which will support the service.

Accreditation Launch Event Details: DATE: 29 November 2016 VENUE: DfE Sanctuary Building, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT TIME: either 10:15 - 11:45 or 12:15-13:45

This notice is to confirm the Accreditation Launch Event arrangements with suppliers who wish to attend. As the same two events are being held on 29 November 2016, please contact DfE before 21 November 2016 to secure a place (limited to 2 per organisation). Please state your preferred event time and provide your name and contact details, including email address, of the attendee(s) by email to: [email protected]. Confirmation of your place/s will be emailed to you by 24 November 2016.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR ACCREDITATION Enquiries and expressions of interest to: [email protected] 03/10/16 to 19/01/17

Notice of Accreditation Launch Event for the RAISEonline replacement service 01/11/16

Expressions of Interest to attend event By 21/11/16 (change of date)

Confirmation of event place at Launch Event emailed to suppliers 24/11/16 (change of date)

Accreditation Launch Event – introduction to the accreditation process, walkthrough draft application document set and gain an insight into the high-level technical architecture. 29/11/16 Session at either 10.15am or 12.15am

Publish Instructions to Market i.e. application for accreditation / Specification & Assessment Criteria / Agreement Terms & Conditions 02/12/16

Deadline for Accreditation Applications 25/01/17

Accreditation Assessment Panels Week commencing 13/02/17

Publish Accreditation decisions on Contract Finder 07/03/17

Supplier Accreditation in place 31/03/17

Accredited Suppliers prepare services 01/04/17 onwards

DfE provide Accredited Suppliers with early access to data To be advised

Please note that the above timetable is indicative only. Prospective applicants will be informed if the schedule changes.

Additional information: The commercial arrangements for the RAISEonline service are due to expire on 31 March 2017. Further information about the existing service is available at: www.raiseonline.org.

Therefore, the DfE will build an in-house service to replace RAISEonline and deliver a core service that will be provided free to users, giving schools timely access to headline measures and key underlying pupil level data securely. School self-evaluation, benchmarking and accountability are central facets of the Department’s goal of tackling underperformance and supporting school improvement. Providing robust and timely data to schools is crucial to these functions.

School self-evaluation requires schools to have access to pupil-level attainment and progress data, as well as context data, benchmarked against national comparators. A national accountability framework requires a ‘single version’ of each school’s key performance measures to be calculated and presented on the same basis.

The strategic objectives are to: • drive up standards through common metrics across the system based on headline accountability measures

• encourage use of data by Heads, Teachers and Governors to drive up performance by presenting it in accessible ways that enables them to quickly identify problems, areas of concern and potential best practice

• ensure that all schools use the data and that it is well presented

• move perception of performance data to one of it supporting school improvement in its own right not just through discussions with Ofsted

• further enable the market to continue developing services that use data to drive school improvement

• improve the level of confidentiality offered to pupil data The DfE proposes to make the data that sits behind the RAISEonline replacement service available to suppliers through new accreditation arrangements. It is proposed that suppliers who meet our published Accreditation Requirements (e.g. on security, matching DfE measures, publication standards) achieve accreditation and thereby receive privileged early access to data in advance of the official publication date, which would therefore enable them to produce analytical tools, offering innovative school improvement data services that may be procured by schools, if they choose. The number of accreditations awarded may be limited depending on the number of successful applications received. Successful suppliers will be awarded accreditation from 31 March 2017 to allow sufficient time for preparation of services. It is anticipated that accredited suppliers will be provided with privileged early access to the 2016/2017 academic school year data via the replacement service.

Agreements will be on a Cost-neutral/concession accreditation basis.