Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-ilr-standard-file-specifications-and-reference-data

Change description : 2025-08-14 15:20:00: Added ‘ILR freeze schedule 2025 to 2026’. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-06-02 09:01:46.707676973 +00:00..2025-08-14 14:20:40.862462433 +00:00

Guidance

ILR standard file specifications and reference data

These documents specify how and when learner data collected is presented for analysis.

From:
Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency
Published
2 June 2016
Last updated
214 JuneAugust 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

ILR dataset 2024 to 2025

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.02 MB

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ILR dataset 2023 to 2024

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.07 MB

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ILR dataset 2022 to 2023

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.06 MB

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ILR dataset 2021 to 2022

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.04 MB

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ILR dataset 2020 to 2021

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.03 MB

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ILR dataset 2019 to 2020

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.08 MB

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ILR dataset 2018 to 2019

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.15 MB

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ILR dataset 2017 to 2018

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 757 KB

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ILR dataset 2016 to 2017

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 720 KB

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ILR dataset 2015 to 2016

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 949 KB

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ILR dataset 2014 to 2015

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 780 KB

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What is the ILR standard file specification

PDF, 185 KB, 5 pages

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ILR freeze schedule 2025 to 2026

PDF, 239 KB, 5 pages

ILR freeze schedule 2024 to 2025

PDF, 134 KB, 5 pages

ILR freeze schedule 2023 to 2024

PDF, 193 KB, 5 pages

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ILR freeze schedule 2022 to 2023

PDF, 193 KB, 5 pages

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SFA terms and conditions

PDF, 138 KB, 9 pages

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Details

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025. All activity has moved to the Department for Education (DfE). You should continue to follow this guidance.

These documents concern the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) standard files and associated reference data.

They specify how and when the learner data collected is presented for analysis. We send them to external organisations for their own analysis to ensure that the files being analysed are fit for purpose and that any ambiguity is avoided.

The ILR standard file specification datasets show how the data from the ILR collections is formatted for further analysis. This also includes derived variables (DVs) which help produce clearer and consistent data

The freeze schedule details the frequency of the ILR returns, when they are available and the purposes for which they are collected.

The ILR Dataset 2024 to 2025 is not accessible because there are tables with complex structures and colour is used to convey information. This means it does not meet WCAG success criteria:

  • 1.3.2: meaningful sequence
  • 1.3.3: sensory characteristics

We are currently working on an accessible version, which should be available by May 2026.

Data Sharing

The SFA terms and conditions are designed to put in place a framework for the sharing of personal data by external users with due attention to all relevant legislation.

How to use these documents

You can download any of these documents and save them to use as a local copy. We may periodically update these documents to reflect data specification changes or amendments to derivations.

How to get further information

If you would like any help with these documents or have any suggestions to help improve these documents, please contact us using the Customer Help Portal.

Updates to this page

Published 2 June 2016
Last updated 214 JuneAugust 2025 + show all updates

  2. Added 'ILR dataset 2024 to 2025'.

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Update history

2025-08-14 15:20
Added ‘ILR freeze schedule 2025 to 2026’.

2025-06-02 10:00
Added ‘ILR dataset 2024 to 2025’.

2024-08-12 09:54
Added ‘ILR freeze schedule 2024 to 2025’.

2024-03-12 11:26
Added ‘ILR dataset 2023 to 2024’.

2023-07-27 10:57
We have published the ILR freeze schedule 2023 to 2024.

2023-04-03 11:47
We have published the second version of the ILR dataset 2021 to 2022.

2023-01-26 11:27
We have published the ILR dataset 2022 to 2023.

2022-07-22 11:56
We have published the ILR freeze schedule 2022 to 2023.