Longitudinal Education Outcomes for Northern Ireland - a data linkage initiative
The Longitudinal Education Outcomes for Northern Ireland (LEO NI) database will transform how we understand education outcomes in Northern Ireland. By linking data through a learner’s journey, it will give policymakers a powerful and holistic view of what drives long-term success. For the first time, we will be able to explore the real impact of factors like attendance, background, and training on outcomes - and design effective interventions. Aligned with UK-wide developments, LEO NI will modernise policymaking with integrated, evidence-based insight.
About LEO NI
LEO NI has been developed through a collaboration between the Department for the Economy (DfE) Analytical Services Division, the Administrative Data Research Northern Ireland (ADR NI)[1] team within the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), and the Department of Education (DE).
It is a de-identified, linked administrative dataset that brings together post‑primary education data from DE with apprenticeship, further education and higher education data from DfE.
LEO NI enables researchers to examine educational pathways and outcomes over time. It has been designed to support research that delivers public benefit and informs policy development.
For information on the dataset, guidance documents and researcher access, visit the NISRA Longitudinal Education Outcomes Northern Ireland (LEO NI) webpage.
Future phases of LEO NI are expected to include employment, earnings and benefits data, providing insights into longer-term outcomes.
Research and policy impact
LEO NI strengthens the evidence base for education and skills policy in Northern Ireland.
UKRI Policy Fellow Fran Azpitarte will undertake research using LEO NI data to inform the development of post‑school Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy.
Accessing LEO NI
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 is subject to approval by the data providers and the UK Statistics Authority Research Accreditation Panel (RAP).
Data linkage and methodology
Details of the matching methodology used by the NISRA Trusted Third Party (TTP), and the resulting linkage between data sources, are available in the LEO NI Matching Report.
Education Outcomes Linkage
An important step in the development of LEO NI was the creation of the Education Outcomes Linkage (EOL) 2018/19–2021/22 dataset. It links post‑primary data for pupils aged 14 to 18, including School Census data (including attendance), School Leavers Survey and Exams database.
Access to the EOL dataset is also limited to researchers and research teams with accredited researcher status under the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) and is subject to approval by the data providers and the UK Statistics Authority Research Accreditation Panel (RAP).
Contact us
We welcome feedback and enquiries about LEO NI.
Email: analyticalservices@economy-ni.gov.uk
1 ADR NI is part of the ESRC funded ADR UK initiative; further details are available at ADR UK