Glossary
Withdrawal reason
The code that records why a learner left, recorded alongside a withdrawal.
In full
The withdrawal reason explains why the learner left the aim. Some reasons carry funding consequences and some are used in performance reporting, so an accurate reason matters beyond tidiness.
Defaulting every withdrawal to a single generic reason removes information the college itself needs in order to understand why learners leave.
Where this comes up
diagnostic
Should this be a break in learning or a withdrawal?
The learner has stopped, and the question is whether to record a break in learning, which pauses the programme on the basis that they will return, or a withdrawal, which ends it. The two have different funding and achievement consequences, so the choice is not administrative.
module
Withdrawals, breaks and restarts
How leaving is recorded, why the date matters as much as the fact, and where the line falls between a break in learning and a withdrawal.
diagnostic
A learner left weeks ago but is still showing as continuing
The learner has stopped attending, but the ILR still shows their aim as open with no actual end date, so the system believes they are still in learning and keeps generating funding for them.
diagnostic
An aim has ended but no outcome has been recorded
The aim has an actual end date, so the system knows it finished, but nothing records whether the learner achieved it. The achievement rate calculation treats an aim with no achievement recorded as a non-achievement.
scenario
An adult learner withdraws in week six
A learner on a fully funded adult qualification stops attending six weeks in. Follow it from the tutor noticing to the audit test.
scenario
Earnings fall sharply after a bulk data update
A bulk update is applied to a cohort and the next funding report shows a material fall. Where do you look?