Menu
Close
- Data Updates
- Upcoming development: Archival of the POLAR3 related fields across the database
Following the release of the updated version of the Postcode Profiler report, and the archival of the POLAR3 related fields in the Summer 2024 Technical Update, we would like to notify members about the planned deprecation of the POLAR3 metrics across the HEAT database
In the Summer 2024 Update, we improved the presentation of the Postcode Profiler Report data. Part of this work included archiving fields which were identified as based on historical methods of measuring deprivation.
Though mostly archived from the Postcode Profiler Dataset and the Institution record, currently, there are POLAR3 fields still present across the database in the following locations:
- Student Record – Geography Tab
- Ambassador Record – Geography Tab
- Delivery Report
- Infographic Report – Underlying Data
- Data Dictionary
- Delivery Report – Section 2 Students
- Office for Students Monitoring Report – Underlying Data
- HESA Report
Summary of changes
The Summer 2025 Update will see the archival of the POLAR3 fields across the remaining areas of the database, and a removal of the remaining POLAR3 YPR Quintile and POLAR3 Adult HE Quintile fields from the Postcode Profiler.
Why are we making this change?
As per Office for Students guidance, the archived POLAR3 geographical deprivation measure is historical and has been superseded by the more up-to-date geographical measures, such as POLAR4 and TUNDRA LSOA/MSOA. POLAR3 was created in September 2012 and will not be updated further, nor included in the OfS APP dashboards, and as such is no longer an up-to-date measure of deprivation.
Impact of this change
The deprecation of POLAR3 means that this field will no longer be present onscreen, within exports and reports, and all underlying data files and tables.
Important note to any member that utilises any of these fields via API access:
As these fields and the information they contain will no longer be available following the Summer 2025 Update, it is important to update your processes to ensure the impact of this change does not affect the data you input and retrieve.
Following the outline above, if you have any feedback or queries regarding the content of this update and its impact, please contact HEAT Support.
Back