You asked
Regarding the publication of Standards Occupational Classification 2020 (volumes 1 and 2) and specifically the classification of Comprehensive Pilates Teacher and Pilates Mat Teacher we would like to know:
- the full details of all the independent experts that have been involved in this process of classification. including the details of their qualifications, affiliations and experience
- the full details of these experts including their input and their discussions with you
- their objections regarding the inclusion of these job titles, and any statistical or academic evidence that was used to support their decisions
We said
Thank you for your request.
In January 2016, we commenced a comprehensive revision of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2010.
The revision process is extensive and involves gathering evidence from SOC users and industry experts, and where relevant, proposals for change are made and circulated to SOC stakeholders. In addition, as SOC is a statistical classification, survey data are analysed to ensure that there is sufficient evidence in the data for the changes being proposed. As part of the process, a SOC Revision Steering Group, comprising SOC experts, was created to review decisions made and provide final sign off on the resulting SOC 2020 framework.
As part of the SOC revision process, we consulted on whether Pilates Teachers, that currently code to Fitness Instructors (3443), should be moved to minor group 221 'Health Professionals' or 222 'Therapy Professionals'. After following the revision process outlined above, it was decided tha they should not move and continue to code to Fitness Instructors. We also consulted on whether we should include the job title for Comprehensive Pilates Teacher to the SOC2020 index for 3219 'Health Associate Professionals'. The final decision was not to include this.
With regards to the independent experts involved in the process of classification, the SOC revision team discussed the classification of Pilates Teachers with six industry practitioners who responded to our stakeholder engagement exercise. Many of these practitioners responded with the view that Pilates Teachers are not Health Professionals. Responses acknowledged the health benefits of Pilates exercises, but advised that these were similar to many other fitness activities. As a result, practitioners advised that they viewed themselves as fitness and exercise professionals and not Health Professionals. The view expressed by the PTA that Pilates Teachers are Health Professionals and should be classified within this group was considered, in addition to their view that the job title Comprehensive Pilates Teacher should be included within the job index for Health Professionals.
Stakeholder engagement was one element of the evidence collected to inform the SOC revision. To support the revision, we also contracted labour market experts from the National Centre of Social Research, and the Institute for Employment Research at Warwick University. Together with our own occupational experts, they formed the SOC revision working group. The working group reviewed statistical evidence to help inform the decision using the following resources:
- Labour Force Survey - text responses to questions on job titles, brief job descriptions, qualification requirements for jobs, and descriptions of what is made or done at the place of work from 11 quarters of unique responses from employed persons.
- 2011 Census of Population for England and Wales - similar information from an economically active 1% sample.
- ONS Classification Database - a database of queries logged from occupational coding activities carried out by a variety of organisations and agencies across the UK.
- Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey -- which is to identify graduate and non-graduate occupations.
- Extensive research using online job advertisements.
In doing so, the working group found no evidence on the use of the job title 'Comprehensive Pilates Teacher' or for indications of NVQ Level 4 or above qualifications for persons describing themselves as Pilates teacher. As a statistical classification, in order for these job titles to be incorporated in the statistical index, it is essential that these criteria of sufficient evidence are met.
Having considered both stakeholder views and the results of the data analysis, a decision was made not to include the job title Comprehensive Pilates Teacher to the SOC2020 index for 3219 'Health Associate Professionals'. A project is underway to consider developing a more granular version of SOC. The view of the PTA, to incorporate the job title 'Comprehensive Pilates Teacher', will be considered in the development of the SOC extended framework.