The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is a longitudinal birth cohort study, following a nationally representative sample of over 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970. Cohort members have been surveyed throughout their childhood and adult lives, mapping their individual trajectories and creating a unique resource for researchers. It is one of very few longitudinal studies following people of this generation anywhere in the world.Since 1970, cohort members have been surveyed at ages 5, 10, 16, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, and 51. Featuring a range of objective measures and rich self-reported data, BCS70 covers an incredible amount of ground and can be used in research on many topics. Evidence from BCS70 has illuminated important issues for our society across five decades. Key findings include how reading for pleasure matters for children's cognitive development, why grammar schools have not reduced social inequalities, and how childhood experiences can impact on mental health in mid-life. Every day researchers from across the scientific community are using this important study to make new connections and discoveries.BCS70 is run by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), a research centre in the UCL Institute of Education, which is part of University College London. The content of BCS70 studies, including questions, topics and variables can be explored via the CLOSER Discovery website.How to access genetic and/or bio-medical sample data from a range of longitudinal surveys:For information on how to access biomedical data from BCS70 that are not held at the UKDS, see the CLS Genetic data and biological samples webpage.Secure Access datasetsSecure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL). SN 9115 - 1970 British Cohort Study: Sweeps 1-11, 1970-2024: Secure Access currently includes sensitive survey data from Sweep 10 and 11, as well as Activity Histories data. Researchers applying for access to the Secure Access BCS70 datasets should indicate on their ESRC Accredited Researcher application form the EUL dataset(s) that they also wish to access (selected from the BCS70 Series Access web page).Latest edition informationFor the third edition (March 2025), sensitive data from the Sweep 11, age 51 survey have been added. The study currently includes restricted files containing sensitive data for the following:sweep 10: details of any children of the respondent, born alive but since died and not already recorded in the person grids sweep 10: details of any pregnancies which resulted in a still-birth, miscarriage or termination (female respondents only)up to sweep 10: employment history data of respondents, including more detailed SIC and SOC codes than available under EULsweep 11 data files on benefits, debts, employment, housing, pregnancies, regular income, savings, and a core sweep 11 data file that also covers health and emigration.

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