Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

The 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 16, Sweep 4 Reading and Matrices Tests, 1986 study includes data derived from reading and matrices tests administrated in 1986, when cohort members were 16 years old. The reading test used was the Shortened Edinburgh Reading Test, and the Matrices tests were extracted from the British Ability Scales standard set of tests.


Main Topics:

Reading ability and matrix pattern recognition.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

The BCS70 42-Month Sub-sample
The aim of the 42-month sub-sample survey was to investigate foetal malnutrition and its effect on the subsequent development of the child.

For the second edition (August 2008), revised data files were deposited. The serial number for all respondents has been replaced with a new one, variable Bcsid. This change has been made for all datasets in the BCS70 series. Further information may be found in the ‘CLS Confidentiality and Data Security Review’, included in the documentation.



Main Topics:

The main topics included mental and physical development, health, disabilities, siblings, housing, child care, parent's occupations and employment status, socio-economic status.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

1970 British Cohort Study: Age 16, Sweep 4, 1986
The purpose of the 16-year follow-up was to review and evaluate adolescent (mid-teenage) health, care, education, social and family environment throughout Great Britain, as experienced by the BCS70 cohort. At the same time, a parallel survey was also conducted with head teachers of schools likely to be attended by cohort members. The main impetus behind this was to find out more about these schools, especially as many of the cohort members were about to leave full-time education. The head teacher questionnaires were not able to be keyed, documented and deposited at the time of the survey due to lack of resources, but funding finally became available in 2004/5 to complete this task at CLS. The resulting dataset is archived under SN 5225.

Latest edition information
For the ninth edition (September 2022), a derived dataset (bcs70_age16_school_type) has been added, which includes age 16 school type data for the entire BCS cohort. This is derived from STYPE (BCS4), B9SC16TP (BCS9) and the 1986 School Census. A user guide describing this variable in full has also been added. In addition, the derived variable BD4STYPE has been removed from the data file bcs4derived.

Main Topics:

Subjects covered include:

• cohort members: exercise and sport; hygiene; diet (including 4-day diary); activity diary (4-day); leisure activities; family life; religion; leaving home; money; smoking; alcohol; laterality; television, video and radio; friends and social behaviour; law and order; sexual behaviour; self-esteem; health status; medical history; attitudes to health and emotions; drug use; school; occupational interests; reading, spelling and vocabulary tests; mathematics tests; life-skills test (education, training and employment)
• parents: health status; family health; chronic illness and disability; medication; accidents and injuries; use of health services; social experience; father's occupation; mother's occupation; parental situation; family finances; household amenities; accommodation type; number of rooms; neighbourhood; alcohol consumption; smoking; performance at school; life skills; behaviour
• medical: special requirements; chronic illness and disability; psychological/psychiatric problems; medical examination; blood pressure; distant and near vision tests; motor co-ordination tests; audiometry; height and weight; head circumference
• school: curriculum; teaching methods; special education; teacher's assessment of behaviour; academic achievement; academic potential; absences from school

Standard Measures
The data includes the following scales administered to the BCS70 cohort members: Rutter A Scale of Behavioural Deviance and the Malaise Inventory (Rutter, M. et al., 1970); Hyperactivity/Behavioural Scale (Connors, 1964); 12 item General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1978); Lawseq (Self-esteem Scale); Caraloc...

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

The 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 16, Sweep 4 Leisure and Television Diaries, 1986 study was part of the BCS70 Age 16 follow-up survey known as 'Youthscan', available at the UK Data Archive under SN 3535, where respondents completed two diaries; one of leisure activities, and the other of television viewing, over a consecutive four-day period (Friday-Monday).

Of the 11,622 cohort members who completed one or more sections of the 16-year Youthscan study, 7,243 (62 per cent) attempted to complete a leisure diary. Some only managed two or three of the four days. Others left parts of the diary blank or provided entries that were illegible. 75 per cent of the diaries were collected between June and September, July being the most frequent month.

6,946 cohort members completed a television diary over the relevant four-day period.

The leisure and television diary data have not hitherto been available for analysis.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

The 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 38, Sweep 8, 2008-2009 was conducted when respondents were aged 38. The latest sweep was conducted for the first time as a telephone interview (CATI). The main aim of the most recent survey was to explore the factors central to the formation and maintenance of adult identity in each of the following domains:

• lifelong learning
• relationships, parenting and housing
• employment and income
• health and health behaviour
• citizenship and values

Latest edition information
For the fifth edition (November 2019), the interview month and year variables (B8INTM and B8INTY) have been added to the main dataset.

Main Topics:

The survey explored the following areas:

• housing
• relationship history
• births and other pregnancies
• periods of lone parenthood
• children and the wider family (social relationships and support)
• family income
• employment status/employment history
• academic education
• general health
• smoking

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

1970 British Cohort Study: Age 26, Sweep 5, 1996
The 26-year follow-up was the fourth full national follow-up of the BCS70 cohort. This follow-up was designed to review and evaluate young adults' (26 year) health, education, social and family environment throughout Britain. The comprehensive nature of the data gathered in this longitudinal study enables study of the effects on the 26-year old's education, health and general progress, of perinatal problems, serious childhood illnesses and critical episodes in the family or social environment.

For the fifth edition (June 2016) a small number of primary identifiers (BCSID) have been changed to realign them to previous sweeps of data. See the documentation for full details of the work done.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

The main aim of the 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 34, Sweep 7, 2004-2005 was to explore the factors central to the formation and maintenance of adult identity in each of the following domains:

• lifelong learning
• relationships, parenting and housing
• employment and income
• health and health behaviour
• citizenship and values

For the fifth edition (May 2020), a dataset and an accompanying user guide on the Dyslexia Adult Screening Test (DAST) module, which was completed as part of the 2004 survey, have been added to the study.

Main Topics:

Topics covered in the Age 34 survey included:

Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI):
housing; partnerships, current and former; births and other pregnancies; periods of lone parenthood; children and the wider family; family income; employment status/employment history; academic education; vocational training; access to and use of computers; basic skills; general health; diet and exercise; height and weight; family activities; social participation; social support

Computer Aided Self-completion Interviewing (CASI):
political attitudes; family life; drinking; general skills; psychological well-being; experience of crime adult assessments; basic skills (literacy and numeracy) questions in multiple choice format (CASI/CAPI); basic skills (literacy and numeracy) questions in an open-response format (CAPI); reading/writing exercises (adapted from the Dyslexia Adult Screening Test)

Parent and Child Interviews:
Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample parent interview (CAPI) age specific questions on: childs physical and mental health; mothers health-related behaviour during pregnancy; parent-child separations; pre-school care; current education; parental aspirations; consent for child assessments

Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample parent self-completion (paper) age specific questions on: physical and cognitive development; parent/child relationship; childs behaviour and how s/he relates to other children and adults; disciplining children; school absence/exclusion; reading and schoolwork

Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample child assessments age specific (3<17) assessments: early years (3:0 - 5:11); BAS naming vocabulary; BAS early number concepts; copying school age (6:0; 16:11); BAS word reading; BAS spelling; BAS number skills

Cohort members with resident natural/adopted child aged <17 in 1 in 2 sample Child (10<17) self-completion (paper): leisure time; relationship with their parents; attitudes to school and aspirations for the future; smoking, drinking, drug use and experience of petty crime; self-esteem

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

1970 British Cohort Study: Age 46, Sweep 10 Accelerometry Data, 2016-2018

The aim of the BCS70 Age 46 follow-up (see SN 8547) was to collect key details of the cohort members’ lives including their socio-economic circumstances (e.g. household composition, cohabiting relationships, housing, economic activity, and income) and their health (physical health, mental health, medication, and health behaviours). This survey had a significant biomedical focus, with objective health measurements and assessments being conducted for the first time in the cohort members’ adulthood.

Activity Monitor Data:

Free-living physical activity and sedentary behaviour can be measured objectively using a combination of thigh inclination and acceleration. Accelerometers are electro-mechanical devices that measure acceleration force. Cohort members were asked to wear thigh-worn accelerometers for one week as part of the Age 46 Survey. This is the first time accelerometry has been included on BCS70.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

1970 British Cohort Study: Age 5, Sweep 2 1975
The aim of the 5-year follow-up was to review and evaluate pre-school health, care and education services throughout Britain, as experienced by the BCS70 cohort of children.

For the fifth edition (June 2016) a small number of primary identifiers (BCSID) have been changed to realign them to previous sweeps of data. See the documentation for full details of the work done.


Main Topics:

Three instruments were used to collect data:

The Maternal Self-completion Questionnaire contained questions on the behaviour of the child at home and maternal depression. There were 43 variables designed to elicit attitudes towards child rearing, maternal employment, television viewing and hospital visiting.

The Home Interview Questionnaire was administered by health visitors who carried out the interviews in the children's own homes. Usually the interviewee was the mother.

The Test Booklet was adminstered by the health visitor during her visit to the child at home.

A Developmental History Schedule was designed to obtain information from child health records, but the number of missing records make these data of limited use and they are not deposited in the UK Data Archive.

Measurement Scales:
Rutter A Scale of behavioural deviance and the Malaise Inventory (Rutter, M. et al, 1970). The Likert Scale was used to describe attitudes towards the role of women in society and various child- rearing issues.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

1970 British Cohort Study: Age 10, Sweep 3, 1980
The 10-year follow-up was the second full national follow-up of the BCS70 cohort. It was designed to review and evaluate mid-childhood health, care, education, social and family environment throughout Britain. A number of considerations influenced the development of the survey instrumentation used. A major factor was the desire to examine 10-year-old children's educational achievement and the ways in which it is influenced by other events, and a wide range of earlier developmental, educational, social and health factors recorded previously on the same cohort and in particular the effects of: pre-school education and daycare; and learning difficulties. Health itself was another major focus of the follow-up, to provide a comparison with information gathered during the 5-year follow-up. The comprehensive nature of the data gathered in this longitudinal BCS study from birth onwards enables examination of the effects on the 10-year child's education, health and general progress, of perinatal problems, serious childhood illnesses and critical episodes in the family or social environment. A separate subset study conducted at the same time, covering 10-year follow-up respondents with special educational needs- see SN 7064.

Latest edition information:
For the seventh edition (October 2023), a small number of primary identifiers (BCSID) have been changed in the bcs3derived data file to realign them to other BCS70 data. Additionally, a correction to the units was made to the variable label for meb19.1 in the sn3723 data file.


Main Topics:

Some 15 separate survey documents were used, comprising manuals, assessments, self-completion questionnaires, interview schedules, and a medical examination record. The questionnaires were distributed as two packs known as the Educational Pack and the Health Pack. Five types of instruments were used: self-completion questionnaires (completed by the child, parent, and teacher); interviews (with parents); medical examination (of the child); tests (completed by the child); and measurement scales (completed by the child, parents and teachers). Information gathered from parents included: the child's medical history; accidents; hospital admissions; clinic attendance; use of health services; the child at school; child's skills; child's behaviour; parent's level of education; occupation of parents; type of accommodation; household amenities; and type of neighbourhood. Information provided by the medical examination included: disability and chronic illness; height and weight; head circumference; blood pressure; pulse; near and distant vision; audiometry; laterality; and co-ordination. Information provided by schools included: school composition: curriculum; discipline and ethos; teacher's assessment of child's ability and behaviour. Information provided by the study subjects included: academic success: smoking; attitudes to school; food and...

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

SN 8547 - 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 46, Sweep 10, 2016-2018:
The aim of the 46-year follow-up was to collect key details of the cohort members’ lives including their socio-economic circumstances (e.g. household composition, cohabiting relationships, housing, economic activity, and income) and their health (physical health, mental health, medication, and health behaviours). This survey had a significant biomedical focus, with objective health measurements and assessments being conducted for the first time in the cohort members’ adulthood.

The 'bcs_age46_child_died' and 'bcs_age46_unsuccessful_pregnancies' datasets
This note is to inform researchers that the 'bcs_age46_child_died' and 'bcs_age46_unsuccessful_pregnancies' datasets, which were previously available as safeguarded data under EUL, have been classified as controlled data by CLS and can only be accessed via the UKDS SecureLab, subject to the UKDS Secure Access licence. The aim of this note is to provide practical information and guidance to researchers who have downloaded the BCS70 Age 46 datasets 'bcs_age46_child_died' and 'bcs_age46_unsuccessful_pregnancies' from the UK Data Archive. CLS requires that all EUL holders delete their versions of these datasets. Should they require them, users can apply for access through the new Secure Access study SN 9115. However, where a user has downloaded these dataset and is using them in a current project, they may continue to use the data and any outputs derived from their use until the project is completed. On completion of the project, users are then required to delete the original datasets. Future projects should use the new versions of the data. Any users having concerns about this should contact CLS. Further guidelines on destroying data are provided in the UKDS guidelines.

Latest edition information
For the second edition (July 2023), a new data file including newly derived nutritional intake variables based on the food composition table from the UK Nutrient Databank (UKNDB) has been added to the study. In addition, four data files have been updated (main, employment, relationships and dietary questionnaire) and a new version of the user guide is available. Sensitive survey data for Sweep 10 is now available under restrictive access conditions under SN 9115.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

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 datasets
Secure Access versions of BCS70 have more restrictive access conditions than versions available under the standard End User Licence (EUL).

The 1970 British Cohort Study: Age 16, Sweep 4 Arithmetic Test, 1986 includes data derived from an arithmetic test administrated in 1986, when cohort members were 16 years old. The test used was known as the APU Arithmetic Test and consisted of 60 questions. The test was included in the Student Test Book and cohort members recorded their answers on a machine-readable Student Score Form. Thirty minutes were allowed for completion of the test.

For the second edition (June 2016) a small number of primary identifiers (BCSID) have been changed to realign them to previous sweeps of data. See the documentation for full details of the work done.


Main Topics:

The data consist of the responses for each of the 60 test items for some 3,677 cases, plus an additional 60 derived variables interpreting the answers into ‘wrong’ or ‘right’, together with 4 additional variables giving details of:

• total score (number of correct items out of 60)
• total number of incorrect items
• total number of items attempted
• percentage score (i.e. total score * 100/60)