Department of Education, Sport and Culture
617 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 38.1%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture reveal an authority deeply entangled in the controversy of the St Thomas' Primary School co-location proposal. A significant portion of the casework (over 14 related cases) focuses on this issue, where the Department frequently employed a 'practical refusal' or 'already public' defense to withhold decision-making correspondence (e.g., 354839, 354847), while simultaneously disclosing granular data on pupil catchments (354959) and the fact that the school paid no rent (467435). This pattern suggests a strategy of transparency on operational metrics but obstruction on political and strategic deliberations. The data also exposes a complex relationship between the state and religious groups; while the Department confirmed regular visits by the Child Evangelism Fellowship (354861), it actively blocked access for the abortion reform group HEAR (354831), highlighting a selective gatekeeping of external influences in schools.
Key Cases
Case 354861 — Reveals the systematic presence of the Child Evangelism Fellowship in Isle of Man schools, providing a detailed breakdown of visit frequencies, which raises questions about the separation of church and state in public education.
Case 354831 — Discloses a specific incident where the abortion reform group HEAR attempted to access pupils at St Mary's School and was declined, offering a rare glimpse into the Department's vetting of controversial external groups.
Case 361143 — Highlights a significant administrative error and subsequent correction regarding public objections to the St Thomas' co-location (initially 403 signatures, corrected to 413), demonstrating the volatility of the consultation process.
Case 467435 — Confirms that St Thomas' School paid zero rent to the Department for the building, parking, and playgrounds over three years, a crucial financial fact in the debate over the school's viability and the co-location proposal.
Case 354883 — Discloses that eight unqualified teachers were employed in training roles across four secondary schools, raising concerns about the quality of education and staffing standards during the 2016/17 academic year.
Related FOI Stories
The St Thomas' Co-location Saga — #354839, #354847, #354849, #358135, #354867
Home Education and Legal Enforcement — #354833, #354857, #354875, #358137, #354911
School Performance Data and Statistical Gaps — #354791, #354801, #354809, #354815, #354925
Religious Influence and External Visits — #354851, #354831, #354861, #354877, #512133
Staffing, Employment, and Discipline — #354805, #354813, #354883, #354945, #354947
All (617)
All information sent (235) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (116) ·
Some information sent but not all held (110) ·
Information not held (56) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (48) ·
Upheld - partial (17) ·
Not upheld (15) ·
Upheld - full (8) ·
Not required to fulfill request (8) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (1) ·
Repeated request (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
Information Notice (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-11 | Financial Support for Post Graduate Study | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the rationale behind granting postgraduate financial support to students with degree classifications below 2:1, citing potential discrimination. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held and the request constitutes a question rather than a request for existing records. | ||
| 2026-02-05 | Equality planning & evidence | Information not held |
| 2026-02-04 | School suspension & neurodivergent students | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for data on school suspensions and neurodivergent students in the Isle of Man over the last three academic years. The authority responded by providing a detailed list of suspension counts and session durations for individual students at Ballakermeen, Castle Rushen, and Queen Elizabeth II High Schools. | ||
| 2026-01-29 | Suspension Rates | All information sent |
| A request was made for suspension statistics across Isle of Man state secondary schools for academic years 2022-23 through 2025-26, including counts of suspensions, pupils affected, and days lost. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed all requested information, providing a detailed breakdown of suspension sessions for Ballakermeen High School for the 2024-25 academic year. | ||
| 2026-01-23 | Year 6 Maths Lesson Planning - Selected Primary Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought Year 6 maths lesson planning documents for four specific Isle of Man primary schools for the week commencing 19 January 2026. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded with a comprehensive term-by-term curriculum plan and sample worksheets, noting that some information was exempt. | ||
| 2026-01-20 | Estrangement | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a 10-year breakdown of students receiving independent finance awards due to estrangement from parents. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all requested information was sent, providing figures for students granted independent status per academic year with a note on potential data overlap. | ||
| 2026-01-12 | NSC pool tiles | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details regarding the unresolved broken tiles at the National Sports Centre swimming pool, including repair timelines and insurance status. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the request consisted of questions rather than a request for held information, resulting in a partial disclosure where some information was not held. | ||
| 2026-01-09 | School canteen profit | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual profit figures for St Ninians High School and Bemahague canteens over the last five academic years. The Department of Education disclosed that no profit was made, providing specific net loss figures for the combined 'St Ninians School Meals' cost centre. | ||
| 2025-12-30 | Meals | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided approximate data on school meal and packed lunch choices for primary schools in November and December 2025. The response included a detailed table of figures while noting that packed lunch numbers are estimates due to varying recording methods across schools. | ||
| 2025-12-19 | Tribal / Etio External Validation Reports | Upheld - partial |
| The requester sought inspection dates, report publication dates, and page counts for Tribal/Etio external validations of Isle of Man schools from 2024, along with scheduled dates for unassessed schools. The authority partially upheld the request by directing the user to a public website for inspection and summary publication dates but withheld full report details and page counts citing the need to protect the integrity of the validation process and staff wellbeing. | ||
| 2025-12-18 | Post Graduate Study Financial Support | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on postgraduate students with 2.2 or lower undergraduate degrees receiving tuition fee support since 2020. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture withheld the specific data because the number of individuals is less than five, making them identifiable. | ||
| 2025-12-16 | Manor Park Primary school external validation report | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the summary of Manor Park Primary school's external validation report, but no information was disclosed because the data is already reasonably accessible to the public. | ||
| 2025-12-11 | SEX ED CURRICULUM | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the most recent sex education curriculum for all age groups under PSHE. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture refused to send the documents, stating the information is already reasonably accessible online and that schools must publish their own policies. | ||
| 2025-12-11 | Government funding for IOM team sports | All information sent |
| The request sought government grant funding for five specific team sports in the Isle of Man for the tax years 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the full financial figures for all requested sports and years. | ||
| 2025-12-02 | Willaston pupils with additional needs | All information sent |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding pupil statistics at Willaston Primary School, specifically focusing on additional needs, transfers, and catchment area status. The authority disclosed all requested information, providing specific counts for pupils with additional needs, recent transfers, reasons for moving, and approved out-of-catchment requests. | ||
| 2025-12-01 | Cost of school meals | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the average cost per child per day for primary school meals in the Isle of Man for the 2024/25 school year and the period from September 2025 to the most recent records. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all information was sent, providing provisional cost data for the specified periods while noting caveats regarding incomplete financial records and variable school days. | ||
| 2025-11-20 | Children with disabilities/additional needs (see previous FOI - Case ID 4486949) | Repeated request |
| 2025-11-19 | Secondary School Deployment of Cover Supervisors (KS4: 2024-25) | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought detailed statistics on Cover Supervisor deployment and policies for Isle of Man secondary schools for the 2024-25 academic year. The Department of Education provided partial data for Castle Rushen and Ramsey Grammar schools, while other schools cited lack of data or excessive workload to withhold information, and confirmed no central policy exists. | ||
| 2025-11-14 | Level 2&3 External Examination Attainment Metrics 24-25 Academic Year | All information sent |
| 2025-11-13 | Home-schooling | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought home-schooling statistics for the past 10 years and details on safeguarding measures following the Sara Sharif review. The authority provided data from 2018 onwards, citing record retention limits for earlier years and Section 20 exemptions for data already publicly available, while outlining proposed legislative changes to improve safeguarding. | ||
| 2025-11-07 | Plastic water bottle in high schools - update of FOI 662466 | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded to a request regarding single-use plastic policies and water bottle sales in Isle of Man secondary schools, disclosing specific sales figures and infrastructure details for five schools while stating individual green policies were not held. | ||
| 2025-11-03 | University destination data | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded to a request for data on Manx students studying at universities outside the Isle of Man, disclosing a detailed breakdown of institutions, courses, and study years. | ||
| 2025-11-03 | Music GCSE registrations and results | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of students registered for Level 1 and Level 2 Music GCSEs in the Isle of Man and a breakdown of their 2024 results. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the total summer entries and the specific grade distribution for 2024, along with links to individual school results. | ||
| 2025-10-23 | Secondary Employment | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for policies and records regarding secondary school teachers' private business activities and conflicts of interest. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided general statutory frameworks and the Government Code of Conduct but confirmed it does not hold specific procedures on soliciting former pupils or dedicated conflict of interest frameworks. | ||
| 2025-10-22 | Request for information regarding the use of supply teachers | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of lessons delivered by supply teachers in Isle of Man secondary schools for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years, offering to accept raw data if compilation was too substantial. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that some information was sent but not all was held, citing the substantial effort required to collate the data. | ||
| 2025-10-21 | School dinner- cancellations | All information sent |
| The request sought data on the number of children on school dinners at three primary schools comparing the start of the year to the end of the first half term. The Department of Education disclosed ParentPay figures showing a decrease in recorded meals for all three schools, while noting that data accuracy is affected by varying school policies and unrecorded meals. | ||
| 2025-10-20 | IOM Secondary Schools' Teacher Sickness Absence 2024-25 Academic Year | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for 2024-25 teacher sickness absence data across Isle of Man secondary schools was partially fulfilled, with statistical metrics provided for five schools but specific evaluation reports withheld. | ||
| 2025-10-10 | Request for information regarding the use of supply teachers | Not required to fulfill request |
| A request was made for detailed statistics on supply teacher usage and subject qualifications across Isle of Man secondary schools for five academic years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture refused the request, citing that the data requires substantial compilation and that specific qualification records are not held. | ||
| 2025-10-06 | Primary schools - Teaching assistant to class size rules | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for Isle of Man government policy on primary school class sizes and teaching assistant support, along with specific Year 2 teacher and teaching assistant to pupil ratios for all schools. The Department of Education disclosed that staffing is managed by individual head teachers under the Education Act 2001 and provided a detailed breakdown of ratios for each school, noting that some classes have no teaching assistants. | ||
| 2025-09-30 | Email correspondence regarding school fire alarm activations | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for email correspondence regarding school fire alarm activations during the 2024/25 academic year, to which the Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that some information was held and disclosed while other requested data was not available. | ||
| 2025-09-24 | Positive feedback on school dinners | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for all positive feedback regarding new primary school dinners following a Minister's statement to the Tynwald Select Committee. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released some information but withheld parts citing exemptions for personal data and the conduct of public business. | ||
| 2025-09-16 | Recreational Schemes | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for capacity and attendance data for recreational schemes during term-time holidays for 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided detailed records for Kensington Arts events in 2023 and 2024 but noted that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2025-09-11 | NSC Financial Accounts s and Attendance Data for 'Swing and Things' | All information sent |
| The requester sought audited financial accounts for the National Sports Centre and attendance data for 'Swing and Things' sessions over the past 48 months. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed attendance figures for 2021-2025 and a detailed budget variance report for the 2022/23 financial year. | ||
| 2025-09-10 | Scientific Evidence | Information not held |
| A request was made for scientific evidence regarding active shooter drills, the date such evidence was obtained, and records of parental consent for 2025. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2025-09-08 | Fire Alarm Activations in Schools - Jan 2024 - September 2025 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2025-09-03 | Cost of primary school meals | All information sent |
| The request sought the financial impact of recent school menu changes and the average cost per meal. The Department of Education disclosed actual costs for 2024/25, projected costs for 2025/26, and the split between government and parent contributions per meal. | ||
| 2025-08-20 | Tynwald Question W-202501-1704: Derivation of Costs | All information sent |
| The requester sought the derivation of four specific cost-per-pupil figures for primary and secondary education sectors, including variations for Specialist Provision Centres. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded by disclosing all requested information, providing detailed budget breakdowns and calculation notes for the 2025-26 financial year. | ||
| 2025-07-31 | UCM Degree Courses - Viability Metrics etc | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought viability metrics, ministerial correspondence, and qualitative reports regarding UCM degree courses for 2023-26 following the withdrawal of the History and Heritage course. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided application statistics and conversion data but confirmed it does not hold the requested ministerial correspondence or qualitative reports. | ||
| 2025-07-31 | CCTV request | Information not held |
| A request was made to determine if CCTV exists at Onchan School, to which the Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that they did not hold the information at the time of receipt. The authority advised that CCTV installation is in the final stages at Onchan Primary School as part of a planned programme. | ||
| 2025-07-22 | Number of meningitis cases recorded by school | Not required to fulfill request |
| A request for a breakdown of meningitis cases in specific schools between July 2021 and December 2022 was refused by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. The authority cited exemptions regarding personal data protection and the requirement to create new information from existing records. | ||
| 2025-07-18 | Public Sector Equality Duty - Youth Service | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for evidence of the Public Sector Equality Duty compliance for the Isle of Man Youth Service, specifically seeking Equality Impact Assessments. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded with partial information, providing details on specific youth clubs and general guidance on equality duties, while withholding some documents under exemptions. | ||
| 2025-07-17 | Douglas School Intake and Out of Catchment Applications | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for intake numbers, class sizes, and out-of-catchment application data for three primary schools in the Isle of Man for 2022-2024. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture directed the requester to public open data for school rolls but did not provide specific out-of-catchment statistics or capacity assessments in the response text. | ||
| 2025-07-17 | 100% Manx meat served in primary schools | Information not held |
| The requester asked for data on the percentage of 100% Manx meat served in primary schools over the last three years and the reasons for any shortfall. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that it does not hold the specific information requested, though it clarified that while all meat is sourced from local suppliers, it is not guaranteed to be Manx due to supply chain availability. | ||
| 2025-07-16 | Education Support Staff | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for statistics on education support staff employment types and payment schedules for both staff and teachers. The authority disclosed specific headcounts for full-time and part-time support staff and confirmed that all salaries are paid in 12 equal monthly instalments. | ||
| 2025-07-11 | Class sizes to teacher allocation | All information sent |
| The requester asked for Year 5 and 6 class sizes and teacher allocations for primary schools for the 2024-25 academic year. The Department of Education provided data for the upcoming 2025-26 year but noted that some 2024-25 figures could not be obtained until September 2025 due to the summer holidays. | ||
| 2025-07-10 | KWC Statistical Data held by DESC | Not upheld |
| A request was made for statistical data on King William's College and The Buchan School from 2017/18 to 2024/25, but the appeal was not upheld; the response provided detailed Annual Return data for King William's College for the 2019/20 academic year only. | ||
| 2025-07-08 | The number of students taking both English literature and language | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided data on the number of students at Castle Rushen High School taking English Literature and Language GCSEs from 2023 to 2025, along with the percentage of students taking both subjects. The response also detailed the percentage of GCSE English lessons covered by supply staff or non-specialists over the same period. | ||
| 2025-06-27 | catchment areas | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of children accepted into Henry Bloom Noble School outside their catchment area for the September 2025 intake. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that two such requests were approved. | ||
| 2025-06-24 | Apprenticeship Scheme 2024 Eligibility and Economic Impact | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought clarification on the rationale for excluding employers with 10+ FTEs from apprenticeship incentive payments and requested economic impact studies for the construction sector. The authority disclosed that the policy change resulted from a strategic review to target funding for economic impact within existing budgets, noting that 85% of local employers are small businesses, but did not provide specific economic impact studies or risk assessments as requested. | ||
| 2025-06-20 | Out of area School Pupils | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for data on out-of-catchment pupils and free transport costs for all schools on the Isle of Man. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture refused the request, stating it was not required to create or derive information by analyzing individual pupil files. | ||
Page 1 of 13 Next »