Department of Education, Sport and Culture
235 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
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 (235)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-25 | Endowment fund | All information sent |
| The requester asked for financial details regarding an endowment fund for Open University students over the past two years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the specific amounts received and paid out for the Vera Callister Fund for the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years. | ||
| 2022-05-17 | Number on roll | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for statistics on pupil enrollment, free school meals, and music tuition recipients on the Isle of Man. The authority disclosed all requested data, clarifying that University College Isle of Man students were excluded from the figures. | ||
| 2022-05-17 | 2022-23 Reception class sizes | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided 2022-23 reception class registration numbers and out-of-catchment request statistics for seven specific schools on the Isle of Man. The response noted that registration figures were not final as parents could still register on the first day of term. | ||
| 2022-05-17 | Maximum class sizes | All information sent |
| The requester asked for maximum reception class sizes for seven specific schools for the 2022-23 intake. The Department of Education responded by providing general policy guidelines on class capacity rather than specific figures for each named school. | ||
| 2022-05-17 | Teacher Absence Levels | All information sent |
| A request for 2022/23 teacher absence data was fulfilled with information covering the 2021/22 academic year, detailing days pupils worked from home and lessons covered by supply teachers across Isle of Man secondary schools. | ||
| 2022-05-09 | Student Grants | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of student grant recipients without 80 UCAS points between 2016 and 2022 and the reasons for their eligibility. The Department of Education disclosed that only nine applicants met this criteria across the period, citing specific regulatory modifications for continuing education and the Coronavirus emergency. | ||
| 2022-03-29 | Impact of illness | All information sent |
| The request sought data on the number of days students at Isle of Man state high schools were required to work from home due to staff absences between September 2021 and March 2022. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the full breakdown of remote learning days per year group for five high schools. | ||
| 2022-03-23 | Request for figures for resignations | All information sent |
| The request sought resignation figures for staff at Isle of Man secondary schools leaving at Easter and Summer 2022. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed total and specific departure numbers for five schools, noting that some staff transferred internally rather than leaving the department. | ||
| 2022-03-17 | IoM Schools' Pupil Data (Academic Year 2021-22) | All information sent |
| A request was made for detailed pupil data including roll numbers, FSM, EAL, and AEN/SEN breakdowns for all Isle of Man schools for the 2021-22 academic year. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded by sending all requested information, providing specific statistics on primary school pupils with various learning difficulties and needs. | ||
| 2022-03-15 | Jobs at Ramsey Grammar School | All information sent |
| The requester asked how and by whom the 'Literacy Coordinator' and 'Assistant Headteacher' roles at Ramsey Grammar School were approved. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the five-step approval process and confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive Officer authorized the vacancies. | ||
| 2022-03-10 | NSC Accounts / Financial Statements | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the most recent financial statements for the National Sports Centre, and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a detailed budget and actual expenditure report for February 2022. | ||
| 2022-02-21 | Primary School Curriculum Attainment Level Descriptors | All information sent |
| The request sought definitions and attainment level descriptors for core primary school subjects in the Isle of Man, specifically focusing on P levels and year group standards. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed all requested information, providing detailed descriptors for Geometry and Statistics across Year 1 and Year 2. | ||
| 2022-02-08 | Teacher absence due to mental health | All information sent |
| A request was made for teacher absence days due to mental health from 2018-19 to the present, but the authority disclosed data with limitations regarding catering staff inclusion and school types. The response provided specific absence figures for primary and secondary schools, noting structural changes in data recording after June 2021. | ||
| 2022-02-01 | Financial information in respect of the National Sports Centre | All information sent |
| 2022-01-24 | QE2 High School Suspensions | All information sent |
| A request was made for the number of pupil suspensions at QE2 High School Peel over the last four academic years, and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided the full data for each year. | ||
| 2022-01-21 | Primary School Sub Level (Levels 2 c-a and 4 c-a) Attainment 2015-19 | All information sent |
| The requester sought primary school attainment data for sub-levels 2 and 4 for the academic years 2015-2019, and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all requested information was released. | ||
| 2022-01-18 | law students | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded to a request for data on law students studying in the UK and Isle of Man by providing a detailed list of institutions, course titles, and study years for each student. | ||
| 2022-01-07 | Injuries on NSC flumes | All information sent |
| A request was made for injury statistics at the NSC flumes since their November 2021 reopening, and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that 11 injuries occurred, all treated on-site with no ambulance calls. | ||
| 2022-01-04 | HEPA Filters | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for data on HEPA filter installations in schools and classrooms with high CO2 levels. The authority responded by stating that all requested information was enclosed and sent to the requester. | ||
| 2021-12-30 | NSC Flumes | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the number of injuries recorded at the new NSC flume slides since their opening. The authority responded by disclosing that 10 accidents have been recorded. | ||
| 2021-11-22 | 2021/22 Class sizes at Primary | All information sent |
| A request was made for the class sizes of each primary school class for the 2021/22 academic year, excluding other details like locations or ages. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded by sending all requested information in its held format. | ||
| 2021-11-22 | Primary School Attainment Levels 2020-21 | All information sent |
| The requester sought primary school attainment levels for Year 2 and Year 6 pupils in five core subjects for the 2020-21 academic year. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all requested information was sent in the format it is held. | ||
| 2021-10-28 | Installation of equipment to mitigate Covid risk | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of equipment installed and costs incurred to mitigate Covid-19 risks in Department of Education schools prior to September 2021. The authority responded by providing general government guidance on mitigation measures rather than specific school-level data or cost breakdowns. | ||
| 2021-10-06 | Teaching staff absence levels | All information sent |
| A request was made for teacher absence data on October 5, 2021, across all Isle of Man primary and secondary schools, broken down by short-term and long-term sickness. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the complete dataset, providing the number of teachers due to work and the specific counts of absent staff for each school. | ||
| 2021-08-11 | Female and Male undergraduate students at Oxford | All information sent |
| The requester asked for historical data on undergraduate students accepted to study Medicine at Oxford, split by sex. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that from October 2011, they supported a total of 4 students, comprising 3 females and 1 male. | ||
| 2021-08-04 | Incidence of COVID in St John's Primary School | All information sent |
| The request sought the date the headmistress of St John's Primary School became aware of a pupil with COVID-19 during specific weeks in July 2021. The Department of Education disclosed that the Head Teacher was informed of a positive PCR test result for a member of the school community on 19 July 2021. | ||
| 2021-05-28 | Implementation Plan Progress | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a progress update on its implementation plan actions as of 1st May 2021, disclosing completion percentages for various strategic activities. The response confirmed that all requested information was sent, detailing the status of initiatives ranging from departmental structure design to wellbeing programmes. | ||
| 2021-03-30 | Redeployment | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of staff redeployed per school during the closure starting March 4th, and the Department of Education provided specific numbers for eight educational institutions. | ||
| 2020-09-10 | Non DESC External Teachers | All information sent |
| The request sought details on non-DESC music tutors in primary schools, including specific data on schools, hours, and regulatory frameworks. The authority disclosed that no specific legislation regulates these tutors, provided a list of school policies and quality assurance measures in place, and released enclosed data for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. | ||
| 2020-08-17 | Castle Rushen High School - KS5 Attainment (2012-2019) | All information sent |
| A request was made for A-Level grade breakdowns (A*-U) for specific subjects at Castle Rushen High School from 2012 to 2019. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all requested information was held and released to the applicant. | ||
| 2020-07-13 | Broadway cinema attendance | All information sent |
| The request sought annual attendance and profit/loss figures for the Broadway cinema for 2017, 2018, and 2019, which were fully disclosed by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. | ||
| 2020-05-13 | KS2-KS4 Levels of Progress 2019 | All information sent |
| The request sought KS2-KS4 value-added progress measures and cohort sizes for Isle of Man secondary schools for the 2019 academic year. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed all requested data, including percentages for English and Mathematics progress and average levels of progress for five specific schools. | ||
| 2020-03-18 | Suspension related to mobile phone use | All information sent |
| The requester asked for suspension figures related to mobile phone misuse in Isle of Man secondary schools for the last two years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a breakdown of these figures per school for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. | ||
| 2020-03-18 | Funding to attend any Performing Arts school/course in last 5-10 years | All information sent |
| The request sought details on funding provided by the Isle of Man Department of Education, Sport and Culture for students attending performing arts schools off-island between 2011 and 2020. The authority confirmed that funding was granted for various courses and listed the specific number of students funded at numerous institutions, noting that most recipients were aged 13 to 19. | ||
| 2020-02-24 | Villa Gaiety | All information sent |
| 2020-02-20 | Children unable to attend school data and Home Education data | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the number of home-educated children and those unable to attend school due to health or refusal issues in the Isle of Man as of March 2020. The response provided specific counts for primary and secondary levels, noting that attendance data was based on partial school responses. | ||
| 2020-02-06 | Re: previous reference number 1126625 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for anonymised details of special leave exceeding 5 days granted to teachers and senior leadership at the Department of Education, Sport and Culture over the last three years. The authority responded by providing a full dataset of 26 leave instances, including dates, durations, and reasons, totaling 1664.5 days. | ||
| 2020-01-29 | Professor Barr letters | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the total postage cost of letters sent to teachers over the Christmas holidays. The authority disclosed that the total cost for letters sent on 2nd January 2020 was £51.30. | ||
| 2020-01-29 | KS5 Attainment in Level 3 Qualifications 2018 by School | All information sent |
| A request was made for 2018-19 Level 3 qualification attainment data for Year 13 pupils across all Isle of Man secondary schools, which was fully disclosed by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. | ||
| 2020-01-29 | staffing level | All information sent |
| The request sought data on staff departures and complaints against the University College Isle of Man (UCM) since September 2016. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that no staff were dismissed, while providing specific counts of resignations and complaints received by both UCM and the Department. | ||
| 2020-01-14 | Tutor absent days UCM Isle of Man | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the average absence days and attendance percentage for University College Isle of Man tutors for the year 2019. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that the average absence was 7.5 days and the average attendance rate was 96%. | ||
| 2019-12-31 | Primary School Pupil Attainment Levels for academic year 2018-19 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for primary school pupil attainment data for the 2018-19 academic year broken down by individual school. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all requested information was released in the format it is held. | ||
| 2019-11-28 | Communication relating to the Christian Institute | All information sent |
| The request sought all emails between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and the Christian Institute, as well as related correspondence with the Attorney General's Chambers from August 2019 to November 2019. The Department disclosed five emails in total but redacted personal data such as names and contact details under absolute exemptions. | ||
| 2019-11-27 | national curriculum levels for key stage 2 children | All information sent |
| The request sought Key Stage 2 national curriculum attainment levels for all Year 6 pupils at Rushen Primary School from the start of Key Stage 2. The Department of Education released the data for English, Maths, and Science but redacted individual names and specific attainment levels to protect personal data. | ||
| 2019-10-09 | Teaching Staff Sickness | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a breakdown of teaching staff sickness and non-attendance days by school for the period 2016 to 2018 in response to a Freedom of Information request. The response included detailed statistics on full-time and part-time teacher absences due to sickness, maternity, and other leave types across various primary and secondary schools. | ||
| 2019-09-23 | Head teachers pay | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the average pay of head teachers. The authority disclosed the average basic pay figure as of August 2019. | ||
| 2019-08-22 | RGS School Farm | All information sent |
| A request was made for details on the budget, staffing, and student outcomes of the Ramsey Grammar School (RGS) farm. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that the farm is self-funded from the school budget, employs two teachers, and provided specific lesson frequencies and exam results for the 2018/19 academic year. | ||
| 2019-08-13 | Education fee increases at UCM | All information sent |
| A request was made for meeting notes, calculations, and rationale regarding 2019 tuition fee increases at University College Isle of Man (UCM). The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released fee policy documents and board meeting extracts but withheld specific personal data under absolute exemption. | ||
| 2019-07-12 | Students with a special diet | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the number of secondary school students with coeliac disease on the Isle of Man for the 2018-19 academic year. The authority disclosed the specific counts for five secondary schools, totaling 17 students. | ||
| 2019-06-13 | Mobile Classrooms | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the number of mobile classrooms currently in use across the island's primary and secondary schools. The authority responded by disclosing that there are a total of 37 mobile classrooms in use. | ||
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