Department of Education, Sport and Culture
56 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 419.6%
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 (56)
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 |
| 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. | ||
| 2025-07-31 | 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. | ||
| 2025-07-17 | 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. | ||
| 2025-02-20 | Policy on Charitable Donations in Schools | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding a central policy on charitable donations in schools following an incident at St Ninians High School. The authority responded that no such central policy is held, though they provided a link to a related Tynwald written question response. | ||
| 2025-02-19 | SPC Opening Hours | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of Specialist Provision Centre (SPC) opening times and the policy rationale for variations, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture stated it does not hold the specific policy or equality impact assessment requested. | ||
| 2025-01-30 | Castle Rushen High School saga | Information not held |
| A request was made for correspondence between government departments regarding housing development on the Castle Rushen High School site and its impact on Castletown. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that they do not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2024-12-09 | Review of SPCs | Information not held |
| The request sought details on independent inspections of Specialist Provision Centres (SPCs) and terms of reference for a review into Additional Educational Needs (AEN). The authority provided links to validation reports for seven schools but stated it does not hold information regarding the specific AEN review details requested. | ||
| 2024-10-24 | Expenditure on the medical retirement of high school staff | Information not held |
| The requester asked for annual expenditure data on lump sum payments for medical retirement of teaching staff over the last five years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held because no such lump sums are paid by the department, with staff instead accessing pensions through the Teachers' Pension Scheme. | ||
| 2024-09-02 | FoI Costs | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the costs of providing Freedom of Information responses over the past three financial years. The authority responded that the information is not held, though they noted that two Information Governance Officers handle FOI duties as part of their broader roles. | ||
| 2024-08-01 | IOMFA Funding | Information not held |
| A request was made for information regarding funding provided to the Isle of Man Football Association between 2020 and 2024. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that they do not hold this information because funding is allocated by the IOM Sport Committee. | ||
| 2024-07-15 | Divisions and Sub-Divisions of DESC | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the names of all Sub-Divisions within the Department of Education, Sport and Culture, but the authority responded that the information is not held because the department does not have formal subdivisions. | ||
| 2024-04-29 | QEII changes - Bus Vannin adaptation | Information not held |
| 2024-02-13 | Costs of Access Control System Upgrade in Schools and UCM | Information not held |
| 2024-01-26 | RSE curriculum | Information not held |
| 2024-01-16 | Teachers Pay Scales | Information not held |
| 2024-01-04 | Graduate Salaries | Information not held |
| 2023-09-04 | RAAC in schools | Information not held |
| 2023-08-08 | Wind Farm | Information not held |
| 2023-08-01 | Moderation Reports & Inspections of Schools | Information not held |
| 2023-07-07 | Asbestos in IOM Schools | Information not held |
| 2023-07-04 | Asbestos in schools | Information not held |
| 2023-06-01 | Number of LGBT pride flags purchased by schools in the last 2 years | Information not held |
| 2023-05-25 | Budget spending | Information not held |
| 2023-05-11 | Extra marital affairs | Information not held |
| 2023-03-22 | QE2 - July 2021 | Information not held |
| 2023-03-22 | List of Government Investigators | Information not held |
| 2022-12-13 | Title: Villa Marina Events - disposable glasses used | Information not held |
| 2022-08-26 | Children who don't identify as human | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding policies and statistics on children identifying as non-human. The authority responded that it does not hold any information on this subject. | ||
| 2022-03-30 | Ramsey Grammar School Toilets | Information not held |
| A request was made for records regarding signage and construction at Ramsey Grammar School toilets for the current calendar year. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that they do not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2021-11-08 | Foreign sports people vax status 2021 | Information not held |
| A request was made for the COVID-19 vaccination status of foreign sports personnel visiting the Isle of Man between January and November 2021. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held because vaccination status for sports visitors is not collected. | ||
| 2021-06-22 | TT and MGP Marshals - numbers and training | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed statistics on TT and MGP marshals, including numbers, training, and age breakdowns for 2016-2019, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture stated it does not hold this information. | ||
| 2021-06-01 | Policy in Politics within Schools | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding policies on political partisanship within schools. The department responded that no such policy exists and therefore the information is not held. | ||
| 2020-03-02 | Half term holidays | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding Isle of Man schools traveling to Italy during the February half term and subsequent quarantine measures. The authority confirmed that no schools from the Isle of Man traveled to Italy on a school holiday during that period, rendering the requested information not held. | ||
| 2020-02-20 | Primary School Assessments data. | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details on primary school assessment practices and data storage, but the Department of Education stated it does not hold the specific information as recorded data under the FOI Act. Despite the formal refusal, the Department provided advisory answers explaining that assessments are continuous, data is held by individual schools, and aggregate performance data is retained by the Department. | ||
| 2020-02-20 | Secondary School Assessments & data | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details on secondary school assessments and data retention, but the Department of Education stated the information was not held as recorded data under the FOI Act 2015. Despite the formal refusal, the Department provided advisory answers explaining that assessments are continuous, individual data is held by schools, and aggregate data is retained by the Department for monitoring trends. | ||
| 2020-02-20 | KWC & Buchan Assessments | Information not held |
| The requester asked if the Department of Education, Sport and Culture conducts annual assessments on children at King Williams College and Buchan School, and where such data is held. The authority responded that no such assessments are conducted, meaning no data exists, though they provided advice that King Williams College must submit annual examination returns. | ||
| 2020-01-08 | Sabbatical for teachers | Information not held |
| A request was made for records of teacher sabbaticals from January 2012 onwards, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2019-10-30 | Off Rolling in Schools | Information not held |
| A request was made for data on pupils 'off-rolled' from Isle of Man schools over the last five years, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held because the practice of off-rolling does not exist in the jurisdiction. | ||
| 2018-12-03 | Information required | Information not held |
| A request was made for lesson timetables and a list of teachers for class 1AP at Castle Rushen High School from September 1974. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held as records were disposed of under retention policy and the class no longer exists. | ||
| 2018-08-24 | What herbicides does the department use? | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding the use of glyphosate herbicides, but the information was refused because the department does not hold it. | ||
| 2018-06-13 | Child mental health | Information not held |
| A request was made for the percentage of children aged 11-18 attending CAMHS or on its waiting list who are enrolled in specific secondary schools and the Isle of Man College. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture refused the request because they do not hold or have access to CAMHS data. | ||
| 2018-05-14 | Sale St Thomas school building | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details on meetings regarding the sale of the St Thomas school building, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture stated it does not hold this information as the matter is the responsibility of the Church and Trustees. However, the authority provided extracts from internal meetings discussing the potential 50% contribution from the sale proceeds to fund the new Scooil Vallajeelt site. | ||
| 2018-05-14 | Return of St Thomas' school keys | Information not held |
| A request was made to determine the date the Department of Education, Sport and Culture would return keys to the St Thomas school building. The authority responded that the information is not held because the exact date has not yet been agreed upon with Church Representatives. | ||
| 2018-04-27 | Expenditure on single use plastics within the department | Information not held |
| A request for expenditure figures on single-use plastics within the Department of Education, Sport and Culture was refused because the information is not held in the required detail. | ||
| 2018-03-28 | Out-of-catchment pupil numbers | Information not held |
| A request was made for out-of-catchment pupil numbers and percentages for all primary and secondary schools for 2015/16 and 2016/17, but the Department of Education refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2018-03-01 | Total amount spent on fire extinguishers and blankets | Information not held |
| 2017-08-16 | SEN complaints & requests for assistance | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on SEN complaints and assistance requests from parents over the past five years, but the Department of Education refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2017-07-15 | Policy and Guidelines for historic child abuse allegations | Information not held |
| A request was made for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture's policy and guidelines on handling historic child abuse allegations by employees. The authority responded that no such specific policy document is held, instead advising the requester to contact the Police Public Protection Unit directly. | ||
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