Department of Education, Sport and Culture
110 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 213.6%
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 (110)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-24 | Tender process school piano's | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details regarding the tender process for school piano tuning, including criteria, decision-makers, and local worker preference. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided the tender invitation and cost comparison table, while confirming via advice that the Head of Music Service made the decision and no preference was given to Isle of Man workers. | ||
| 2021-09-16 | Vaccinations nasal of otherwise | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for vaccination dates and confirmation of parental consent procedures at St Johns Primary School. The authority disclosed the vaccination date but stated it does not hold information on consent as that process is managed by Manx Care. | ||
| 2021-08-20 | Engagement with Exam Boards for 2022 External Exams and use of CAIE | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought correspondence and internal documents regarding 2022 exam changes and the suitability of the CAIE board following the Beamans Report. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released some internal updates and a summary table but withheld consultation responses and other correspondence, stating they were not held or could not be found. | ||
| 2021-07-12 | Sex education | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding the age and content of sex education at St Johns Primary School, specifically asking about masturbation instruction and grooming awareness. The Department of Education confirmed that children are not taught to masturbate, provided the school's policy document, and directed the requester to the school website for grooming information. | ||
| 2021-06-23 | Wildlife control at DOESC premises | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on wildlife control methods, kill counts, species, and nest destruction at DOESC premises since 2016. The authority disclosed that only St Ninian's High School implemented a seagull control contract in 2018 but confirmed it does not hold data on specific numbers killed, species, or nests destroyed. | ||
| 2021-06-04 | Bemahague school | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding the costs and justification for replacing floor products at Bemahague (St Ninian's Lower) School before it opened. The Department of Education disclosed the estimated and actual costs but stated that no records of replacement costs exist because any remedial work was performed by the contractor at no additional cost to the Department. | ||
| 2021-04-29 | Isle of Man High School (year 7) capacity and current usage | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought Year 7 pupil numbers, capacity, and ability band breakdowns for all Isle of Man High Schools. The Department of Education provided capacity and enrollment data for all schools but could not supply ability band figures for most institutions as they do not use such grouping. | ||
| 2021-04-19 | Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded to a request for financial and operational data regarding the Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre, disclosing staff salaries, training costs, grants, and course statistics while noting that some information on equipment purchases was not held. | ||
| 2020-12-17 | High school student suspensions | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought a detailed breakdown of high school student suspensions for physical assault over three years, including gender and police involvement. The Department of Education provided total suspension counts and durations per school but withheld gender breakdowns and police investigation data as this information was not held. | ||
| 2020-12-04 | Pupil Behaviour and Suspensions IOM Secondary Schools | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought detailed pupil suspension data for Isle of Man secondary schools from 2013 to 2019, including breakdowns by duration and reason. The Department of Education provided raw suspension day counts and duration statistics for all requested years but confirmed that suspension rates for 2017-2019 were not held. | ||
| 2020-11-16 | KS4 2019-20 Level 1 & 2 Qualification Attainment and Allied Data | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2020-11-11 | Referrals | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for annual school referral data to mental health services from 2016 to 2020, and the Department of Education provided partial figures while noting that not all schools maintain such records. | ||
| 2020-10-05 | Beamans Report -School Governors and Student Behaviour | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought information on effective school governing bodies and student behaviour reports from the Beamans Review. The Department of Education provided data on governor numbers and the 2019 behaviour report (with redactions) but confirmed it did not hold information on specific 'notable exception' governing bodies or related email correspondence. | ||
| 2020-09-22 | Assessment and setting of Year 9 pupils in Castle Rushen High School | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for detailed assessment and setting data for Year 9 pupils at Castle Rushen High School for September 2020. The Department of Education disclosed that the school uses a 'broad banding' system rather than rigid sets, providing class names and pupil counts, but withheld specific achievement levels and subject-specific setting details as they are not held in the requested format. | ||
| 2020-09-21 | Cambridge IGCSE Examinations 2020 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on the 2020 Cambridge IGCSE grading algorithm, school-specific results, and correspondence regarding teacher concerns from December 2018. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided some information but withheld data requiring substantial compilation, leading to a partial disclosure outcome. | ||
| 2020-08-31 | Ramsey Grammar School Uniform Suppliers | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding Ramsey Grammar School uniform suppliers, specifically asking about alternative purchasing options, selection processes, and potential financial kickbacks. The Department of Education confirmed that blazers can be bought elsewhere with patches, PE kits are exclusive to JAC Stores, and the school earns no money from these suppliers. | ||
| 2020-08-27 | Uniform & PE Kit supplier arangements with Ballakermeen School | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding Ballakermeen High School's uniform supplier arrangements, specifically questioning financial benefits and selection processes. The school responded that no financial benefits are received, the PE kit change was student-driven for cost reasons, and parents have flexibility in purchasing blazers. | ||
| 2020-08-27 | Uniform & PE Kit supplier arangements with Queen Elizabeth II School | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding the selection process, costs, and supplier relationships for Queen Elizabeth II High School's PE kit. The Department of Education responded that no changes to the PE kit have occurred in recent years, meaning information regarding new suppliers, cost assessments, or environmental impacts was not held. | ||
| 2020-08-12 | The Education Union of Mann/EdUMann | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on communications, meetings, agreements, and financial assistance between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and the Education Union of Mann (EdUMann). The authority disclosed several email records and confirmed an informal meeting occurred, but stated no formal agreements or financial assistance were provided and no meeting minutes existed. | ||
| 2020-08-11 | UCM Lecturer staffing information and Trade union membership | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for staffing and trade union data at University College Isle of Man was partially fulfilled, with specific lecturer counts provided but trade union membership percentages withheld as the information is not collected. | ||
| 2020-08-05 | Outcomes of Disciplinary action in schools | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for disciplinary outcomes regarding teachers and school employees for physical, emotional, or sexual harm to pupils since October 2011. The Department of Education provided partial information held by some schools but confirmed that other schools did not hold records for the requested dates or had not yet responded due to summer holidays. | ||
| 2020-06-23 | Diversity | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought data on staff ethnicity and diversity training within the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. The authority disclosed that specific 'people of colour' data is not held, but provided voluntary ethnicity statistics and details on mandatory and optional training programs. | ||
| 2020-05-20 | Students entering into Higher Education 2010-2020 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the total number of Isle of Man students entering higher education from 2010 to 2020, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture stated it does not hold exact figures for the entire period. The authority provided partial data including University College Isle of Man enrollment, Student Award statistics, and school leaver destination data for 2016-2019. | ||
| 2020-02-04 | FSM, SEN, Pupil Attainment & Pupil Premium | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought detailed raw data on FSM and SEN pupil attainment across schools and research regarding a Pupil Premium scheme. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded with a business case paper discussing social equity funding and the validity of FSM as a poverty measure, noting that not all requested data was held. | ||
| 2020-01-22 | Information on UCM Server Hosting | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on IT service tenders and storage costs for UCM since September 2019. The Department of Education confirmed no new tenders were issued in that period but disclosed the cost per GB for GTS storage hosting. | ||
| 2020-01-20 | Education Consultant Fees / Impact | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought the costs of education consultant Dave Harris's visits to Manx schools over five years and the resulting reforms. The authority disclosed detailed cost breakdowns for most visits and described the nature of the work undertaken, but noted that specific ancillary expense data for some dates could not be located. | ||
| 2020-01-06 | 2018-19 Year 11 GCSE Attainment and Allied Data | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for detailed 2018-19 GCSE attainment data across Isle of Man state secondary schools, including breakdowns by Free School Meals status and specific grade distributions. The Department of Education provided partial data containing subject-specific entry numbers and grade counts for various qualifications, though the response was cut off before covering all requested schools or metrics. | ||
| 2019-12-04 | Cost of School Meal | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for the breakdown of school lunch costs in Manx primary schools was partially fulfilled, disclosing the total average cost and raw ingredient cost, while the specific cost of cooking was withheld as it is not held in the requested format. | ||
| 2019-11-25 | Dyslexia in Education | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for data on dyslexia training for teachers, diagnosis rates, funding, and literacy outcomes in Isle of Man primary schools. The Department of Education refused to provide specific statistics on teacher training and diagnoses due to lack of records but promised to follow up on teacher data by January 2020. | ||
| 2019-11-14 | Equality in Sport or Physical Education | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture's stance on gender equality in school sports and discrimination based on sport type. The authority responded by detailing the broad range of sporting opportunities available to both genders, citing specific examples from Castle Rushen School, and explaining that curriculum breadth is necessary for exam success, though some health and safety constraints exist. | ||
| 2019-10-28 | 2019 Primary School Attainment and Value Added Data | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought 2018-19 primary school attainment data and instructions on publication for schools that had not released results. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed Early Years Foundation Stage GLD percentages and Key Stage 1 subject level data for all schools, but did not provide information on KS2 progress or publication instructions. | ||
| 2019-10-18 | Ballakermeen High School Budget | Some information sent but not all held |
| A student requested Ballakermeen High School's budget breakdown and specific staff salaries for the past four academic years. The Department of Education provided general budget data and teacher pay scales but withheld individual salary information due to data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2019-10-14 | Content of Primary School Reports | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought information on how primary schools communicated attainment levels to parents in 2018-19 and any related Department policy. The Department disclosed guidance letters sent to schools but confirmed it holds no specific policy mandating what information schools must send home. | ||
| 2019-09-11 | School Plastic Bottles | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2019-09-04 | Primary & Secondary Schools Pupil Data - Academic Year 2018-19 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought detailed pupil statistics for Isle of Man schools for the 2018-19 academic year, including FSM and EAL percentages. The authority provided raw numbers for most categories but could not supply the specific percentages requested for FSM and EAL as they were not held in that format. | ||
| 2019-07-31 | New Education Bill Consultation responses, analysis and weighting | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought a full Excel summary of New Education Bill consultation responses, including freehand comments, decision-making explanations, and response weighting. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that some information was sent but not all was held. | ||
| 2019-07-15 | DESC Minister's Trips | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details of all off-Island trips and associated expenses for the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture from September 2016 to August 2019. The authority disclosed a partial list of trips with specific costs for travel, accommodation, and other expenses, noting that daily subsistence allowances were not claimed. | ||
| 2019-06-10 | Use of Proceeds - Sale of Nunnery | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on how the Department of Education, Sport and Culture used £5.5m from the sale of the Nunnery and a £500k transitional payment. The Department disclosed that the £5.5m was not held by them but credited to the Consolidated Loans Fund, while the £500k remains unspent within their Capital Programme. | ||
| 2019-06-10 | Nunnery Maintenance Costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2019-06-10 | UCM Nunnery Contract | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the total cost of using the Nunnery for UCM teaching facilities and the contract end date following its sale. The Department disclosed the total spend to date and the contract end date but stated it did not hold specific capital spend data via GTS, noting that IT infrastructure costs were covered by ICT Limited. | ||
| 2019-04-29 | Sections in the Education Bill 2019 for HE - not consulted | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details on sections of the Education Bill 2019 affecting home educators and confirmation of their inclusion in consultations. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded with a partial disclosure, providing the consultation document but indicating not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2019-04-24 | (i)GCSE Grade C(+) attainment from known KS2 starting point | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought detailed analysis of pupil progression from specific KS2 starting points to GCSE Grade C+ attainment across English, maths, and science for 2016-2018 cohorts. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that it does not hold data in this specific format for most schools, citing FOI exemptions against creating new information, but provided existing data for Queen Elizabeth II High School for the 2018 cohort. | ||
| 2019-04-15 | DESC SLT meeting held on or around 19 September 2018 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought documents regarding a Department of Education, Sport and Culture Senior Leadership Team meeting held on 19 September 2018, including agendas, minutes, and correspondence. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, providing a section of an email dated 18 September 2018 containing draft legislative text on parental duties and compulsory school age, while noting that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2019-03-11 | Value Added KS1-2 & related SSRE Assessment | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for Value Added KS1-2 progress data and SSRE assessment definitions for Isle of Man primary schools over the last five years. The Department of Education disclosed that most schools do not collate the specific 'more than 6 sub levels' progress data, though limited statistics were provided for Andreas, Ballasalla, and Bunscoill Ghaelgagh. | ||
| 2018-11-27 | Plastic Water Bottles | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding single-use plastic policies and water bottle usage across five secondary schools. The authority disclosed that no specific departmental policy exists but provided detailed statistics on bottle sales, tap water availability, drinking fountain counts, and reusable bottle promotion for each school. | ||
| 2018-10-22 | sayle gallery | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on how government funds invested in the closed Sayle Gallery were spent. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that it does not hold this information because the gallery is a separate legal entity, though it provided links to Arts Council award data. | ||
| 2018-09-24 | Out of catchment - child budget allocation | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked how per-child budget allocations are handled when students are approved for out-of-catchment school transfers late in the year. The Department of Education clarified that no specific financial figure is allocated to each child, meaning no surrender or reallocation of funds occurs between schools during the year. | ||
| 2018-09-20 | Student Data breaches in IOM High Schools - further data required | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on student data breaches in Isle of Man high schools, specifically regarding Castle Rushen High School. The authority disclosed a single incident from the 2013/14 academic year involving lost meeting notes containing one pupil's name, noting that no disciplinary action was taken as the responsible staff member had already left. | ||
| 2018-08-23 | Pupil Data Reported by Primary Schools to the DESC | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought details on directives and data types regarding primary school pupil attainment and characteristics reported to the Isle of Man Department of Education, Sport and Culture. The authority disclosed specific submission requirements for Key Stage 1 and 2 attainment data and pupil characteristics, while confirming that Year 6 pupil characteristic information is not submitted as part of the attainment data. | ||
| 2018-08-17 | Data breach in high schools | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of student data breaches by Isle of Man high school staff over the last five years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that there was exactly one such data breach during that period. | ||
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