Department of Education, Sport and Culture
116 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 202.6%
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 (116)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2025-09-24 | 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. | ||
| 2025-07-18 | 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. | ||
| 2025-04-22 | Context and SEN Funding - IOM Primary Schools 23/24 and 24/25 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought detailed Context and SEN funding data for all Isle of Man primary schools for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released the information but redacted specific data points to protect the privacy of individual pupils. | ||
| 2025-04-08 | Employee suspensions | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for suspension statistics, templates, and guidance from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture resulted in the disclosure of disciplinary procedures for teachers and lecturers, while statistical data was withheld due to privacy exemptions and no standard template was found. | ||
| 2025-03-24 | IOM Primary Schools: Pupil Progress - Data & Analysis 22/23 & 23/24 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought pupil progress data and performance analysis for Isle of Man primary schools for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released partial information, including specific progress statistics for Andreas, Ballacottier, and Ballasalla schools, while withholding some data under exemptions. | ||
| 2025-03-19 | Ballakermeen - numbers of EAL and SEN pupils | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for EAL and SEN pupil numbers, staff details, and budget for Ballakermeen High School was partially fulfilled, with specific roll and language data provided while EAL/SEN counts and budget figures were withheld due to unavailability. | ||
| 2025-03-19 | Scoill yn Jubilee- numbers of EAL and SEN pupils | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought detailed statistics on EAL and SEN pupils, staffing, and budgets for Scoill yn Jubilee, resulting in partial disclosure of current roll numbers, staffing levels, and specific budget figures while some data was withheld or redirected to public sources. | ||
| 2025-03-19 | St Mary's - numbers of EAL and SEN pupils | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought detailed statistics on EAL and SEN pupils, staffing, and budgets at St Mary's School for 2024-2025. The Department of Education provided current pupil counts and class sizes but redacted specific data on new joiners and certain nationalities to protect privacy, while noting that no dedicated EAL teacher exists. | ||
| 2025-03-18 | School statistics | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for reception class numbers and out-of-catchment student statistics for Anagh Coar and Ballacottier Primary Schools for the last three years and 2025. The authority provided 2025 expected numbers and directed the requester to a public website for historical data, citing that such information is already reasonably accessible. | ||
| 2025-03-12 | Numbers and capacity of Island secondary schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the total capacity and current pupil numbers for all Isle of Man secondary schools. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture did not provide the data directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible via a published PDF link. | ||
| 2025-02-20 | Fire Risk Assessments in Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for fire risk assessment reports and fire extinguisher discharge statistics for all island schools. The Department of Education withheld the risk assessments citing safety exemptions but provided discharge data for secondary schools only. | ||
| 2025-02-03 | Off Island School Trips on Steam Packet Crossings | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on off-island school trips affected by revised Steam Packet Company adult-to-child ratios, including planned trips, cancellations, risk assessments, and correspondence. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed data on planned and cancelled trips for primary and secondary schools but withheld risk assessments and correspondence, citing partial exemptions. | ||
| 2025-01-30 | Procurement | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought tender documentation and ticket sales data for Gaiety Theatre pantomimes from 2019 to 2025. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released the 2018 Invitation to Tender for the 2019-2021 productions but withheld other requested information citing commercial confidentiality. | ||
| 2025-01-16 | Minutes of QE2 school governors' meeting | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for minutes from a QE2 school governors' meeting where the uniform policy was agreed, likely around June 2023. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided the minutes but redacted personal information under an absolute exemption. | ||
| 2025-01-14 | Heating in Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on heating status, temperatures, internal communications, and parent complaints for Isle of Man high schools during the first week of January 2025. The Department of Education confirmed heating was operational with specific temperature ranges, disclosed summaries of complaints, and provided internal communications with some redactions for personal data. | ||
| 2025-01-10 | Correspondence between DESC and the SPC re adult child ratios | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought correspondence between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and the Steam Packet Company regarding adult-to-child ratios on vessels. The authority released a policy document detailing the new ratios effective October 2024, though the response was partially exempt. | ||
| 2024-12-31 | Settlement Agreements | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the total number, reasons, and compensation figures for Settlement Agreements issued by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture since September 2021, along with a blank template. The authority disclosed the total count and annual compensation totals but withheld specific reasons for individual agreements due to data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2024-12-12 | Selected Primary Schools - Funding Formulae and Budgets FY 2023-24 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought detailed budget derivation, funding formulae, and income/expenditure data for seven specific Isle of Man primary schools for FY 2023-24. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the general funding formula, staffing calculations, and context funding weightings but withheld specific school-level financial details, resulting in a partial exemption outcome. | ||
| 2024-12-04 | CRHS playing fields and ground source heat array | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought cost breakdowns and operational details for Castle Rushen High School's new playing fields and ground source heat pump system. The authority disclosed installation dates and the system's current non-operational status but withheld specific cost figures, citing that the information was already publicly accessible or would require excessive research. | ||
| 2024-11-18 | MT Buyout | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for all correspondence held by Minister Daphne Caine regarding Manx Telecom's offer for a government buyout. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released some information but withheld personal data under an absolute exemption. | ||
| 2024-11-12 | Secondary School Pupil Absence Data & Analysis Part 3 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought detailed analysis and reports on secondary school pupil absence reasons and attendance trends for the academic years 2021-2024. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided partial information, including specific attendance percentages and roll numbers, but withheld some data due to exemptions. | ||
| 2024-11-07 | AEDs in Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a detailed breakdown of AEDs in schools, including counts, locations, and models. The authority partially fulfilled the request by citing a previous Tynwald answer for general data, noting a specific update for Ramsey Grammar School, and listing the two AED models currently in use. | ||
| 2024-10-16 | Secondary School Pupil Absence Data & Analysis Part 2 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-09-30 | GCSE and A level results 2024 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought email communications, analysis reports, and policy guidance regarding 2023-24 GCSE and A-level results in the Isle of Man. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture partially disclosed the information, providing specific guidance on the 'Results Lite' process and criteria for excluding certain pupils from aggregate statistics. | ||
| 2024-09-25 | Commitees, Board, Agencies and Offices | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a list of committees, boards, and agencies linked to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture, along with their terms of reference and delegated powers. The Department disclosed details for the Arts Council, Religious Education Advisory Committee, IOM Sport Committee, Education Council, and School Governing Bodies, while citing Section 20 to withhold information already reasonably accessible online. | ||
| 2024-09-24 | Gifts | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought policies, training materials, and records of gifts declared by teachers from students and families for the 2021/22 to 2023/24 financial years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a partial response including a specific register of accepted gifts and a conflict of interest procedure document, while noting that some information was exempt. | ||
| 2024-09-20 | Breakdown of School Maintenance Issues and Faults | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for a breakdown of maintenance issues and faults in secondary schools over the last three academic years, to which the Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded with partial disclosure of specific fault logs from St Ninian's Lower School. | ||
| 2024-09-18 | Secondary School Pupil Absence Data & Analysis | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought detailed secondary school pupil absence data for Years 7-11 across three academic years, including breakdowns by category and persistent absence rates. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture partially fulfilled the request by providing specific data for QEII High School and Approved Educational Activities for other schools, while citing Section 20 to withhold general attendance metrics already available via public links. | ||
| 2024-06-17 | Quest Curriculum at CRHS | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought documentation on lesson planning, assessment, and evaluation of the 'Quest' curriculum at Castle Rushen High School for the first half of the 2024 Summer Term. The authority released 439 pages of materials, including teacher guides and success criteria for various student showcase formats, though the response was partially exempt. | ||
| 2024-05-09 | Pupil Behaviour Management and Allied Issues | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought detailed data on vandalism costs, staff feedback, and disciplinary actions under the Education Act 2001 for Isle of Man secondary schools, but the response primarily disclosed a 'Ready to Learn Refresh' policy document outlining behavioral expectations and mobile device rules. | ||
| 2024-04-23 | Suspension Rates | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-03-14 | Out of catchment requests | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-03-12 | Primary School numbers of pupils and capacities 2024 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-02-27 | Inclusion Training | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-02-26 | Pupil Exclusion Data 2020-2023 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-02-14 | Head Teachers Report to Governing Body CYB Primary School | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-01-30 | Freedom of Information Request - NSC Annual Budget Allocation | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-01-30 | Castle Rushen High School & Swimming Project Scope and Meeting Minutes | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-01-25 | Swimming Pool | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2024-01-04 | Correspondence with KKP re Pool Report | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-11-01 | Secondary School External Examination Results 2023 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-08-21 | 2023 A level results | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-08-08 | RSE independent external review | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-08-02 | Pool Test Results | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-07-18 | Information Commissioner's Decision Notice 2021/0005 (DESC) | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-06-27 | Change to the School Day - QE2 Enrichment Clubs | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-06-14 | Head Teachers' Reports to Governing Bodies (Selected Primary Schools) | Some information sent but part exempt |
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