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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-08 | KS5 Level 3 Results 2018 - 2022 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-06-05 | Post 16 (years) education | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-05-04 | AEN Code & Implementation Plan | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-05-02 | Disability and Accessability on island | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-04-26 | 'Education Management infotmation system' | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-03-21 | Primary School Meals | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-03-13 | Headteachers' Reports to Governing Bodies (Selected Schools) | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-03-02 | Arts council national strategy results + break down of funding areas | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-02-28 | Sex education in schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-02-16 | Request of nominee statistics for Isle of Man Sport awards | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-01-23 | NASUWT Industrial Action 2022-23 Academic Year | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-01-20 | Feasibility and Masterplan for CRHS | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2023-01-18 | Art's Council | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-11-17 | DESC Department Plan 2022-2023 - MHK Briefing Details | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-10-14 | Impact on Schools of Industrial Action by Teachers Part 2 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-09-28 | GCSE and A Level Examination Attainment 2022 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-09-26 | A-Level results for each subject by school in 2022 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-09-26 | GCSE & Other External Examinations 2021-22: Data and Analysis | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-09-09 | Unpublished copies of Responses to FOI Requests | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2022-07-06 | Gender identification | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought all communications between the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and external organizations regarding gender identification. The authority released several documents including questionnaires and emails from Edge Hill University and the Rainbow Flag Award, but redacted personal details under an absolute exemption. | ||
| 2022-05-17 | Sessional lecturer (UCM) rates of pay | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought data on University College Isle of Man sessional lecturer pay rates, meeting minutes, and employment terms from 2016 to 2022. The authority released some information, including JNC minutes detailing a new contracting system for sessional lecturers, but withheld other requested data citing partial exemptions. | ||
| 2022-05-04 | RGS Board of Governors Minutes | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought agendas, minutes, and records sent to the Ramsey Grammar School Board of Governors between January 2021 and May 2022. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided partial information, including specific meeting minutes from July 2021 and April 2022, while withholding other requested records. | ||
| 2022-04-25 | UCM (University College Isle of Man) zero hours | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought pay periods for zero-hour lecturers at UCM and details on policies regarding the transition to employment and the 300-hour provision. The authority disclosed pay period dates for academic years 2018-2022 and excerpts from the Terms and Conditions of Service regarding teaching remission, but withheld information on specific transition policies and briefing papers. | ||
| 2022-04-22 | Primary School Budgets FY 2021-22 & 2022-23 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for detailed budget allocations, expenditure breakdowns, and funding formulas for eight specific primary schools in the Isle of Man for FY 2021-22 and 2022-23. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released partial financial data showing total costs and specific line items for several schools, but the response was marked as part exempt. | ||
| 2022-02-16 | Isle of Man Arts Council | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for a list of awards, grants, and loans provided by the Isle of Man Arts Council from January 2020 to 2021/22, resulting in the disclosure of a detailed funding table with some information exempt. | ||
| 2022-02-02 | Castle Rushen High School feasibility study and cost estimates | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the feasibility study and cost estimates for Castle Rushen High School, resulting in the disclosure of a partial report detailing design methodology, site analysis, and accommodation schedules, while some information was withheld. | ||
| 2022-01-27 | KS5 Level 3 Qualification data | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for Level 3 qualification data for Year 18 pupils across all five Isle of Man high schools for the academic years 2018/19 to 2020/21. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture partially disclosed the information, providing detailed grade breakdowns for Ballakermeen High School for 2020 and 2021, while withholding data for other schools or years. | ||
| 2022-01-11 | NSC Flumes Sign Off | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the sign-off date, responsible personnel, and documentation for the new NSC Flumes. The authority disclosed the sign-off date and a defects register but withheld personal details of the sign-off individual and specific commercial documents under exemptions. | ||
| 2022-01-10 | Impact of Covid on Pupil Attainment | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought data and analysis regarding the decline in primary school attainment levels in the Isle of Man during the 2020-21 academic year compared to pre-pandemic years due to Covid-19 lockdowns. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided detailed statistical tables for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) attainment across multiple years but withheld other requested reports and meeting minutes, resulting in a partial exemption outcome. | ||
| 2021-12-21 | Isle of Man Fitness Day | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for records regarding the selection and communication with Nedgroup Investments as a sponsor for the Isle of Man Fitness Day. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released some information but withheld personal data under an absolute exemption. | ||
| 2021-06-30 | POC at HBN | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for records regarding People of Colour Isle of Man (POC) representatives attending Henry Bloom Noble School in June 2021, resulting in the disclosure of email correspondence from late 2020 and early 2021 while some information was withheld. | ||
| 2021-06-25 | 2021 Year 11 Teacher Assessed Grading for IGCSE/GCSE Examinations | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought policies, grade thresholds, and assessment materials used by Isle of Man schools for 2021 Year 11 IGCSE/GCSE teacher-assessed grades to ensure fairness across the island. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided some information, including Cambridge International guidance on evidence collection, but withheld specific school-level documents and assessments, resulting in a partial exemption outcome. | ||
| 2021-05-28 | Transition Project Recruitment | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for JEGS paperwork, job descriptions, and business cases for new roles created under the DESC transformation project. The authority disclosed the business case and provided links to job descriptions, but stated that JEGS paperwork was not held because the roles were newly created. | ||
| 2021-05-25 | School Meals | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the Council of Ministers paper regarding options to extend the free school meal voucher scheme over the Easter holidays. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the paper, which outlined the legal constraints and a £50,000 cost estimate for the proposed extension. | ||
| 2021-05-03 | Meetings in lockdown | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for details of all government meetings during the 2020-2021 lockdowns, including attendee names and gender counts. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a list of meetings and attendees but refused to provide gender statistics as that data was not held. | ||
| 2021-04-26 | Governing Body Minutes - Selected Primary Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought governing body minutes for 13 primary schools for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years. The Department of Education provided partial information, citing that some meetings did not occur and redacting personal data under data protection laws. | ||
| 2021-03-22 | Governing Body Minutes - All Secondary and Selected Primary Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought governing body minutes for all secondary and selected primary schools for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided some information but withheld parts of the response due to exemptions. | ||
| 2021-02-22 | Dyslexia policy | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture's current or recent dyslexia policy. The department confirmed no current policy exists but released a redacted version of a policy and guidance document from September 2012 that was in force until March 2020. | ||
| 2021-02-15 | Governing Body Minutes - Selected Primary Schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought governing body minutes for 11 primary schools covering the 2018-19 academic year and the autumn term of 2019-20. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released the minutes but redacted personal information found within school improvement plans. | ||
| 2021-02-01 | Scoil Phurt le Moirrey School Improvement Plan and the School Vision | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the School Improvement Plan and School Vision for Scoil Phurt le Moirrey for the past five years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided the plans for academic years 2015/16 through 2019/20, noting that the vision is included within each plan, but redacted personal information. | ||
| 2021-02-01 | 2021 External Examinations & Pupil Grading/Assessment | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought internal correspondence and submissions regarding 2021 external examinations and grading during the pandemic, to which the authority responded with partial information including a document outlining concerns about CAIE exam arrangements and exemptions. | ||
| 2020-12-23 | IOM Schools Pupil Data 2020-21 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought FSM, SEN, and EAL data for Isle of Man schools, receiving partial disclosure with EAL, FSM, and SEN counts provided, while percentage data was withheld as it was not held. | ||
| 2020-09-21 | Constitution | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the UCM constitution for lecturers and meeting minutes for JCC and JNC committees over the past two years. The authority provided the constitution and JNC minutes with redactions for personal data, but stated that JCC minutes were not held as those meetings do not take place within the Department. | ||
| 2020-05-18 | University fees | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought data on outstanding student loan debt, repayment rates, and student award costs for Manx university students since 2014. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed detailed loan statistics and award costs, while directing the requester to a public report for historical award numbers. | ||
| 2020-04-20 | IoM Schools Pupil Statistical Data 2019-20 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought detailed pupil statistics and class structure information for Isle of Man schools for the 2019-20 academic year. The Department of Education provided most data directly but directed the requester to existing public documents for school roll numbers and class size policies under Section 20 of the Act. | ||
| 2020-03-09 | Decision to publish EIS moderation reports for all schools | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought documentation regarding the Department of Education's decision to publish Education Improvement Service moderation reports for all schools. The authority disclosed internal emails confirming the decision to publish redacted reports from the last three years but withheld specific names and details under redaction. | ||
| 2020-03-05 | Number of staff working in the Dept | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the number of administrative staff, the latest Ofsted report, and teacher salary scales for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. The authority disclosed the staff count but directed the requester to public websites for the report and salary scales, citing that the information was already reasonably accessible. | ||
| 2020-01-29 | KS4 Attainment in Level 1 & 2 Qualifications 2019 By School | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2019-11-22 | Student Climate 'Strike' - Information on Internal communications | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought internal communications and sanction details regarding student climate strikes, resulting in the partial disclosure of four specific email extracts while withholding personal data and parent letters due to exemptions. | ||
| 2019-11-18 | Primary School Attainment 2018-19 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester sought 2018-19 primary school attainment figures for the Isle of Man, including percentages for Good Level of Development and specific curriculum levels for Year 2 and Year 6 pupils. The Department of Education provided the GLD percentage but exempted percentage data for Year 2 and 6 as it was already publicly accessible, while refusing to aggregate raw curriculum level data due to the lack of a legal requirement to create new information. | ||
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