Department of Education, Sport and Culture
617 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 38.1%
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 (617)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-17 | 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 | 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. | ||
| 2022-05-17 | 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. | ||
| 2022-05-04 | 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) staff & students | Upheld - full |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture regarding University College Isle of Man staff employment types, zero-hour contract costs, and student enrollment figures. The authority upheld the request in full, disclosing student enrollment statistics for five academic years and staffing breakdowns by department for December 2019, May 2020, and May 2021. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2022-04-25 | Information accompanying primary school reports 2021 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought letters accompanying 2021 primary school reports for Years R, 2, and 6, including contextual attainment data, but the authority disclosed only sample letters from specific schools while noting that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2022-03-30 | NSC Running costs and budget 2014-2022 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought annual running costs, budgets, and capital expenditure for the National Sports Centre (NSC) from 2014 to 2022, along with funding sources. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided budget and actual expenditure tables but confirmed it does not hold specific maintenance and refurbishment figures for 2014/15 and 2015/16 funded by the Department of Infrastructure. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2022-03-09 | Funding | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought a comparison of funding for students studying overseas versus those on the Isle of Man, specifically for 2018 and 2019. The authority disclosed figures for UK tuition fees, maintenance grants, and Open University refunds, but could not provide specific tuition fee data for University College Isle of Man (UCM) as it is covered by internal budgets. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2022-02-16 | School Funding | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought per-pupil funding figures for primary and secondary schools and for home-educated children on the Isle of Man. The authority disclosed 2021/22 funding data for 36 schools but confirmed that no funding is provided for home-educated children. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2022-02-08 | 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. | ||
| 2022-02-02 | 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. | ||
| 2022-02-01 | Financial information in respect of the National Sports Centre | All information sent |
| 2022-01-31 | Number of students in HE studying off island | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for the number of higher education students studying off-island over the past 10 years, specifically distinguishing between UK and international locations. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed figures for the last six years only, noting that data could not be broken down by location and excluded unfunded students. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2022-01-24 | 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. | ||
| 2022-01-11 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-12-30 | Correspondence about regional pools regarding budgets | Upheld - full |
| The request sought correspondence regarding budget requirements for Isle of Man regional swimming pools, specifically focusing on utility costs and staffing. The response disclosed a letter from the Western Swimming Pool detailing significant financial pressures from rising gas and electricity tariffs, wage disparities with the National Sports Centre, and urgent maintenance funding needs. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-11-30 | GCSE and Other External Examination Attainment 2021 | Upheld - partial |
| A request for detailed 2020-21 GCSE and external examination attainment data for Isle of Man state secondary schools was partially upheld, resulting in the disclosure of subject-specific grade breakdowns and Average Point Scores (APS). | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-11-15 | CO2 Levels | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for CO2 monitor counts, record frequencies, and a full breakdown of CO2 levels in Isle of Man schools from September to November 2021. The Department of Education provided the number of monitors and one week of data (15-19 November 2021) but could not supply the full historical breakdown or record counts due to a one-week data retention policy. | ||
| 2021-11-09 | IOM Primary Schools' Attainment 2020-21 - EYFS, Key Stages 1, 2 | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for 2020-21 primary school attainment data across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2 for all Isle of Man schools, including cohort sizes and subject-specific percentages. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded with partial data, providing detailed statistics for EYFS and Key Stage 1 but noting that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-10-28 | 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. | ||
| 2021-10-14 | University College Isle of Man | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for University College Isle of Man's print spending with specific suppliers from January 2019 to November 2021. The authority disclosed spending figures for five named suppliers but could not provide data for 'off island printers' due to a lack of specific supplier names. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-09-29 | Arts Council Funding Promenade Sculpture £47,000 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on the Arts Council's funding status, the source of funds for a £47,000 promenade sculpture, and related correspondence. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that the sculpture was funded by lottery grants rather than the Department, provided a budget breakdown for 2019-2021, but stated it did not hold records explaining the 'sponsored body' definition or the specific emails regarding the sculpture's selection. | ||
| 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. | ||
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