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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-11 | Female and Male undergraduate students at Oxford | All information sent |
| The requester asked for historical data on undergraduate students accepted to study Medicine at Oxford, split by sex. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed that from October 2011, they supported a total of 4 students, comprising 3 females and 1 male. | ||
| 2021-08-04 | Incidence of COVID in St John's Primary School | All information sent |
| The request sought the date the headmistress of St John's Primary School became aware of a pupil with COVID-19 during specific weeks in July 2021. The Department of Education disclosed that the Head Teacher was informed of a positive PCR test result for a member of the school community on 19 July 2021. | ||
| 2021-07-26 | New secondary school in Castletown | Upheld - full |
| A request was made for reports, correspondence, design cases, and financial details regarding the proposed new Castle Rushen High School in Castletown. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the strategic brief but withheld cost estimates and option appraisals under a commercial interests exemption to protect the upcoming tendering process. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-06-30 | 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. | ||
| 2021-06-23 | 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. | ||
| 2021-06-22 | 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. | ||
| 2021-06-04 | 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. | ||
| 2021-06-01 | 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. | ||
| 2021-05-28 | Implementation Plan Progress | All information sent |
| The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided a progress update on its implementation plan actions as of 1st May 2021, disclosing completion percentages for various strategic activities. The response confirmed that all requested information was sent, detailing the status of initiatives ranging from departmental structure design to wellbeing programmes. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-05-04 | Replacement CRHS and Southern Swimming Pool | Not upheld |
| The request sought plans, cost estimates, and meeting minutes regarding the inclusion of a replacement swimming pool in the new CRHS development. The response disclosed business case extracts and minutes detailing a £6.24 million cost estimate for a 25m pool, discussions on joint funding with King William's College, and the decision to add the pool as a 'bolt-on' to the Treasury paper. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-04-29 | 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. | ||
| 2021-04-26 | 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. | ||
| 2021-04-19 | 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. | ||
| 2021-03-30 | Redeployment | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of staff redeployed per school during the closure starting March 4th, and the Department of Education provided specific numbers for eight educational institutions. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-03-15 | 2020 data relating to 5 Level 2 Qualifications (A*-C inc E&M) | Upheld - full |
| The request sought 2020 performance data, correspondence, and quality assurance details regarding Level 2 qualifications from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. The authority upheld the request in full, disclosing examination results, destination statistics, and school improvement targets. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2020-12-17 | 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 | 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. | ||
| 2020-09-21 | 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. | ||
| 2020-09-10 | Non DESC External Teachers | All information sent |
| The request sought details on non-DESC music tutors in primary schools, including specific data on schools, hours, and regulatory frameworks. The authority disclosed that no specific legislation regulates these tutors, provided a list of school policies and quality assurance measures in place, and released enclosed data for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2020-08-17 | Castle Rushen High School - KS5 Attainment (2012-2019) | All information sent |
| A request was made for A-Level grade breakdowns (A*-U) for specific subjects at Castle Rushen High School from 2012 to 2019. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed that all requested information was held and released to the applicant. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2020-07-21 | DESC Pay Offers to Teachers and Allied Pay Issues. | Not upheld |
| The requester sought details on declined pay offers to teachers and historical pay awards for education sector staff, but the authority responded with a general recruitment brochure outlining current benefits rather than the specific historical negotiation data requested. | ||
| 2020-07-13 | Broadway cinema attendance | All information sent |
| The request sought annual attendance and profit/loss figures for the Broadway cinema for 2017, 2018, and 2019, which were fully disclosed by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2020-06-17 | Non Co-operation by Unions during Covid-19 Emergency Period | Not upheld |
| The requester sought evidence of union non-cooperation and remote learning guidance during the COVID-19 emergency, but the Information Commissioner's Office determined the complaint was not upheld. The response included 181 pages of documents detailing pedagogical strategies for remote learning, such as chunking lessons and using digital platforms, rather than specific evidence of union disputes. | ||
| 2020-06-10 | Primary School pupil levels Y2, Y6 and GLD | Not upheld |
| The requester sought National Curriculum attainment levels for Years 2 and 6 and Good Level of Development data for Year R across all primary schools. The Department of Education provided partial data from some schools but withheld information from others due to pandemic disruptions, curriculum changes, personal data exemptions, and the cost of data compilation. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2020-05-18 | 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. | ||
| 2020-05-13 | KS2-KS4 Levels of Progress 2019 | All information sent |
| The request sought KS2-KS4 value-added progress measures and cohort sizes for Isle of Man secondary schools for the 2019 academic year. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed all requested data, including percentages for English and Mathematics progress and average levels of progress for five specific schools. | ||
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