Sabbatical for teachers

Summary

A request was made for records of teacher sabbaticals from January 2012 onwards, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture responded that the information is not held.

Key Facts

• The request covered sabbaticals for primary and secondary teachers since January 2012.
• The authority stated it does not hold the specific information requested.
• Sabbaticals are classified as 'special leave' in the Human Resources system.
• The recording system cannot differentiate between different types of special leave.
• The request was closed on 31 January 2020.

Data Disclosed

• 1126625
• 2020-01-08
• 2020-01-31
• September 2011
• 11 October 2011
• January 2012
• 5 days

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

I would like records of all cases in which a teacher, both primary and secondary, has requested a sabbatical during term time, along with the outcomes, since September 2011. I would like information on whether it was paid or unpaid, how long for and what the sabbatical was for. I have no interest in the names of the individuals so I do not need their personal details.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 1126625 31st January 2020

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 8 January 2020 and which states:

"I would like records of all cases in which a teacher, both primary and secondary, has requested a sabbatical during term time, along with the outcomes, since September 2011. I would like information on whether it was paid or unpaid, how long for and what the sabbatical was for. I have no interest in the names of the individuals so I do not need their personal details." We advised the Freedom of Information Act 2015 states this Act applies in relation to information created on or after 11 October 2011 and we were unable to process your request, as the information requested is prior to 11 October 2011. You were then given the opportunity to request the information from an alternative date. You advised: “I'm happy to receive information on record from January 2012” You further advised: I was advised to check the definition of 'sabbatical' due to the time period. I am interested in periods of leave of absence of more than 5 days

Our response to your request is as follows: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. This is due to the way in which the information is held by the Office of Human Resources. Sabbaticals are classed as special leave and the system where this information is recorded is not able to differentiate between the different types of special leave. Therefore it has not been possible to identify the individual special leave requests which have been categorised as sabbaticals.

Please quote the reference number 1126625 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Coordinator