Children unable to attend school data and Home Education data

Summary

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture disclosed the number of home-educated children and those unable to attend school due to health or refusal issues in the Isle of Man as of March 2020. The response provided specific counts for primary and secondary levels, noting that attendance data was based on partial school responses.

Key Facts

• There were 35 primary school-aged home educators.
• There were 56 secondary school-aged home educators.
• 2 primary school children were unable to attend due to health or refusal issues.
• 45 secondary school children were unable to attend due to health or refusal issues.
• Attendance data was based on responses from 30 of 32 primary schools and 3 of 5 secondary schools.

Data Disclosed

• 35
• 56
• 2
• 45
• 2020-02-20
• 2020-03-18
• 30 of 32
• 3 of 5
• 1190350

Original Request

What is the exact number of Primary school aged Home Educators as of the date of response to this FOI? What is the exact number of secondary School aged  Home Educators as of the date of response to this FOI? What is the Number of children in both Primary& Secondary school that cannot attend school due to school refusal or health issues as of the date of the response to this FOI?

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

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: 1190350

18 March 2020 Dear ###, We write further to your request which was received on 20 February 2020 and which states: "What is the exact number of Primary School aged Home Educators as of the date of response to this FOI? What is the exact number of Secondary School aged Home Educators as of the date of response to this FOI? What is the Number of children in both Primary& Secondary school that cannot attend school due to school refusal or health issues as of the date of the response to this FOI?" Our response to your request is as follows: Primary School aged Home Educators The number of Home Educators for Primary school aged children as of the above date is 35. Secondary School aged Home Educators The number of Home Educators for Secondary school aged children as of the above date is 56. Number of children that cannot attend school The numbers of children in both primary and secondary that cannot attend school due to school refusal or health issues on a long term/ongoing basis are as follows: Primary = 2 Secondary** = 45

Please note the information collected from the Primary and Secondary Schools in relation to the number of children that cannot attend school was provided to the Department during the standard processing period of this Freedom of Information request, as opposed to the date of this response. *Please note this information is based on responses from 30 of the 32 Island’s Primary Schools. *** Please note this information is based on responses from 3 of the 5 Island’s Secondary Schools. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

Please quote the reference number 1190350 in any future communications.

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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