Outcomes of Disciplinary action in schools

Summary

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.

Key Facts

• The request covered disciplinary actions for physical harm, emotional/mental health harm, and sexual contact with pupils.
• The scope included all schools and the University College Isle of Man since October 2011.
• The Office of Human Resources confirmed they did not hold the requested information.
• Some schools could not provide data because records were not held for the requested dates.
• A follow-up response was issued on 25 September 2020 after the initial deadline of 3 September 2020.

Data Disclosed

• October 2011
• 5 August 2020
• 25 August 2020
• 3 September 2020
• 25 September 2020
• 1408859
• 4 pages
• 2 documents

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the authority or schools
• Information not held for the dates requested

Original Request

Dear Sir, I would like to know, for each school (including the Collage) since October 2011 whether any teachers, or other government employees, have been disciplined for any of the following complaints; 1. Physical harm to a pupil; 2. Harm to the emotional or mental health of a pupil (for example from bullying); 3. Sexual contact with a pupil. For each case, please state what the outcome was (e.g. dismissal, compensation, NDA, etc) and whether the matter was reported to the Police.

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: 1408859 25 September 2020

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 5 August 2020 and which states:

Your request “I would like to know, for each school (including the College) since October 2011 whether any teachers, or other government employees, have been disciplined for any of the following complaints; 1. Physical harm to a pupil; 2. Harm to the emotional or mental health of a pupil (for example from bullying); 3. Sexual contact with a pupil. For each case, please state what the outcome was (e.g. dismissal, compensation, NDA, etc.) and whether the matter was reported to the Police." Our clarification request In order to identify and locate the information that you asked for, we needed to understand and clarify if "other government employees" refers to those employees specifically working within schools and the University College Isle of Man. You advised “Other government employees" refers to those employees specifically working within schools and the University College Isle of Man who are not themselves teachers.” Update on Freedom of Information request On 25 August 2020 we took the opportunity to update you on your Freedom of Information request and advised:

When the request was received by the Department the schools and college were closed for the summer holidays. Therefore the request was sent to the Isle of Man Government’s Office of Human Resources to see if the information was held by them. The Office of Human Resources confirmed, on 25 August, that they do not hold the Information requested and to contact the schools and college directly. The schools and college have been contacted for the information requested, however due to it being the summer holidays the Department may not receive a response from all of the schools until they return for the new academic year, which is after the response due date for your freedom of information request. We will provide a response by 3rd September, however it may not be a complete response based on the how many schools reply to the request for information during the summer holidays. If this is the case a follow up response will be provided when the schools return for the new academic year. Original response (as of 3 September 2020) Our response to your request is as follows: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. This is either because the information is not held by the schools for the dates requested or because some of the schools have not yet provided a response to the Department’s request for information in relation to this Freedom of Information request due to it being the summer holidays. As soon as the new academic year has started and the remainder of the schools have responded to the Department’s request for information in relation to this Freedom of Information request, we will aim to provide you with an updated response by Friday 25 September 2020. I have enclosed copies of the information that is held. Updated response Our response to your request is as follows: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. This is because some of the information is not held by some of the schools for the dates requested. I have enclosed copies of the information that is held. Please quote the reference number 1408859 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

Freedom of Information request 1408859 Primary School Physical harm to a pupil Emotional or mental health of a pupil Sexual contact with a pupil Outcome Notes Anagh Coar 0 0 0 N/a Andreas Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Arbory 0 0 0 N/a Ashley Hill 0 0 0 N/a From 2016 when current Head Teacher started Ballacottier 0 0 0 N/a From 2020 when current Head Teacher started. Information requested not held prior to 2020. Ballasalla Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Ballaugh 0 0 0 N/a Braddan 0 0 0 N/a Bunscoill Ghaelgagh 0 0 0 N/a Bunscoill Rhumsaa 0 0 0 N/a Cronk y Berry 0 0 0 N/a Dhoon Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Foxdale 0 0 0 N/a Henry Bloom Noble 0 0 0 N/a Jurby 0 0 0 N/a Kewaigue 0 0 0 N/a Laxey Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Manor Park 0 0 0 N/a Marown 0 0 0 N/a Michael 0 0 0 N/a Onchan 0 0 0 N/a Peel Clothworkers 0 0 0 N/a From 2013 when current Head Teacher started. Information requested not held prior to 2013. Phurt le Moirrey 0 0 0 N/a From 2016 when current Head Teacher started. Information requested not held prior to 2016. Rushen 0 0 0 N/a From 2017 when current Head Teacher started Scoill yn Jubilee 0 0 0 N/a St Johns 0 0 0 N/a St Marys 0 0 0 N/a From 2018 when current Head Teacher started. Information reqeusted not held prior to 2018. St Thomas' Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Sulby 0 0 0 N/a Vallajeelt 0 0 0 N/a From 2015 when current Head Teacher started. Information requested not held prior to 2015. Victoria Road Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Willaston 0 0 0 N/a From 2014 when current Head Teacher started. Information requested not held prior to 2014. Secondary School Ballakermeen High School Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Castle Rushen High School Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Queen Elizabeth II High School Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a Ramsey Grammar School Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a St Ninian's High School Information requested not held Information requested not held Information requested not held N/a College University College Isle of Man 0 0 0 N/a From 2016 when current Principal started. Information reqeusted not held prior to 2016. Since October 2011 whether any teachers, or other government employees, have been disciplined for any of the following complaints: