Policy in Politics within Schools

Summary

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.

Key Facts

• The request asked if there is a policy on political partisanship, such as assemblies endorsing political figures or ideological principles.
• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture confirmed it does not hold the requested information.
• The reason for non-disclosure is that the Department has no policy on political partisanship within schools.
• The request was received on 1 June 2021 and the response was issued on 17 June 2021.
• The requester was informed of their right to an internal review or an appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Data Disclosed

• 1818733
• 2021-06-01
• 2021-06-17
• 2015
• 2
• 1

Original Request

To whom it may concern, Does the Department have any policy on political partisanship within schools, i.e. an assembly endorsing a political figure, or endorsing a set of ideological principles. Yours,

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: 1818733

17 June 2021 Dear ###, We write further to your request which was received on 1 June 2021 and which states: "Does the Department have any policy on political partisanship within schools, i.e. an assembly endorsing a political figure, or endorsing a set of ideological principles." 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 the information that you have requested. The information requested is not held because the Department of Education, Sport and Culture does not have a policy on political partisanship within schools. Please quote the reference number 1818733 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