Y4 schemes of work & curricula - Anagh Coar & Ashley Hill

Summary

The requester asked for Year 4 schemes of work and curricula for Anagh Coar and Ashley Hill Primary Schools, but the Department of Education refused to provide specific school documents as they are not held centrally or formally created. Instead, the authority provided online links to general Isle of Man curriculum resources and offered direct contact with the schools for further assistance.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education does not hold formal Year 4 schemes of work for the requested schools.
• The request was refused under practical refusal reasons as it would require creating or compiling new information.
• Curriculum planning is described as a dynamic process rather than a fixed document.
• The schools agreed to meet with the requester to discuss their approach to schemes of work.
• Three specific web links were provided for general curriculum information.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-03-04
• 2017-03-30
• 28 March 2017
• IM80015I
• 622148
• 686633
• sections 8(3)(a), 8(3)(b) and 11(2)(b)
• 2011-SD-0838

Exemptions Cited

• Practical refusal reason under sections 8(3)(a), 8(3)(b) and 11(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

28 March 2017

RE: REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Reference Number – IM80015I

Thank you for your request received by the Department of Education and Children.

You asked:

1)Please may I have copies of the Year Four schemes of work and curricula from the start of last Autumn term to the end of this Summer term for Anagh Coar Primary School and Ashley Hill Primary School (if different) for all classes (including any classes such as PE and Manx) under FOIA. Alternatively can you please provide me with the open access on line locations for these documents as a normal business request please.

2)In the event that the documents are different between each school, please can you provide me with an indication of the minimum requirement to be taught to this year group, or provide me with the means to locate this information for myself online.

Department Response

Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Freedom of Information Act 2015 makes provision for public authorities to refuse to release information on grounds where the information is absolutely exempt information or where a qualified exemption may apply.

In this instance the information you have requested is not held by the Department’s Head Office and the two schools do not have formal Year 4 schemes of work as such which are used year after year. Your request for this information is therefore refused on the grounds of a practical refusal reason under sections 8(3)(a), 8(3)(b) and 11(2)(b) of the Act as this would require the Department to create, derive or undertake substantial compilation of (other) information that it holds.

However under the advice and assistance provisions within the Act the relevant schools have confirmed that they would be content to meet with you as part of normal business to talk through their equivalent approach to schemes of work and their contents. To assist you, Anagh Coar School can be contacted on telephone number 622148 and Ashley Hill School on 686633.

In respect of the request for curricula information, please note that curriculum planning is not a fixed document or set of information as it regularly changes and is amended to meet the needs of the particular cohort of pupils in the relevant year/class.
Department of Education and Children

Rheynn Ynsee as Paitchyn

However you have requested, as an alternative, access to curriculum information via online sources and I am pleased to provide you with the following web-links to information on the Isle of Man curriculum. This information is already within the public domain and I hope it will be useful to you :-

https://www2.sch.im/groups/essentialsforlearningparentsinformation/

https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/education-and-children/education- improvement-service/manx-curriculum/

http://www.tynwald.org.im/links/tls/SD/SD2011/2011-SD-0838.pdf#search="curriculum"

As above, the two schools have agreed to provide, as part of normal day to day business, any further advice and assistance that would assist you regarding your enquiries on the Year 4 curriculum.

Review Process

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 Review/Complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post to: Mr Andrew Shipley, Legal and Administration Manager, Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5EZ.

An electronic version and paper version of our Review/Complaint form can be found by going to www.gov.im.about-the-government/freedom-of-information/ Your Review/Complaint request should explain why you are dissatisfied with the response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been conducted.

Appeal Process

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; 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 rights to review is on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im/contact-us/

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