Further English Baccalaureate data (performance measures)

Summary

The request sought English Baccalaureate attainment data and Year 11 completion numbers for Isle of Man secondary schools in 2015-16. The Department of Education refused the EBacc data as it was not held and would require substantial compilation, but provided the requested Year 11 completion figures.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education does not use the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) as a performance measure.
• Information on EBacc attainment was refused because creating it would require substantial compilation of existing data.
• Year 11 completion numbers for the 2015/16 academic year were provided for all five island secondary schools.
• Ballakermeen High School and St Ninian's High School both had 238 pupils completing Year 11.
• Queen Elizabeth II High School and Castle Rushen High School both had 115 pupils completing Year 11.

Data Disclosed

• 2015-16
• 115
• 238
• 167
• IM81978I
• 2017-03-22
• 2017-04-06

Exemptions Cited

• Section 8(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Section 8(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Section 8(3)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015
• Practical refusal reason (information not held/substantial compilation required)

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

6 April 2017

RE: REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Reference Number – IM81978I

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

You asked:

1. In respect of the academic year 20152016 and for each on Island secondary school how many individual pupils completing Year 11 personally “attained” the EBacc, namely achieved the requisite combination of GCSE passes at Grades A C (and other stated requirements) according to the following criteria?: Grade A C in either English Language or English Literature GCSE but the pupil must have entered both examinations; and
   Grade A C in mathematics GCSE; and Grade A C in either history or geography GCSE; and Grade A – C in a language GCSE (modern or ancient); and Grade A C in core and additional science GCSEs; or Grade A C in GCSE double science award; or the pupil needs to enter three single sciences and achieve A C in at least 2 of them (the single sciences are biology, physics, chemistry and computer science).

[N.B. It follows that only pupils who have achieved an A C in a language subject can have any chance of “achieving” the EBacc. Given the relatively low numbers of pupils attaining such grades (as detailed in the response to FOI Request IM803231) I would anticipate that this is a straightforward piece of information to retrieve. For example, it appears at CRHS in 2015-16, 11 pupils achieved Grades A C in French and 6 achieved A – C in Spanish. Assuming no student took both languages (which of course is not a given fact), I suggest the maximum number that could have potentially achieved the EBacc at that school would be 17 and that itself is dependent on these MFL students successfully meeting all the other A C attainment and entry requirement criteria regarding English, Mathematics, Humanities and Sciences as defined above].

1. In respect of academic year 2015-16 how many pupils completed Year 11 at each of the Island’s Secondary schools?

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 Department of Education and Children

Rheynn Ynsee as Paitchyn

grounds where the information is absolutely exempt information, where a qualified exemption applies or where there are practical reasons for refusal.

In relation to question 1 of your request, in this instance the information you have requested is not held by us as the Department does not use the EBacc as a form of measurement. To do so would require the Department to create or derive information from other data that is held, necessitating research, analysis and the substantial compilation/collation of information.

Your request for this information is therefore refused on the grounds of a practical refusal reason under sections 8(3)(a), 8(3)(b), 8(3)(c) and 11(3)(b) of the Act as this would require the Department to create, derive or undertake substantial compilation of other information that it holds.

In response to question 2, the number of pupils who completed Year 11 for the academic year 2015/16 at each of the Island’s secondary schools are set out in the table below:

Secondary School Pupils completing Year 11 (2015/16 academic year) Queen Elizabeth II High School
115 Ballakermeen High School 238 Ramsey Grammar School
167 St Ninian’s High School 238 Castle Rushen High School
115

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 is available via the following URL:- 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