Permanent and updated pupil numbers at all schools

Summary

The requester asked for permanent school capacity figures and updated projected pupil rolls for the 2017/2018 academic year on the Isle of Man. The Department of Education refused to provide the 2017/2018 data as exempt because it was incomplete and intended for future publication, while directing the requester to an existing website for capacity figures.

Key Facts

• The request was made on 2017-08-22 and responded to on 2017-09-04.
• Permanent capacity figures were refused under Section 20(2)(b) as they are already published online.
• Projected pupil rolls for 2017/2018 were refused under Section 41 as the information was incomplete and intended for future publication.
• The Department planned to upload the requested 2017/2018 data to their website by the October 2017 half term.
• Incomplete data was withheld to avoid presenting an inaccurate picture of school rolls due to ongoing enrolments and sixth form decisions.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-08-22
• 2017-09-04
• 2017/2018
• October 2017
• 6390
• 6429
• 5236
• 5258
• IM100077I

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20(2)(b) - Information accessible to applicant by other means
• Section 41 - Information intended for future publication

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

4th September 2017

Re: Freedom of Information Request – Reference Number IM100077I

Your Request:-

Can you please release the permanent capacity figure for all schools on the isle of man.

Can you please also release the updated projected pupil roll at each school for 20172018. Data released to IOMtoday in April 2017 showed the following numbers.

Quote : IOMtoday 18 April 2017 Article: Projected numbers for Manx schools released Roll as Projected Roll at April 2017 20172018

Primary schools:

Anagh Coar School 140 125 Andreas School 106 102 Arbory Primary School 181 180 Ashley Hill Primary School 254 252 Ballacottier School 270 261 Ballasalla Primary Schoo 91 95 Ballaugh Primary School 68 67 Braddan Primary School 158 166 Bunscoill Ghaelgagh 67 Not Available Bunscoill Rhumsaa 489 516 CronkyBerry School 350 355 Dhoon Primary School 83 66 Foxdale Primary School 65 72 Henry Bloom Noble Primary School 294 313 Jurby School 63 68 Kewaigue School 127 129 Laxey Primary School 207 196 Manor Park Primary School 103 97 Marown Primary School 191 193 Michael School 122 121 Onchan Primary School 420 457 Peel Clothworkers’ Primary School 419 444 Rushen Primary School 231 245 Scoill Phurt Le Moirrey 150 149 Scoill Vallajeelt 197 192 Department of Education and Children

Rheynn Ynsee as Paitchyn

Scoill yn Jubilee 415 423 St John’s Primary School 151 159 St Mary’s RC School 309 317 St Thomas’ CE School 72 72 Sulby Primary School 152 153 Victoria Road Primary School 253 251 Willaston Primary 192 193 Total 6390 6429

Secondary schools:

Ballakermeen High School 1500 1558 Castle Rushen High School 798 786 Queen Elizabeth II High School 756 754 Ramsey Grammar School 917 910 St Ninian’s High School 1265 1250 Total 5236 5258

Department Response:-

In response to the first part of your request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible we are refusing this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2015, Section 20, (2)(b) ‘Information accessible to applicant by other means’, as this information has already been published by the Department. To be of assistance to you, this information can be found at found at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/education-and- children/information-and-publications/s/school-roll-data/

In response to your second request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance your request for information regarding the numbers on roll for the academic year 2017/2018 is being refused under a qualified exemption of Section 41 of the Act, as it is intended to publish this information at a future date.

At this time of year some schools will have entered details of their enrolled students onto their management information systems whilst other schools will input the information during the month of September. As far as 6th form students are concerned, some schools will already have had an enrolment day whilst other schools will hold them in the first week of the new term.

Public Interest Test

Sections 41 of the Act is a qualified exemption and is therefore subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosing the information include:  promoting transparency in Government’s decision-making;  scrutinising Government’s actions and use of resources;  holding Government appropriately to account.

Factors in favour of maintaining the exemption include: • The information on actual numbers on school rolls is currently not up to date and is incomplete due to the fact that some schools will have entered all their students on to their management information system at this point in time whilst other schools will only begin to input the information during the month of September as parents complete appropriate forms;  Registration at particular schools is not complete as some parents will have just moved to the Island and will be completing relevant admission forms;  Family circumstances may have changed over the summer holiday period which schools are currently unaware of;  Sixth form enrolment numbers are still to be established depending on exam results, entry criteria for individual schools and interviews with relevant staff;  The projected numbers of pupils on school rolls may not have materially changed since publication of the last data by the Department;  The intention to upload the requested information on the Department’s website by the October 2017 half term.

In assessing the weight to be attributed to each of the above factors we have taken the view that disclosure of incomplete or partial information would not be in the public interest as it would not present an accurate picture of numbers on school rolls until pupil numbers are finalised.

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 of our Review/Complaint form can be found by going to https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/

Your Review/Complaint 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 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 https://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