School validation report

Summary

A request was made for the external validation report for Rushen Primary School and an explanation for its absence from the school website. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture refused to disclose the information, citing that it is held for future publication and that the public interest in withholding it outweighs the interest in disclosure.

Key Facts

• The request concerned a validation report from Tribal education services following a visit to Rushen Primary School on June 27 and 28.
• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture determined the information is exempt under section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The exemption applies because the information is held with a view to being published at a future date.
• The Minister for Education stated that reports would be published on school websites once the external validation process for the pilot phase is complete.
• The Department concluded that disclosure could undermine consultation and lead to misinterpretation of the ongoing matter.

Data Disclosed

• 4137053
• 2024-09-19
• 2024-10-16
• June 27 and 28
• 23rd July 2024
• section 41
• IM4 3AS
• 01624 685808

Exemptions Cited

• Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information held with a view to future publication)

Original Request

Please supply a copy of the validation report produced following the visit to Rushen Primary School by the external validation team from Tribal education services on June 27 and 28. Please also explain why information about the visit has not been made available on the school's website.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4137053 16 October 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 19 September 2024, which states:

"Please supply a copy of the validation report produced following the visit to Rushen Primary School by the external validation team from Tribal education services on June 27 and 28.

Please also explain why information about the visit has not been made available on the school's website."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is exempt from disclosure under section 41 of the Act as it is held with a view to being published at a future date and in these circumstances, it is reasonable that the information be withheld from disclosure until that time.

As section 41 is a qualified exemption, it is 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 disclosure • Transparency – Disclosure of the information would support transparency and promote openness and accountability to the general public.

Factors in favour of withholding • The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture responded to a question asked at the House of Keys on the 23rd July 2024 with the below response taken from Hansard - “Once the external validation process is complete for all schools and educational services who have formed part of this pilot phase, the schools and educational service will publish the parent information formed by the external validation team on their school websites, of which the majority have been published.” • Disclosure would undermine consultation between the provider and Rushen Primary School. • Information could be misinterpreted, and therefore mislead the public.

• The matter is live and ongoing.

In taking these factors into account the Department of Education, Sport and Culture determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 4137053 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

Information Governance Officer