Student Award System

Summary

A request for data on the Isle of Man Student Award System was partially fulfilled, disclosing statistics on student numbers, costs, and rejections for the 2017/18 year, while withholding a policy review document led by Mr L Hooper.

Key Facts

• 410 students were granted maintenance support separate from tuition loans in 2017/18.
• The total cost of the award system for 2017/18 was £9,135,278, with £1,644,298 allocated to maintenance grants.
• 468 students were ineligible for maintenance support due to exceeding means-tested income thresholds.
• 885 students were supported by the tuition loan agreement.
• Information regarding the review of the Student Award System headed by Mr L Hooper was refused.

Data Disclosed

• 410
• 1,378
• 885
• £9,135,278
• £1,644,298
• 468
• 500
• 2017/18
• 2018-04-17
• 2018-05-15

Exemptions Cited

• Section 34(1)(b) - formulation of policy exemption
• Section 35(b) and (c) - conduct of public business (inhibiting free and frank provision of advice/exchange of views)
• Section 41(a) and (c) - information for future publication exemption

Original Request

I wish for you to publish information surrounding: 1) The number of students who are granted the Maintenance support (separate to the Tuition Loan agreement) 2) To publish the current review of the Student Award System, as headed by Mr L Hooper, prior to it appearing before Tynwald. It is important for Manx Students to know what the Government is proposing and the extent to which the department has reviewed the system. This response should include all relevant work done in the review of the system. 3) To highlight how many students are supported by the award system, including the tuition loan agreement. 4) To publish the cost in plain figures of the current award system and how much is granted to students through the maintenance grant. 5) To publish the number of students who have maintenance applications rejected. 6) To publish the number of manx students currently supported by the award system by tuition loan agreement.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

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: 433138 15th May 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 17th April 2018 and which states:

"I wish for you to publish information surrounding: 1) The number of students who are granted the Maintenance support (separate to the Tuition Loan agreement) 2) To publish the current review of the Student Award System, as headed by Mr L Hooper, prior to it appearing before Tynwald. It is important for Manx Students to know what the Government is proposing and the extent to which the department has reviewed the system. This response should include all relevant work done in the review of the system. 3) To highlight how many students are supported by the award system, including the tuition loan agreement. 4) To publish the cost in plain figures of the current award system and how much is granted to students through the maintenance grant. 5) To publish the number of students who have maintenance applications rejected. 6) To publish the number of manx students currently supported by the award system by tuition loan agreement."

Our response to your request is as follows: Information that can provided – information relating to your points 1 and 3 to 6, as follows. Please note that this information relates to active 2017/18 undergraduate and postgraduate students supported by the Department. 1) No. of students granted maintenance support (separate to the tuition loan agreement):- 410 students* 2) [N/a – see below] 3) How many students are supported by the award system, including the tuition loan agreement:-

1,378 students (of which 885 are supported by the tuition loan agreement) 4) Cost of the current award system in the 2017/18 financial year:- £9,135,278 (of which £1,644,298 relates to maintenance grant support) (figure is net of loan contributions) 5) No. of students who have maintenance applications rejected:- All applications submitted are considered against the eligibility criteria laid out in the student award regulations. However 468 students across all of the supported cohorts were not eligible to receive maintenance support, as calculated income levels for parents/stakeholders exceeded the means-tested threshold levels. [A further 500 students did not apply for maintenance grant support.
Detailed analysis of ‘non-application’ cases is not undertaken but may include such factors as parent/stakeholder income levels exceeding the prescribed threshold or other non-qualifying circumstances (e.g. part-time/distance learning studies which are not eligible for maintenance support).] 6) No. of (‘Manx’) students supported by the tuition loan agreement:- As stated in ‘3’ above, 885 students are supported by the tuition loan facility offered by the Department. Please note that information is not maintained on different nationalities (per your request for data on ‘Manx students’), however we can advise that all of the students supported will have satisfied the eligibility criteria (including residency criteria) as laid out in the student award regulations approved by Tynwald.

Information not provided – information relating to point 2 of your request. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance your request for:- • publication of the current review of the student award system, as headed by Mr Hooper, MHK, prior to it appearing before Tynwald (including all relevant work done in the review of the system) is refused because it is exempt from disclosure under the following sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2001 (the Act).
• Section 34 (1()(b) – formulation of policy exemption (1)(b)(i) - Information is qualified exempt information if it relates to the formulation or development of Government policy • Section 35(b) and (c)– conduct of public business Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely:- (b)(i) (to inhibit) the free and frank provision of advice (b)(ii) (to inhibit) the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, or (c) otherwise to prejudice the effective conduct of public business.

• Section 41 (a) and (c)– information for future publication exemption Information is qualified exemption information if:- (a) It is held with a view to its being published by a public authority at some future date (whether determined or not). (c) It is reasonable in all the circumstances that the information be withheld from disclosure until further notice. As sections 34, 35 and 41 are qualified exemptions, they are subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large. The reasons for the refusal of this information is detailed below. Factors in favour of disclosure of the information:- • Promoting transparency of decision making in Government and the reasoning behind any decisions which are taken. • Allowing scrutiny of the actions of Government and be able to hold Government to account for its decision making. • Giving confidence that Government is gaining value for money in the use of public funds. • Advance awareness of any proposals to change the current levels of financial assistance for students or eligibility criteria etc. Factors in favour of withholding the information: • The information relates to work that is ongoing in formulating and developing the Department’s policy on higher and further education, including the student awards scheme, and which is not yet complete. The early release of such incomplete information could therefore be misleading or give rise to expectations that may not exist in the final version of the policy. • The information relates to work that is ongoing as part of conducting the public business of the Department. Early release of work which is still ongoing and subject to the appraisal of various options would be likely to inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. • Once work on the formulation and development of policy (including any change proposals) is complete, the resulting regulations will be presented for consideration through the proper parliamentary process via Tynwald. At this point it will also be subject to public scrutiny. • Any fundamental change in Government policy may necessitate a public consultation process, at which point the wider public would have the opportunity to have sight of possible proposals and the opportunity to comment on the same. • The information held will be published at a future date, including as part of Tynwald business and public debate and it is reasonable that the information be withheld from disclosure until that time.