Numbers and capacity of Island secondary schools

Summary

The requester asked for the total capacity and current pupil numbers for all Isle of Man secondary schools. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture did not provide the data directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible via a published PDF link.

Key Facts

• The request was made to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture on 12 March 2025.
• The authority refused to provide the specific data directly under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The refusal was based on the information being already reasonably accessible to the public.
• School roll data is published yearly and available via a specific government weblink.
• The case reference number is 4506297.

Data Disclosed

• 12 March 2025
• 4506297
• September 2024
• Section 20
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

For each of the Island's secondary schools please provide 1. The total capacity of the school - i.e. the number of students that the school is deemed to be able to take; and 2. The total number of pupils currently in that school Thank you

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: 4506297 12 March 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 12 March 2025, which states:

"For each of the Island's secondary schools please provide
1. The total capacity of the school - i.e. the number of students that the school is deemed to be able to take; and
2. The total number of pupils currently in that school

Thank you"

Our response to your request is as follows:

1. The total capacity of the school - i.e. the number of students that the school is deemed to be able to take.

2. The total number of pupils currently in that school

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee.

By way of advice and assistance school roll data is published yearly and is available to view via the following weblink –
https://www.gov.im/media/1386790/school-roll-data-september-2024.pdf

Please quote the reference number 4506297 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.