Request for information regarding the use of supply teachers

Summary

A request was made for detailed statistics on supply teacher usage and subject qualifications across Isle of Man secondary schools for five academic years. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture refused the request, citing that the data requires substantial compilation and that specific qualification records are not held.

Key Facts

• The request covered all secondary schools on the Isle of Man for the academic years 2021/2022 to 2025/2026.
• The authority stated it is not required to undertake substantial compilation or analysis of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The authority confirmed it does not hold information regarding whether supply teachers were specifically qualified for the subjects they taught.
• The response advised that schools attempt to allocate specialist cover staff where possible.
• The requester was offered assistance to reformulate the request in simplified terms.

Data Disclosed

• 2021/2022
• 2025/2026
• 4995706
• 2025-10-10
• 2025-10-16

Exemptions Cited

• Substantial compilation or collation of information (not required under the Act)
• Information not held by the public authority

Original Request

Please provide, separately, for each of the Island's secondary schools, and for each of the past five academic years (2021/2022 to 2025/2026 to date), the number of lessons (where a double lesson counts as two lessons etc.) that have been delivered or overseen by a supply or substitute teacher (i.e. an educator who temporarily replaces a teacher who, ordinarily, has responsibility for teaching a particular subject, when they are absent due to illness, leave, or for other reasons), and  as part of the above please indicate whether or not that supply or substitute teacher was specifically qualified to teach that subject (e.g. where a supply or substitute teacher delivered a mathematics lesson, was that supply or substitute teacher a qualified and dedicated mathematics teacher).

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: 4995706 16 October 2025

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request received 10 October 2025, which states:

"Please provide, separately, for each of the Island's secondary schools, and for each of the past five academic years (2021/2022 to 2025/2026 to date), the number of lessons (where a double lesson counts as two lessons etc.) that have been delivered or overseen by a supply or substitute teacher (i.e. an educator who temporarily replaces a teacher who, ordinarily, has responsibility for teaching a particular subject, when they are absent due to illness, leave, or for other reasons), and as part of the above please indicate whether or not that supply or substitute teacher was specifically qualified to teach that subject (e.g. where a supply or substitute teacher delivered a mathematics lesson, was that supply or substitute teacher a qualified and dedicated mathematics teacher)."

Our response to your request is as follows:
Please provide, separately, for each of the Island's secondary schools, and for each of the past five academic years (2021/2022 to 2025/2026 to date), the number of lessons (where a double lesson counts as two lessons etc.) that have been delivered or overseen by a supply or substitute teacher (i.e. an educator who temporarily replaces a teacher who, ordinarily, has responsibility for teaching a particular subject, when they are absent due to illness, leave, or for other reasons). While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require the Department of Education, Sport and Culture to undertake substantial compilation or collation of information that it holds and undertake research into, or analysis or, information that it holds. Which Department of Education, Sport and Culture is not required to do under the Act. For these reasons Department of Education, Sport and Culture is not obliged to comply with your request.

Should you wish to submit a fresh request in simplified terms please complete and submit the required form available on our website at:
www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/make-a-freedom-of- information-request/ Should you require any assistance to reformulate your request please do not hesitate to contact descicaseworkfoi@gov.im who will be able to assist. Part of the above please indicate whether or not that supply or substitute teacher was specifically qualified to teach that subject (e.g. where a supply or substitute teacher delivered a mathematics lesson, was that supply or substitute teacher a qualified and dedicated mathematics teacher). While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.
By way of advice and assistance, schools will try and allocate specialist supply/cover staff in their specialist subject where possible.

Please quote the reference number 4995706 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.