IOM Secondary Schools' Teacher Sickness Absence 2024-25 Academic Year

Summary

A request for 2024-25 teacher sickness absence data across Isle of Man secondary schools was partially fulfilled, with statistical metrics provided for five schools but specific evaluation reports withheld.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture provided sickness absence statistics for five secondary schools for the 2024-25 academic year.
• Ballakermeen High School recorded the highest total days lost (1307) and the highest percentage of teachers with absence (78.95%).
• Castle Rushen High School had the lowest average days lost per teacher (2.47) among the schools listed.
• The authority refused to provide specific evaluation reports or analysis produced by schools for their Governing Bodies.
• The refusal for reports was based on the information not being held or found after reasonable steps.

Data Disclosed

• 1307.00
• 589.50
• 702.50
• 541.50
• 727.25
• 78.95%
• 72.22%
• 65.22%
• 71.43%
• 73.74%
• 90
• 73
• 52
• 50
• 45
• 10.98
• 6.99
• 7.86
• 7.32
• 9.62
• 8.83
• 7.67
• 3.78
• 3.77
• 3.32
• 2.47
• 2024-25
• 01/09/2024
• 31/08/2025
• 2025-10-20
• 2025-11-14

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

For the full 2024-25 academic year I seek such data and analysis as is held relating to secondary school teacher sickness for each of the Island's secondary schools. This includes, but is not limited to: a. Total days teacher sickness absence taken (per secondary school); and b. Percentage of teachers who took sickness absence (per secondary school); and c. Number of teachers taking sickness absence (per secondary school); and d. Average number of days taken by each teacher who took sickness absence (per secondary school); and e. Average number of days taken in sickness absence by all teachers (per secondary school); and f. Any evaluation, analysis and reports produced by each secondary school for its respective Governing Body and/or the DESC pertaining to teacher sickness within the school in the 2024-25 academic year; and g. Any evaluation, analysis and reports produced by the DESC or other organisation relating to IOM teacher sickness relating to the 2024-25 academic year. This includes any IOM aggregated average statistical data for the above metrics (a-e) and any other such data as may have been compiled relating to sickness absences.

Data Tables (5)

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: 5015405 14 November 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 20 October 2025, which states:

"For the full 2024-25 academic year I seek such data and analysis as is held relating to secondary school teacher sickness for each of the Island's secondary schools. This includes, but is not limited to:

a. Total days teacher sickness absence taken (per secondary school); and

b. Percentage of teachers who took sickness absence (per secondary school); and

c. Number of teachers taking sickness absence (per secondary school); and

d. Average number of days taken by each teacher who took sickness absence (per secondary school); and

e. Average number of days taken in sickness absence by all teachers (per secondary school); and

f. Any evaluation, analysis and reports produced by each secondary school for its respective Governing Body and/or the DESC pertaining to teacher sickness within the school in the 2024-25 academic year; and

g. Any evaluation, analysis and reports produced by the DESC or other organisation relating to IOM teacher sickness relating to the 2024-25 academic year. This includes any IOM aggregated average statistical data for the above metrics (a-e) and any other such data as may have been compiled relating to sickness absences."

I have detailed below the information that is held.

a. Total days teacher sickness absence taken (per secondary school)

School Total Days lost from 01/09/2024- 31/08/2025 Ballakermeen High School 1307.00 Castle Rushen High School 589.50 Queen Elizabeth II High School 702.50 Ramsey Grammar School 541.50 St Ninian's High School 727.25

b. Percentage of teachers who took sickness absence (per secondary school)

School % of Teachers with Absence Ballakermeen High School 78.95% Castle Rushen High School 72.22% Queen Elizabeth II High School 65.22% Ramsey Grammar School 71.43% St Ninian's High School 73.74%

c. Number of teachers taking sickness absence (per secondary school)

School Teachers with Absence Ballakermeen High School 90 St Ninian's High School 73 Castle Rushen High School 52 Ramsey Grammar School 50 Queen Elizabeth II High School 45

d. Average number of days taken by each teacher who took sickness absence (per secondary school)

School Average Days per Teacher Ballakermeen High School 10.98 St Ninian's High School 6.99 Castle Rushen High School 7.86 Ramsey Grammar School 7.32 Queen Elizabeth II High School 9.62 Overall Average 8.83

e. Average number of days taken in sickness absence by all teachers (per secondary school)

School Average Days lost Queen Elizabeth II High School 7.67 St Ninian's High School 3.78 Ballakermeen High School 3.77 Ramsey Grammar School 3.32 Castle Rushen High School 2.47

f. Any evaluation, analysis and reports produced by each secondary school for its respective Governing Body and/or the DESC pertaining to teacher sickness within the school in the 2024-25 academic year

Ballakermeen High School Castle Rushen High School
QEII St Ninians High School
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Education, Sport and Culture is unable to provide the information you have requested. This is in line with section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

By way of advice and assistance any analysis in school is at an individual and identifiable level. The PIP system holds staff sickness and absence records and is centrally accessible by the HR team who the school’s would liaise with in respect of supporting attendance.

Rasmey Grammar School
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Education, Sport and Culture is unable to provide the information you have requested. This is in line with section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal

reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

By way of advice and assistance, as well as the above advice and assistance for the other schools, Ramsey Grammar School do not share information on specific staff with Governors. The Governors are advised of how many days are lost each term for teaching staff and support staff.

g. Any evaluation, analysis and reports produced by the DESC or other organisation relating to IOM teacher sickness relating to the 2024-25 academic year. This includes any IOM aggregated average statistical data for the above metrics (a-e) and any other such data as may have been compiled relating to sickness absences. Whilst the Department holds information relating to staff absences the information is held in such format that does not allow for information specifically pertaining to teachers to be readily extracted. To extract the information would require the Department to create or derive information from information that it holds. Which the Department of Education, Sport and Culture is not required to do under the Act.

Please quote the reference number 5015405 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

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I will now close your request as of this date.