Potential Changes to GCSE Maths Exam Board & iGCSE Maths Results

Summary

The requester sought documentation regarding concerns over iGCSE mathematics and data supporting a Minister's statement on exam results. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture released some information after a final decision on the exam board was made, but redacted personal names under FOI exemptions.

Key Facts

• A final decision on the future Mathematics examination board has been made.
• Some information within the released documents was redacted to protect personal data.
• The request covered documentation from 1 January 2015 to the date of the request.
• The initial response was issued on 11 January 2019, with a follow-up letter dated 28 February 2019.
• The request was prompted by a Minister's statement in the House of Keys on 27 November 2018.

Data Disclosed

• 1 January 2015
• 27 November 2018
• 12 December 2018
• 11 January 2019
• 28 February 2019
• Page 241
• 680967
• section 25

Exemptions Cited

• Section 25 (exempt personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Original Request

Further to the Minister's response to Q6 (House of Keys 27th November 2018) I seek the following information: Copies of all documentation (from 1 January 2015 to date) between the Island's Secondary Schools (including from the Heads/Acting Heads of their Mathematics Departments) and the DESC in relation to problems encountered with the teaching of iGCSE mathematics, concerns raised by schools regarding the Cambridge iGCSE Mathematics examination and any proposals to change to the Examination Board. This is to include, but is not limited to, presentation and briefing notes, letters, e-mails and file notes/minutes of any meeting where this subject was discussed. Additionally, Hansard for the House of Keys 27th November sitting (Page 241) records the DESC Minister as saying: 'The results for the maths last year were the second highest they [the Secondary Schools] have had'. Please provide me with the data held by the Department that supports the Minister's statement.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Redacted

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: 680967 28 February 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 12 December 2018 and which states:

"Further to the Minister's response to Q6 (House of Keys 27th November 2018) I seek the following information: Copies of all documentation (from 1 January 2015 to date) between the Island's Secondary Schools (including from the Heads/Acting Heads of their Mathematics Departments) and the DESC in relation to problems encountered with the teaching of iGCSE mathematics, concerns raised by schools regarding the Cambridge iGCSE Mathematics examination and any proposals to change to the Examination Board. This is to include, but is not limited to, presentation and briefing notes, letters, e-mails and file notes/minutes of any meeting where this subject was discussed. Additionally, Hansard for the House of Keys 27th November sitting (Page 241) records the DESC Minister as saying: 'The results for the maths last year were the second highest they [the Secondary Schools] have had'. Please provide me with the data held by the Department that supports the Minister's statement."

Our response to your request is as follows: Following the Departments response, dated 11th January 2019, to the above request, I can confirm that a final decision on which examination board is going to be used for Mathematics in future academic years has now been made. Therefore I have enclosed copies of the information that is now being released to you. Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance please note that some information within the attached documents (specifically the names of individuals) has been redacted. This is because the Department is satisfied that the redacted information amounts to personal data which is absolutely exempt from disclosure under section 25 (exempt personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act (the Act). Please quote the reference number 680967 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

Freedom of Information Coordinator

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: 680967 11 January 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 12 December 2018 and which states:

"Further to the Minister's response to Q6 (House of Keys 27th November 2018) I seek the following information: Copies of all documentation (from 1 January 2015 to date) between the Island's Secondary Schools (including from the Heads/Acting Heads of their Mathematics Departments) and the DESC in relation to problems encountered with the teaching of iGCSE mathematics, concerns raised by schools regarding the Cambridge iGCSE Mathematics examination and any proposals to change to the Examination Board. This is to include, but is not limited to, presentation and briefing notes, letters, e-mails and file notes/minutes of any meeting where this subject was discussed. Additionally, Hansard for the House of Keys 27th November sitting (Page 241) records the DESC Minister as saying: 'The results for the maths last year were the second highest they [the Secondary Schools] have had'. Please provide me with the data held by the Department that supports the Minister's statement."

Our response to your request is as follows:

Copies of documentation between Secondary Schools and DESC

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information requested is currently exempt from disclosure under section 34 of the Freedom of Information Act (formulation of Government Policy). Further information about this is provided below. As a result of your enquiry, we have requested, received and analysed a large volume of correspondence and related documentation from/between the Secondary Schools and the Department in relation to the Mathematics qualification, the Cambridge International Examination board (CIE) and Department policy in this area.
Upon review and analysis of this large volume of documentation we have determined that a final decision on which examination board is going to be used for Mathematics

in future academic years has not yet been made. However correspondence reviewed by us indicates that this final policy decision is likely to be taken within the coming month. Therefore the information held is currently exempt from disclosure under section 34(b)(i) of the Act as it relates to the formulation or development of government policy, the final decision on which has not yet been taken. However under section 34(2) of the Act some of the information will cease to be exempt once the final decision is taken by the Department and can be disclosed under the Act in due course. As section 34 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 • The information gathered from the Department and from Professional Education staff shows an informed and transparent range of views being expressed and the factors being considered. • Following the public consultation which took place in 2014 around iGCSEs it would be in the public interest to be aware of updates to the policy. • The majority of the issues, views and proposals by and between the Secondary Schools and the Department has taken place and has been collated. • The Department intends to release relevant information in the near future to show the process followed and factors considered [Section 34(2) of the Act] Factors in favour of withholding • The final policy has yet to be finalised and agreed between the Secondary Schools and the Department, with further representations having been requested from the Schools (after which a final decision will be taken). • The decision making process is it a critical stage, including where all options are being considered in the best interests of pupils, prior to making a final decision. • To release incomplete information before a final decision has been made could potentially create uncertainty for Secondary School pupils and parents (and also the Schools), especially if the final decision is to make no changes to the policy. • That information was provided and exchanged on a free and frank basis in what was believed was a private and internal forum and is therefore an area of permitted exemption under section 35(b) (ii) of the Act (conduct of public business). Failing to uphold this would not be in the public interest as it would prejudice the effective conduct of public business. It could also lead to challenge against the Department by affected individuals. • To try and remove the exemption in section 35 (b) (ii) the review and redaction of a large amount of documents would need to take place which could not be achieved in the available time period. • The Department intend to release the relevant information in the near future and to do so now would be providing incomplete information which does not show the whole process prior to the final decision being made.

In taking all of the above into account we consider that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information at the current time. House of Keys 27th November Sitting The House of Keys official report proceedings published by Hansard from the 27th November quotes the Minister as saying “the results for the maths last year were the second highest that they have had”. This statement came at the end of a number of questions and answers between the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture and a Member of the House of Keys. The information regarding year 11 attainment for 2017/18 is the second highest on record for those students attaining 5+ level 2 qualifications including English and Maths A*-C. It is this information that the Minister was referring to in the answer provided on 27th November and the data requested to support this is attached. The Minister has since provided an updated response to Tynwald Members acknowledging the answer provided was incomplete and clarifying the situation, as stated above. Please quote the reference number 680967 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

Freedom of Information Coordinator