Freedom of Information
Introduction
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires all Higher and Further Education establishments to adopt and maintain a 'Publication Scheme'.
The purpose of the act is to promote greater openness and accountability and will give everyone the right to access all information held, subject to some exemptions, by all educational establishments and public authorities.
Summary
The College is placed under a duty to publish information through the adoption of a publication scheme, and by publishing information in accordance with those schemes. QESFC's scheme has been approved by the Information Commissioner and became operational on 29th February 2004.
The scheme came into in full force in January 2005 since when the public has had the right to access all official information held by the College.
Information held under the Data Protection Act 1998 is outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Publication Schemes
The publication scheme is a guide to the types of information the College undertakes to make available to the public as a matter of routine. The scheme describes the types of information available. It also indicates the format in which the information is held. A charge will be made for any information which is published in paper form.
The College Scheme
The College has opted to adopt the 'Model Publication Scheme (MPS) for Further Education (FE) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland'.
There are 8 main groups of classes of information in the model publication scheme:
Governance
Financial Resources
Human Resources
Physical Resources
Student Administration and Support
Information Services
Teaching and Learning
External Relations
Responsibility for the Scheme
The Assistant Principal (ILT & Resources) will be responsible for the scheme on behalf of the College.
The Assistant Principal (Finance) is the nominated Data Protection Officer for the College.
The College address is as follows:
Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
Vane Terrace
Darlington
Co Durham
DL3 7AU
Telephone: +44 (0) 1325 461315
Fax: +44 (0) 1325 461315
Email: enquiry@qeliz.ac.uk
Website: www.qeliz.ac.uk
The College will provide advice and assistance as far as it would be reasonable to expect the College to do so.
The Publication Scheme will be made available on our website and hard copies kept at our College address. This Publication Scheme and the documents to which it refers, are available in the first language of the Town - namely English.
Request Procedure
For information which is not about yourself, you can make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoI) for information held by the College. This must be in writing using the Data or Information Access Request Form which should be completed and sent to:
Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
Vane Terrace
Darlington
DL3 7AU
Fax: 01325 361705
Email: enquiry@qeliz.ac.uk
We aim to satisfy your request as fully as possible within the statutory 20 working days deadline. The College reserves the right to charge for information requested under the FoI Act. Where the cost of handling the request exceeds the appropriate limit under the FoI Act, the College will seek to provide as much of the information requested as possible within that limit. Further details can be found in the Freedom of Information Publication Scheme, detailed below.
Each request will be treated on its own merits and a time estimate will be given by which we expect to respond.
In certain circumstances it may not be possible to deal with an application in full within 20 working days.
Refusal of Requests
Where the College intends to refuse requests for information under the Publication's scheme, notification and explanation of the reason will be given to applicants.
Complaints
Any person who considers that the College is not complying with the Publication Scheme should contact the College and request the appropriate customer feedback literature.
The opportunity to complain to the College does not limit any rights people have to complain to the Information Commissioner at the following address:
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545700
Fax: 01625 524510
Email: mail@dataprotection.gov.uk
Website: www.dataprotection.gov.uk
Exemptions
A number of exemptions in relation to supplying information requested under the Freedom of Information Act are in place which includes:
Personal Information
Information provided in confidence
Prohibitions on Disclosure
Legal Professional Privilege
Commercial Interests
Further information and guidance on exemptions will be given against each request as appropriate.
Review and Amendments
The College will review regularly and update the Publication scheme.
The relevant information under each class will automatically be published and/or updated as required.
Charges
Requests for multiple print outs or for copies of documents not available on the College website, will attract a charge for the cost of retrieval, postage, photocopying etc. This charge will be payable in advance and the charges incurred will be confirmed upon reciept of the request.
Photocopies will normally be charged at 10p per A4 sheet.
Additional overhead costs will be recovered against each request to a maximum of £70.
Publication
| Class | Description | Manner | |
| 1.1 | Legal framework | Instrument & Articles of Government | Paper Form |
| Governor Code of Conduct and Related Documents | Paper Form | ||
| Whistle blowing Policy | Paper Form | ||
| 1.2 | How the institution is organised | College Organisational Structure - Charts | Paper Form |
| 1.3 | Information on the institutional context | Mission Statement and Strategic Objectives | Paper Form |
| Quality Assurance/Self Assessment Policies & Procedures | Paper Form | ||
| 1.4 | Management structure | List of Governors | Paper Form |
| List of Governors' Committees | Paper Form | ||
| Terms of Reference and Governors' Committees | Paper Form | ||
| Standing Orders & Governing Body | Paper Form | ||
| College Meetings - Terms of Reference | Paper Form | ||
| Governors' Board Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| Governors' Finance & Resources Committee Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| Governors' Students' Committee Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| Governors' Search Committee Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| Governors' Audit Committee Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| Governors' Remuneration Committee Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| Curriculum & Standards Committee Minutes | Paper Form | ||
| 2.1 | Finance | Annual Report and Financial Statements (Includes mission statement, remuneration of senior staff, accounting policies and pension scheme details). |
Paper Form |
| Insurance details (name of insurance company and policy number). |
Paper Form | ||
| 2.2 | Resource planning | College 3 Year Development Plan Policy & Procedures | Paper Form |
| Annual Operational Plan | Paper Form | ||
| Financial regulations (Includes procurement arrangements, travel & subsistence procedures and budgetary control). |
Paper Form | ||
| 3.1 | Employment and employee relations | Investors in People Accredited | Paper Form |
| Grievance Procedure | Paper Form | ||
| Disciplinary Procedure | Paper Form | ||
| Capability Procedure | Paper Form | ||
| Ill Health Retirement Procedure | Paper Form | ||
| Public Interest Disclosure Procedure | Paper Form | ||
| Other Personnel Policies | Paper Form | ||
| Job Vacancies | Paper Form | ||
| Employment Terms of Conditions | Paper Form | ||
| Staff Salary Structure | Paper Form | ||
| Health Safety and Welfare Policy and Procedures | Paper Form | ||
| 3.2 | Equal opportunities /Diversity |
Equal opportunities Policy | Paper Form |
| Disability Statement | Paper Form | ||
| Race Equality Policy | Paper Form | ||
| 3.4 | Staff development | Staff development procedures & priorities | Paper Form |
| 4.1 | Estates | Map of site | Paper Form |
| College Location Map | Paper Form/website | ||
| Property Strategy | Paper Form | ||
| Maintenance Programme | Paper Form | ||
| Teaching Room Allocation & Room Utilisation | Paper Form | ||
| 5.1 | Information on student admission, progression and completion | Student Enrolment Data | Paper Form |
| 5.2 | Student accommodation | DFES FE Residential support scheme info | website |
| 5.4 | Student admission and enrolment | Student College and Course Entry Guidelines | Paper Form |
| Fees policy and Learner Support Funds (Adults) | Paper Form | ||
| 5.5 | Student discipline | Acceptable Use Policy | Paper Form/website |
| 5.6 | Student learning support services | Paper Form | |
| 5.7 | Student liaison | Student Association Meeting Minutes | Paper Form |
| 5.8 | Student policies | Payment for Examinations - Policy & Procedures | Paper Form |
| 5.9 | Student welfare | Student information leaflet | Paper Form |
| 5.10 | Student Associations and Activities | Student Association Constitution, Procedure for Allocation of SA Funds, List of SA Officers |
Paper Form |
| 6.1 | Availability and conditions of use of facilities | Adult information pamphlets - daytime and evening | Paper Form |
| Library open hours | Paper Form/website | ||
| 6.2 | Mission statements and related documents | Mission Statement | Paper Form |
| 6.3 | Policies with regard to data and information | Data and Information policy | Paper Form |
| 6.4 | Procurement and disposal policies | College 3 Year Development Plan Policy & Procedures | Paper Form |
| 6.5 | Scope of collections held | Learning resource catalogue | Electronic Form within college |
| Archive policy for library stock | Paper Form | ||
| 7.1 | Academic year dates | Dates for current academic year | website |
| 7.2 | Further course information | More detailed course information can be found in the online prospectus |
website |
| Access(HEFC) course information | Paper Form | ||
| 7.3 | Information on internal procedures for assuring academic quality and standards |
Quality Assurance/Self Assessment - Policies & Procedures |
Paper Form |
| 7.4 | Staffing Structure of schools/departments | Examination Organisations & Regulations | Paper Form |
| 7.5 | Student assessment strategy | Student Assessment and Targets | Paper Form |
| 7.6 | Tuition fees | Fees policy and Learner Support Funds(Adults) | Paper Form |
| 8.1 | Community liaison | Business Associates Scheme | Paper Form |
| 8.2 | Fundraising | ||
| OFSTED Inspection Reports | Paper Form | ||
| Examination Results | Paper Form/website | ||
| 8.4 | Marketing and recruitment | Subject Area Student Handbooks | Paper Form |
| Prospectus | Paper Form/website | ||
| Access Leaflet | Paper Form/website | ||
| Evening Programme | Paper Form/website | ||
| Foundation Art Leaflet | Paper Form/website | ||
| 8.5 | Public Relations | Student College and Course Entry Guidelines | Paper Form |
| Press Releases | Paper Form | ||
| College newsletters | Paper Form | ||
| Prospectus | Paper Form | ||
| Access leaflet | Paper Form | ||
| Foundation Art Leaflet | Paper Form | ||
| Adult Induction leaflet | Paper Form | ||
| Information for adult students - daytime and evening | Paper Form |