Horsley School

Freedom of Information 2014-16

A Statutory policy.

School policy no 29

Effective date / From 1 Nov 2014
Signed, Head Teacher / Lisa Brind
Signed, Chair of Governors / Cathy Sane
Date approved by Governing Body
Date of next review / By 1 Nov 2016
Horsley School

Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme.

Introduction

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (herein referred to as the Act) requires all maintained schools to be clear and proactive about the information they will make public.

This publication scheme has been prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner, based on its model. This publication scheme commits us to make information available to the public as part of our normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by us.

To do this we must produce and publish the method by which the specific information will be available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public. We do this through the publication of our guide to information. This guide explains

  • the classes of information which we publish or intend to publish;
  • the manner in which the information will be published; and
  • whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

Our committment

We use ourinformation guide, and the Publication scheme as the basis of our commitment under the Act.

Publication scheme

The Horsley C. of E. Primary School Publication Scheme on information is available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and conforms to the model scheme for schools approved by the Information Commissioner.

The publication scheme covers information already published and information which is to be published in the future. All information in our publication scheme is either available for you on our website to download and print, or available in paper form. Some information which we hold may not be made public, for example personal information.

Our governing body is responsible for maintenance of this scheme, which sets out our high-level commitment to proactively publish information.

The publication scheme commits us:

  • To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
  • To specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
  • To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
  • To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
  • To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme.
  • To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.
  • To make this publication scheme available to the public.
  • To publish any dataset held by the authority that has been requested, and any updated versions it holds, unless the authority is satisfied that it is not appropriate to do so; to publish the dataset, where reasonably practicable, in an electronic form that is capable of re-use; and, if any information in the dataset is a relevant copyright work and the public authority is the only owner, to make the information available for re-use under a specified licence. The term ‘dataset’ is defined in section 11(5) of the Freedom of Information Act. The terms ‘relevant copyright work’ and ‘specified licence’ are defined in section 19(8) of that Act.

Aims and Objectives

Horsley C. of E. Primary School aims to:

  • To promote the highest standards through a rich, exciting and balanced curriculum.
  • To develop self-confident, thinking children by fostering enthusiasm, curiosity, the ability to observe, question and discuss.
  • To provide a sound foundation in which Christian values are central to the school’s ethos.
  • To promote a happy, caring, safe environment where everyone works together to encourage self-esteem and equal opportunities for every child.
  • To use human and financial resources effectively.
  • To work in partnership with teachers, governors, parents and the community for the achievement of these aims.

Our school Publication Scheme is one way of showing how we are pursuing these aims.

The primary objective of the legislation is to confer a right on individuals to obtain disclosure of information held by us rather than leaving us to confer access to the information they hold as a favour.

This is achieved in two ways:

  • by imposing a positive duty on us to make information available through the publication of a scheme setting out what information we have decided to make routinely available and how/where the information is available to an interested individual.
  • by giving the individual, who makes a request for information, the right to be told whether we hold such information, and if we do, the right to have that information communicated to them, subject to exemptions.

Categories of Information Published

This publication scheme guides you to information which we currently publish (or have recently published) or which we will publish in the future. This is split into categories of information known as ‘classes’. These are described fully in Annex 1 of this policy.

The classes of information that we undertake to make available are organised into seven broad topic areas:

  1. Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

  1. What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

  1. What our priorities are and how we are doing

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

  1. How we make decisions

Policy proposals and decisions.Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

  1. Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

  1. Lists and registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

  1. The services we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

  • information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
  • information in draft form; or
  • information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

How to request information

If you require a paper version of any of the documents within the scheme, please contact the school by telephone, email, fax or letter. Contact details are set out below

Horsley C of E Primary School

The Street, Horsley

Stroud

Gloucestershire GL6 0PU

Telelphone/Fax no: (01453) 833625 Email:

To help us process your request quickly, please clearly mark any correspondence “PUBLICATION SCHEME REQUEST” (in CAPITALS).

Information held by us, that is not published under this scheme, can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Act. If the information you're looking for is not available via the scheme and is not on our website, you can still contact the school to ask if we have it.

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details will be provided. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Paying for Information

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the authority for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum

Information published on our website is free, although you may incur costs from your internet service provider. If you don't have the internet, you can access our website using a local library or an Internet café.

Single copies of information covered by this publication are provided free of charge unless stated otherwise in Annex 1. If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information. Where there is a charge this will be indicated in the description box within our guide (see Annex 1).

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament. Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

  • photocopying, printing
  • postage and packaging
  • the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.

Charges may also be made for making datasets (or parts of datasets) that are relevant copyright works available for re-use. These charges will be in accordance with either regulations made under section 11B of the Act or other enactments.

Feedback and complaints

We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about the scheme. If you want to make any comments or if you require further assistance or wish to make a complaint then initially this should be addressed to The Headteacher at Horsley C of E Primary School, The Street, Horsley, Stroud

Gloucestershire GL6 0PU

If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get or if we have not been able to resolve your complaint and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the Information Commissioner's Office. This is the organisation that ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints.

They can be contacted as follows:

ICO helpline: open between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

08456 306060

01625 54 57 45

Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 700

Fax: 01625 524510

By post: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,

Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

By email:

Website:

Review frequency

As a statutory policy, it will be reviewed at least every 2 years, added to, or modified from time to time and may be supplemented in appropriate cases by further statements and procedures relating to the work of the particular groups of workers.

Related policies

For related policies, see our statutory policy on Data Protection and our non-statutory Confidentiality policy.

We also acknowledge the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 with regards our electronic communications and marketing, and the Protection of Freedom Act 2012.

Annex 1 –Guide to information available

This is the guide to information available from Horsley C. of E. Primary School under the model publication scheme.

i.Class 1: Who we are and what we do

This class covers organisational information, structures, locations and contacts, and this section gives access to information about policies that relate to the school in general. This scheme permits for current information only.

The School Information (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1124) remove the requirement upon governing bodies of maintained schools to publish the annual prospectus and instead introduces a new obligation requiring schools to publish specified information on a website.

The specified information comprising the Horsley C. of E. Primary School prospectus is uploaded to our website during the school year preceding the admissions. It will be published at least six weeks before the final date by which parents are asked to apply for admission or to express a preference.

Information to be published. / How the information
can be obtained / Cost
Address of school and contact details, including email address / Statutory website content
Hard copy available / N/A
Contact details for the Head teacher. / Statutory website content
Hard copy available / N/A
Who’s who in the school - staffing structure / Website
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
Who’s who on our governing body and the basis of their appointment, and the name of anybody entitled to appoint any category of governor / Website
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
Instrument of Government / Articles of Association, and the category of the school; / By inspection
Hard copy available / £
Contact details for the governing body, via the school / By inspection
Hard copy available / £
Details of any trust; / By inspection
Hard copy available / £
a description of our ethos / religious character, and values / Statutory website content
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
School prospectus information - the statutory contents of the school prospectus (now website) are as follows: / Statutory website content
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
  • the name, address and telephone number of the school, and the type of school;
/ As above
  • the names of the head teacher and chair of governors;
/ As above
  • information on the school policy on admissions;
/ As above
  • the school's aims and values - a statement of the school's aims and values, the school's responsibilities, the parental responsibilities and the school's expectations of its pupils - for example homework arrangements.
/ As above
  • details of any affiliations with a particular religion or religious denomination, the religious education provided, parents' right to withdraw their child from religious education and collective worship and the alternative provision for those pupils;
/ As above
  • information about the school's policy on providing for pupils with special educational needs;
/ As above
  • number of pupils on roll and rates of pupils’ authorised and unauthorised absences
/ As above
  • National Curriculum assessment results for appropriate Key Stages, with national summary figures; and
/ As above
  • the arrangements for visits to the school by prospective parents.
/ As above
  • Annual Report
/ Hard copy
  • School session times and term dates
/ Website
By inspection
Hard copy available

ii.Class 2: What we spend and how we spend it

This class covers financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit. This scheme permits for the current and previous financial year as a minimum.

Information to be published / How the information can be obtained / Cost
Annual budget plan and financial statements / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Capital funding / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Financial audit reports (CFR report) / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Details of expenditure items over £2000 – published at least annually but at a more frequent quarterly or six-monthly interval where practical. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Procurement and contracts the school has entered into, or information relating to / a link to information held by an organisation which has done so on its behalf (for example, GCC or the Diocese of Gloucester). / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Pay policy / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Staff allowances and expenses that can be incurred or claimed, with totals paid to individual senior staff members (Senior Leadership Team or equivalent, whose basic actual salary is at least £60,000 per annum) by reference to categories. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Staffing, pay and grading structure. As a minimum the pay information should include salaries for senior staff (Senior Leadership Team or equivalent as above) in bands of £10,000; for more junior posts, by salary range. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Governors’ allowances that can be incurred or claimed, and a record of total payments made to individual governors. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £

iii.Class 3 What our priorities are and how we are doing

This section gives access to information about strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews. This scheme permits for the current information as a minimum.

Information to be published / How the information can be obtained / Cost
School profile (if any) and in all cases performance data supplied to the English Government, or a direct link to the data / Statutory website content
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
The latest published reports of Ofsted / Education and Training Inspectorate report referring expressly to the school
  • the published report of the last inspection of the school and
/ Statutory website content
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
  • the summary of the report.
/ Statutory website content
By inspection
Hard copy available / N/A
  • Post-Ofsted inspection action plan (School Development Plan) - a plan setting out the actions required following the last Ofsted inspection.
/ By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection reports / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
an action plan following SIAMS inspection / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Staff Conduct, Discipline and Grievance - statement of procedure for regulating conduct and discipline of school staff and procedures by which staff may seek redress for grievance. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Complaints procedure - statement of procedures for dealing with complaints. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Performance Management of Staff - statement of procedures adopted by the governing body relating to the performance management of staff and the annual report of the head teacher on the effectiveness of appraisal procedures. / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Performance data or a direct link to it / Statutory website content
By inspection.
Hard copy available / N/A
The school’s future plans; for example, proposals for and any consultation on the future of the school, such as a change in status / By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Safeguarding and child protection / Webstie
By inspection.
Hard copy available / £
Pupil Discipline - statement of general principles on behaviour and discipline (Behaviour Policy) and of measures taken by the headteacher to prevent bullying (Anti-bullying Policy). / Website
Statutory policy
Hard copy available / £

iv.Class 4: How we make decisions