A Publication scheme on Information available
Under the ‘Freedom of Information Act 2000’
Freedom Of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to establish a new culture of openness and transparency in public administration. The Act provides a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, subject to certain exemptions, and imposes obligations on those authorities as to how they should respond to written requests for information. However, the public authority is not required to release information to which any of the exemptions in the Act applies. Typically, information may be withheld if its release would compromise the health and safety of staff; where confidential data about others is included; or for reasons of security. For a full list of exemptions, log on to : www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk
1. Introduction: What a publication scheme is and why it has been developed
One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (which is referred to as FOIA in the rest of the document) is that public authorities, including all voluntary grammar schools, should be clear and proactive about the information they will make public.
The aim of the Publication Scheme is to outline:
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.
The 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 off or) available in paper form.
This publication scheme conforms to the model scheme for schools approved by the Information Commissioner.
Some information which we hold may not be made public, for example personal information.
2. Aims and Objectives
General aims of Foyle and Londonderry College:-
To create a secure, caring, happy and healthy environment within which pupils can develop both as individuals and as members of a community.
To equip each individual with appropriate skills of literacy, numeracy and oracy; and to develop full academic potential through study of a wide but integrated range of subjects.
To stimulate an appreciation of aesthetic, literacy, scientific, mathematical, technological, environmental, linguistic, physical and spiritual values.
To provide a foundation for further study and training by creating opportunities for each pupil to:-
(a) develop a spirit of enquiry
(b) practice the skills needed for independent study
(c) make realistic career and personal decisions
To help pupils acquire qualifications appropriate to the needs of their future careers.
To encourage pupils to co-operate and to appreciate the need for moral values and tolerance of others.
To encourage pupils to understand and accept discipline and to develop the power of self discipline.
To provide and encourage participation in a range of recreational and cultural activities.
This Publication Scheme is a means of showing how we are pursuing these aims.
3. Categories of Information Published
The 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 contained in section 6 of this scheme.
The classes of information that we undertake to make available are organised into 4 broad topic areas:
Essential information – information published in the school essential information guide;.
Governors’ Documents – information published in the Governors Annual Report and in other Governing Body documents.
Pupils and Curriculum policies – information about policies that relate to pupils and the school curriculum.
School Policies and other information related to the school – information about policies that relate to the school in general.
4. How to Request Information
Contact details are set out below:-
Website www.foyle-lderry.org.uk/
Email
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Telephone 02871 269321
Facsimile 02871 269425
Contact Address Foyle and Londonderry College
Duncreggan Road
Londonderry. BT48 0AW
It is not necessary to mention either the Freedom of Information Act or the Data Protection Act when making a request for information, but the request must be in a permanent form e.g. in writing or by e-mail and contain sufficient detail to allow the school to identify correctly the information sought. You should provide:
Your name and address
Details of the information or documents you would like to access
The way you would like the information to be sent to you e.g. paper copy, email etc.
If the information you are 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.
5. Charges For Published Information
Information published on our website is free, although you may incur costs from your Internet Service Provider. If you don’t have Internet access, you can access our website using a local library or an Internet Café.
Single copies of information covered by this publication are provided free unless stated otherwise in Section 6. If your request means that we have to do a lot of photocopying or printing, or pay a large postage charge, or is for a priced item such as some printed publications or videos we will let you know the cost before fulfilling your request. Where there is a charge, this will be indicated by a £ sign in the description box.
Classes of Information Currently Published
· School Essential Information:-
This section sets out information published in the school essential information booklet.
Class Description
Essential Information The statutory contents of the school essential booklet are as follows, other items may be included at the school’s discretion):
1. The name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of the school, the management type of the school and the names of the Principal and the Chairman of the Board of Governors.
2. The expected number and age-range of pupils at the school.
3. The classification of the school as a voluntary grammar school.
4. The arrangements for parents to obtain copies of the information which Education and Library Boards are required to publish about admissions to schools in their area.
5. The arrangements for parents of prospective pupils to visit the school.
6. Numbers applying for admission to the school in the school year in which the prospectus is published and in each of the 2 previous years, and the number of pupils actually admitted to the school in each of those 3 years broken down into the number of applications and admissions in each grade in the transfer procedure test.
7. Information about school hours and holidays, including the time at which the school day begins and ends, the dates of school terms and half-term holidays, and key dates for the school year to which the information relates.
8. Information about religious education provided at the school and the arrangements for parents to withdraw their children from religious education or collective worship.
9. Information about special curricular and other arrangements made for particular classes of pupils, including pupils with special educational needs.
10. Information about the assessment outcomes of pupils at the school and of pupils in Northern Ireland during the previous school year, as follows:-
a. The proportion of pupils (expressed as a percentage) of pupils in the final year of Key Stage 3 achieving level 5 (or above) and the proportion achieving level 6 (or above) in English, Mathematics and in Science, in:
i. Teacher assessment
ii. External tests
11. Information about examination performances as follows:-
i. the number of pupils enrolled in Year 12 and aggregate number of pupils enrolled in Years 13 and 14 on 31st October of the previous school year.
ii. For the year immediately preceding publication information about the examination entry and the proportion of pupils gaining each grade in GCSE, AS and A2 level
For the 3 years prior to that:
Ø1 The percentage of pupils achieving 7+ GCSEs at A*-C (or equivalent);
Ø2 The percentage of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at A*-C (or equivalent);
Ø3 The percentage of pupils achieving 3+A Level at A*-C (or equivalent);
Ø4 The percentage of pupils achieving 2+A Level at A*-E (or equivalent);
iii. For the previous school year examinations performance of pupils
enrolled in Year 12:
Ø1 The percentage entered for 7 or more GCSEs;
Ø2 The percentage entered for 5 or more GCSEs;
Ø3 The percentage achieving grades A*-C in 7 or more GCSEs;
Ø4 The percentage achieving grades A*-C in 5 or more GCSEs;
Ø5 An alphabetical list of the subjects in which pupils were entered for GCSE examinations, the number entered for each subject and the percentage who achieved each grade from A* to F or who were ungraded;
Ø6 The percentage of Year 12 pupils achieving none of the qualifications listed above.
12. Information about the examination performance of pupils in year 13 in the previous school year as follows:
i. The number of pupils in the first year of an AS level course and the percentage of those achieving:
a. 3 or more grades A – C;
b. 2 or more grades A – E;
c. 1 or more grades A – E;
ii. An alphabetical list of the subjects in which pupils were entered for AS levels, the numbers entered for each subject, and the percentage of those who achieved each grade A to E or were ungraded;
13. Information about the examination performance of pupils in year 14 in the previous school year as follows:
i. The number of pupils in the final year of an A-level course and the percentage of those achieving :
a. 3 or more grades A – C;
b. 2 or more grades A – E;
c. 1 or more grades A – E;
ii. An alphabetical list of the subjects in which pupils were entered for A – levels, the number entered for each subject, and the percentage of those who achieved each grade A to E or were ungraded;
iii. Information about the destination of school leavers, including the total number of pupils who left the school from Years 12, 13 and 14 in the previous year and the number of those who:
a) Entered Higher Education;
b) Entered Further Education;
c) Transferred to another school;
d) Took a Gap Year;
e) Took up full-time employment;
14. The percentage attendance rate of pupils at the school in the previous school year.
15. The arrangements for Pastoral Care.
16. Details of the school’s anti-bullying, child protection and disciplinary policy statements, including the arrangements for bringing school rules to the attention of pupils and parents, and how parents may make known any concerns they have about theirs child’s safety.
17. A statement of the school’s policy on drugs education.
18. Information about sporting and extra-curricular activities and the facilities available to pupils at the school.
19. Arrangements for the provision of meals and the facilities provided for pupils to eat food which they bring to school.
20. The school’s policy or rules in relation to pupils’ dress and any recommendations on wearing of uniform.
21. Details of the school’s charging and remissions policy;
22. Information about the processes in place for recording and reporting pupil’s educational progress.
23. Information about any special provision made, and facilities in place for teaching children with special educational needs and the school’s special educational needs policy.
24. Information on the Parents Association, its aims, membership, fundraising and social events and the distribution of its funds.
25. Information of the general school rules.
Governors’ Annual Report and other information relating to the Board of Governors
This section sets out information published in the Governors’ Annual Report and in other Board of Governors’ documents.
Class Description
Governors’ Annual Report The statutory contents of the Governors’ Annual Report to parents are as follows, (other items may be included in the annual report at the school’s discretion):
1. Details of the Governing Body and their category of membership.
2. School report for the previous year detailing:-
a. A review of the school year;
b. Staffing changes;
c. Curriculum;
d. School achievements;
e. School security.
3.
i. An alphabetical list of subjects followed by pupils at the school in the school year to which the annual report relates.
ii. Information about performance in public examinations as specified in paragraph 11 above.
iii. Information about performance in public examinations as specified in paragraph 12 above.
iv. Information about school leavers as set out in paragraph 13 above.
v. Trend data about examination performance in the school as specified in paragraph 10 above and information about the average performance of pupils in Northern Ireland in public examinations as provided by the department for this purpose.
4. Details of the Income and Expenditure in the Secondary revenue account and its Surplus/(Deficit) for the year to 31 March. Also includes comparative figures for the preceding financial year.
5. In addition to reporting requirements the Board of Governors also make available the following information at the school for reference and free of charge to parents on request:
i. Details of the times a school day begins and ends;
ii. Dates of school terms and half-term holidays for the current school year;
iii. Details of charging and remission policies.
6. The Board of Governors will also take all reasonable steps to ensure that parents are informed about any changes to the information in paragraph 5 above at least 3 months before such changes come into affect.
Instruction of Government School’s Scheme of Management
Minutes * of meeting of the governing body and its committees Agreed minutes of meetings of the Board of Governors and its committees (current and last full academic school year)
____________________________________________________________
* - Some information might be confidential or otherwise exempt from the publication by law – we cannot therefore publish this.
Pupils and Curriculum Policies
This Section gives access to information about policies that relate to pupils and the school curriculum.
Class Description (£)
Assessment policy School Assessment Policy should fulfil school aims and objectives and should put the emphasis on the formative process of learning rather than merely summative reporting.
Curriculum policy Statement detailing the aims of the school on following curriculum subjects and public examinations.
Sex Education policy Statement of policy with regard to sex and relationship education.
Special Education Needs policy Information about the school’s policy on providing for pupils with special educational needs.
Equality policy Statement of policy for promoting equality as per Section 75 of the 1998 NI Act.
Child Protection policy Statement of policy for safeguarding and promoting welfare of pupils at the school.
Pupil discipline Statement of general principles on behaviour and discipline and of offences and sanctions to be taken.
Attendance policy Once a child becomes a registered pupil he/she should attend school on all days of the school year. Every half-day absence has to be classified by the school, as authorised or unauthorised – only unavoidable absences will be authorised.
Bullying policy It is the school aim to create and maintain a secure environment in which every child has the opportunity to grow and develop. Bullying is in conflict with this aim and is contrary to the values inherent in the school ethos.
Careers in the Curriculum The Careers Department will endeavour to support pupils in making choices and in the provision of experiences to enhance the career aspects of their future life.
Drugs Education policy Statement of policy with regard to Drugs Education and the objectives of the school.
School homework policy Statement detailing the purposes of homework and what is expected from both the pupil and the teacher.
Policy on acceptable use of the Internet Statement for staff and pupils with regard to the acceptable use of the internet, sanctions taken on misuse and information to parents with regard to Internet use.
Pastoral Care policy Statement regarding the desire of the school to help individuals develop as members of the community.
Physical Education policy Statement detailing the desire of the school to provide each pupil with the opportunity to enjoy, perform and understand a variety of activities and body exercises.
School Policies and Other Information Related to the School
This section gives access to information about policies that relate to the school in general.
Class Description (£)
Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) published reports referring expressly to the school Published report of the last inspection of the school and the summary of the report and where appropriate inspection reports of religious education in those schools designated as having a religious character.
Post-ETI Inspection Action Plan A plan setting out the actions required following the last ETI Inspection and where appropriate an action plan following inspection of religious education where the school is designated as having a religious character.
Charging policy A statement of the school’s policy with respect to charges and remissions for any optional extra or board and lodging for which charges are permitted, for example school publications, music tuition, trips, capital charges, parental contribution.
School session times and term dates Details of school session and dates of school terms and holidays.
Health and safety policy Statement of general policy with respect to Health and Safety at work of employees (and others) and the organisation and arrangements for carrying out the policy.
Complaints procedure Statement of procedures for dealing with complaints.
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 Headmaster on the effectiveness of appraisal procedures.
Staff Conduct, Discipline and Grievance Statement of procedures for regulating conduct and discipline of school staff and procedures by which staff may seek redress for grievance.
Equal Opportunities Policy Statement that the school will not discriminate against any individual in matters of recruitment or selection for any position, promotion, development or training on the ground of perceived religious or political affiliation, sex, marital status, disability, colour, race or ethnic origin.
Curriculum circulars and statutory instruments Any statutory instruments, departmental circulars and administrative memoranda sent by the Department of Education to the Head Teacher or Governing Body relating to the curriculum.
Feedback and Complaints
We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about the scheme. If you want to make any comments about this publication scheme or if you require further assistance or wish to make a complaint then initially this should be addressed to Mr. Neil Stewart.
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 at:
Information Commissioner,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
OR
Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 700
E Mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Foyle and Londonderry College
Freedom of Information Publication Scheme
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