Read on for an in-depth look at school information, or just click on a link above if you can see what you need.
Freedom of Information Publication Scheme.
Since 1 January 2005 there has been a legal right for any person to make a request to a school for access to information held by that school. Schools are under a duty to provide advice and assistance to anyone requesting information. The request must be in writing, which includes fax or email. All requests for information that are not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998 (i.e. from individuals to see their own personal information) or Environmental Information Regulations 1992 are covered. The enquirer is entitled to be told whether the school holds the information (this is known as the duty to confirm or deny) and, if so, to have access to it. Access can include providing extracts of a document or a summary of the information sought, or access to the original document. However, the Act recognises the need to preserve confidentiality of sensitive information in some circumstances and sets out a number of exemptions.
The Publication Scheme is a way to proactively put as much information into the public domain as possible, and through our website- which can be accessed from within school for those without their own computer- newsletters and notice-boards in school, we aim to ensure that for most requests that could be made the information is already available publicly.
On this basis our Publication Scheme lays out what information we generate and how we disseminate it.
| Type of data | What information we hold | How this is shared |
| Organisational information
|
This includes details of staff, class structures, governors and Friends of Firle School. | School prospectus.
Information board in school. School website. |
| Curriculum information | Plans for what children are taught. | Through curriculum newsletters each term (see class pages.)
Lessons plans available in class. |
| Performance data
|
This includes test results & marks for different types of work. | School reports issued each summer including whole school data in year 2 and year 6.
Parents’ evenings. The School Profile. Ofsted reports. |
| School policies and procedures | How we do what we do. | Policies are available on the website and in school.
School prospectus. Helpers in school information. School Development Plan. |
| Information on decisions made
|
This is formed mainly of minutes of meetings. | Governors’ minutes on display on the website and in school.
Friends of Firle School Minutes available in school. |
| Administrative information
|
This includes dates and times of school events, prices of uniform and meals. | School prospectus.
Information board in school. School website. |
| Personal data on children
|
This includes data held on the school computer system, the child’s school record and any additional data such as Special Educational Needs input. | The computer data is sent home at the start of every year so that parents can check it.
SEN and educational information is shared at parents’ evenings and in reports. The school record follows the child through school and is formed of reports and information provided by parents so it is all information parents will already have seen. |
| Information on incidents
|
This is formed of records kept in school about first aid, accidents or series behavioural issues. | All serious issues are discussed with parents as a matter of course. |
| Financial information
|
The school budget and how we spend it. | This data is available each financial year and was shared through an annual report to parents. From 2008 it will be shared through newsletters. |
