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 of access to 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 held proactively,
through the adoption of ‘publication schemes’ and by publishing information in
accordance with those schemes. Our scheme has been approved by the
Information Commissioner and became operational on 1st May 2004.
The scheme has been in full force since January 2005 when the public
gained 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. As well as
describing the types of information, the scheme also indicates whether a
charge is to be made for any types of information and also the form in which
information is published (e.g. website or 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 eight main groups of classes of information in the model publication
scheme:
 
1. Governance
2. Financial Resources
3. Human Resources
4. Physical Resources
5. Student Administration and Support
6. Information Services
7. Teaching and Learning
8. External Relations
 
Responsibility for the Scheme
The Freedom of Information Officer will be responsible for the scheme on
behalf of the College.
 
The College Management Information Systems Co-ordinator is the nominated
Data Protection Officer for the College.
 
The College address is as follows:
 
Redcar & Cleveland College
Corporation Road
Redcar
Redcar & Cleveland
TS10 1EZ
 
Telephone: +44 (0)1642 473132
Fax: +44 (0)1642 490856
 
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 Corporation Road site. This Publication Scheme and the
documents to which it refers are available in the first language of the Town –
namely English.
 
Request Procedure
We will aim to respond in relation to specific requests for information within
20 working days.
 
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 Scheme, notification and explanation of reason will be given to
applicants.
 
Complaints
Redcar & Cleveland College has a customer feedback procedure already in
place. This may be used by any person who considers that the College is not
complying with the Publication Scheme. In order to access the College’s
customer feedback procedure, you should contact any College Reception to
supply the appropriate 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
 
Exemptions
A number of exemptions in relation to supplying information requested under
the Freedom of Information Act are in place which includes:
 
s21 Information accessible to applicant by other means
s23 Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security
      matters
s40 Personal Information
s41 Information provided in confidence
s42 Legal Professional Privilege
s44 Prohibitions on Disclosure
s43 Commercial Interests
 
Further information and guidance on exemptions will be given against each
request as appropriate.
 
Information Availability
Some information is available on the College website. Otherwise, information
may only be open to inspection or available by post.
 
Review and Amendments
The College will regularly review 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 receipt of the request.
 
For Guidance
Photocopies will normally be charged at 10p per A4 sheet. Overheads will be
recovered against each request to a maximum of £65.

 

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