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 our information 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.






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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.
2. What we spend and how we spend it
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering,
procurement and contracts.
3. What our priorities are and how we are doing
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.
4. How we make decisions
Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures,
consultations.
5. Our policies and procedures
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.
6. Lists and registers
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions
of the authority.
7. 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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
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
Address of school and contact details, including email address
Statutory website
content
Hard copy available
Contact details for the Head teacher.
Statutory website
content
Hard copy available
Who’s who in the school - staffing structure
Website
By inspection
Hard copy available
Who’s who on our governing body and the basis of their Website
appointment, and the name of anybody entitled to appoint any By inspection
category of governor
Hard copy available
Instrument of Government / Articles of Association, and the By inspection
category of the school;
Hard copy available
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
School prospectus information - the statutory contents of the Statutory website
school prospectus (now website) are as follows:
content
By inspection
Cost
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
£
Contact details for the governing body, via the school
£
£
N/A
N/A
Information to be published.
How the information
can be obtained
Hard copy available
As above

the name, address and telephone number of the school, and
the type of school;

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

Cost
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 Cost
can be obtained
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 By inspection.
annually but at a more frequent quarterly or six-monthly interval Hard copy available
£
where practical.
Procurement and contracts the school has entered into, or By inspection.
information relating to / a link to information held by an Hard copy available
organisation which has done so on its behalf (for example, GCC or
the Diocese of Gloucester).
By inspection.
Hard copy available
Staff allowances and expenses that can be incurred or claimed, By inspection.
with totals paid to individual senior staff members (Senior Hard copy available
Leadership Team or equivalent, whose basic actual salary is at least
£60,000 per annum) by reference to categories.
£
Pay policy
Staffing, pay and grading structure. As a minimum the pay By inspection.
information should include salaries for senior staff (Senior Hard copy available
Leadership Team or equivalent as above) in bands of £10,000; for
more junior posts, by salary range.
Governors’ allowances that can be incurred or claimed, and a By inspection.
record of total payments made to individual governors.
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 Cost
can be obtained
School profile (if any) and in all cases performance data supplied to Statutory website
the English Government, or a direct link to the data
content
By inspection
N/A
Hard copy available
The latest published reports of Ofsted / Education and Training
Statutory website
Inspectorate report referring expressly to the school
content
By inspection
N/A
 the published report of the last inspection of the school
Hard copy available
and


the summary of the report.
Post-Ofsted inspection action plan (School Development
Plan) - a plan setting out the actions required following the
last Ofsted inspection.
Statutory website
content
By inspection
Hard copy available
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
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.
N/A
£
£
£
£
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
The school’s future plans; for example, proposals for and any By inspection.
consultation on the future of the school, such as a change in status Hard copy available
Safeguarding and child protection
Webstie
By inspection.
N/A
£
£
Information to be published
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Hard copy available
Pupil Discipline - statement of general principles on behaviour and Website
discipline (Behaviour Policy) and of measures taken by the Statutory policy
headteacher to prevent bullying (Anti-bullying Policy).
Hard copy available
iv.
£
Class 4: How we make decisions
This class provides access to information on our decision making processes and records of decisions.
We are required to publish details of the schools governance for the current and previous three years
as a minimum.
Information to be published
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Admissions policy/decisions (not individual admission decisions) – Statutory website
N/A
where applicable
content
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available
Agendas and minutes of meetings of the governing body and its By inspection.
committees. (NB this will exclude information that is properly Hard copy available
£
regarded as private to the meetings).
v.
Class 5: Our policies and procedures
This class provides access to information on our current written protocols, policies and procedures for
delivering our services and responsibilities. We are required to provide current information only.
As a minimum these must include policies, procedures and documents that the school is required to
have by statute or by its funding agreement or equivalent, or by the English government. These will
include policies and procedures for handling information requests.
Information to be published
Capability of staff
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Statutory policy
By inspection.
Hard copy available
£
Statutory website
content
Hard copy available
N/A
Statutory policy
By inspection.
Hard copy available
£
Statutory website
content
Hard copy available
N/A
Statutory policy
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
See Class 3
Statutory policy
By inspection.
Hard copy available
£
See Class 2
Statutory policy
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
School behaviour policy
Statement of general principles on behaviour and discipline and of
measures taken by the Headteacher to prevent bullying.
Sex education policy
Our statement of policy with regard to sex and relationship
education.
Special educational needs policy
Our information about the school's policy on providing for pupils
with special educational needs.
Teacher appraisal
A 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.
Teachers’ pay policy
Statement of the school’s policy regarding teachers pay, including
procedures for determining teachers grievances in relation to their
pay.
Health and safety policy
Our 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.
Admissions arrangements
Statutory website
A statement of the school’s policy on admissions
content
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
See Class 4
Accessibility plan Statutory document
Our plan for increasing participation of disabled pupils in the By inspection.
school's curriculum, improving the accessibility of the physical Hard copy available.
environment and improving delivery of information to disabled
pupils.
N/A
£
Information to be published
Behaviour principles written statement (stated in our Behaviour
Policy)
Central record of recruitment and vetting checks
Complaints procedure statement
Statement of procedures for dealing with complaints (see
Complaints Policy)
Freedom of Information
Governors’ allowances (schemes for paying)
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Website
Statutory document
£
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Website
Statutory document
By inspection.
£
Hard copy available.
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Home-school agreement document
Home-school agreement – 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.
Instrument of government
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
Minutes of, and papers considered at, meetings of the governing Statutory document
body and its committees
See Class4
Premises management documents
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
Equality information and objectives (public sector equality duty) Statutory document
statement for publication
By inspection.
Our Race Equality Policy - a statement of policy for promoting race Hard copy available.
equality.
School information published on a website
Statutory website
content
Register of business interests of headteachers and governors
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
Register of pupils’ admission to school
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
Register of pupils’ attendance
Statutory document
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
£
£
£
N/A
£
£
£
Information to be published
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Staff discipline, conduct and grievance (procedures for addressing)
Statutory document
Statement of procedure for regulating conduct and discipline of By inspection.
school staff and procedures by which staff may seek redress for Hard copy available.
£
grievance
Child protection policy and procedures
Referenced in
Child Protection Policy - statement of policy for safeguarding and statutory guidance
promoting welfare of pupils at the school.
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Referenced in
statutory guidance
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Statement of procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse Referenced in
against staff
statutory guidance
By inspection.
Hard copy available.
£
Records management and personal data policies, including:
no current
_

Information security policies
information
no current
_

Records retention, destruction and archive policies
information
Statutory policy

Data protection (including information sharing policies)
By inspection.
Hard copy available
£
Charging regimes and policies ( Charging and Remissions Policy)
Statutory website
A statement of the school's policy with respect to charges, for content
example school publications, music tuition, trips.
By inspection
This should include details of any statutory charging regimes. Hard copy available
£
Charging policies should include charges made for information
routinely published. They should clearly state what costs are to be
recovered, the basis on which they are made and how they are
calculated.
Other, non statutory policies
Curriculum policy
A statement on following the policy for the secular curriculum
subjects and religious education and schemes of work and
syllabuses currently used by the school.
Collective Worship
A statement of arrangements for the required daily act of collective
worship.
Website
By inspection
Hard copy available
£
Policy
By inspection
Hard copy available
£
vi.
Class 6: Lists and registers
This class provides access to information on our currently maintained lists and registers only (this
does not include the attendance register).
Information to be published
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Curriculum circulars and statutory instruments
By inspection.
any statutory instruments, departmental circulars and Hard copy available
£
administrative memoranda sent by the Department of Education
and Skills to the head teacher or governing body relating to the
curriculum.
Disclosure logs
By inspection.
Hard copy available
Asset register
By inspection.
Hard copy available
Any information the school is currently legally required to hold in By inspection.
publicly available registers
Hard copy available
vii.
£
£
£
Class 7: The services we offer
This class provides access to information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and
newsletters produced for the public and businesses. It covers the current information only.
Information to be published
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Extra-curricular activities
(hard copy or website;
some
information
may only be available
by inspection)
Out of school clubs
Website
By inspection.
Hard copy available
£
Services for which the school is entitled to recover a fee, together By inspection.
with those fees
Hard copy available
£
School publications, leaflets, books and newsletters
Website
By inspection.
Hard copy available
£
viii.
Additional Information
This will provide schools with the opportunity to publish information that is not itemised in the lists
above.
Information to be published
How the information Cost
can be obtained
Annex 2
Schedule of charges
This describes how the charges have been arrived at and should be published as part of the guide.
The Data Protection Act (Section 7) allows for a flat fee of £10 to be charged for the supply of
structured personal information. Under Regulation 4 of the Freedom of Information and Data
Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, the “appropriate limit” is set at £450 for
Local Authorities.
This is calculated on a standard rate of £25 per hour based on estimating the staff time taken to:
 Determine if the information is held.
 Locate the information or a document which may contain the information.
 Retrieve the information, or a document, which may contain the information.
 Edit or extract the releasable information contained within a document.
This calculation does not take into account the time spent/costs of:
 Checking that a request for information meets the requirements of FOIA.
 Considering the application of exemptions; prejudice and/or public interest tests.
 Obtaining internal or external legal advice.
 Consulting with third parties and obtaining authorization to send out information.
Based on the standard hourly rate of £25 specified in the FOIA Fees Regulations, the maximum
amount of staff time spent finding, retrieving, collating and editing before exceeding the £450 cost
limit is 18 hours. For information that is not otherwise accessible, and if it is estimated that a request
will take less than 18 hours to complete and there is no reason to withhold the information, the
request will be dealt with free of charge except for disbursement costs.
Applicants may be expected to meet the postage costs. The cost of an A4 photocopy or printed sheet
will be charged at 10p for black & white and 50p colour per A4 sheet and postal costs will be based on
current Royal Mail charges.
The council is committed to the use of electronic means to provide information that has been
requested, and will encourage and advocate the use of these means in all appropriate cases, subject
always to the stated preference of the applicant. Normally information supplied electronically will
not involve a cost unless hard copy information has been specifically converted for this purpose.
Schedule of charges
Type of charge
Disbursement
cost
Statutory Fee
Other
Description
Photocopying/printing @
1p per sheet (black & white)
Photocopying/printing @
5p per sheet (colour)
Postage
Basis of charge
Actual cost or A4 photocopy or printed sheet will be
charged at 10p for black & white
Actual cost or A4 photocopy or printed sheet will be
charged at 50p for colour
Actual cost of Royal Mail standard 2nd class
In accordance with the relevant legislation
£25 is the standard hourly rate that all authorities
must use to calculate the staff costs of answering
requests – applied for requested taking more than
18hours effort to collate.
Annex 3 – Environmental Information Regulations 2004
Information requests related to environmental matters should be considered under the
Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). These regulations came into force alongside
Freedom of Information Act 2000. This legislation includes requests relating to changes to the built
environment as well as the natural landscape of school grounds, and policies in respect of recycling
or waste disposal.
We are required to consider our response, and any refusal to supply information under the
appropriate regime. We will make particular efforts to ensure policies which relate to any of
environmental matters are included in our publication scheme and routinely made available on our
website.