The Freedom of Information Act gives the right to request information held by public authorities, companies wholly owned by public authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and non-devolved public bodies in Scotland.
What is the purpose of the FoIA?
The Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) is intended to give the public greater access to information about the workings of public authorities. This will mean increased transparency and accountability, which will raise the quality of public administration.
What does the FoIA do?
The FoIA gives the public a general right of access to all types of ‘recorded’ information held by public authorities from 1 January 2005, subject to certain exemptions. Public authorities also have to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.
What is the publication scheme?
The FoIA places a duty on public authorities to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. The Publication Scheme must set out the types of information we intend to publish on an ongoing basis, the form in which the information is published and details of any charges.
Publication scheme
- Who we are and what we do?
Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts.
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Legal framework | This class contains information relating to how the College was established and its standing from the point of view of the law. The corporate status of Wakefield College Corporation is conferred by the relevant statutes, in particular the Education Reform Act of 1988 and the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The legislation is publicly available on the HMSO web site: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts.
Every educational institution (University, Further or Higher Education College) has a legal basis, which forms its legal status. Wakefield College Corporation’s legal status is derived from the Instruments and Articles of Government. This information is publicly available on the DfES Internet: https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses. | Internet | No |
| How the College is organised | Organisation chart
Senior Team structure
Governing Body | Email
Email
Paper | No
No
Yes |
| Location and contact details | | Internet | No |
- What we spend and how we spend it
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit.
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Funding/Income | Sources of funding and income, such as funding grants, tuition fees, endowment and investment income | Email | No |
| Budgetary and account information | Annual statement of accounts | Email | No |
| Financial Audit Reports | Audit Reports | Email | No |
| Capital Programme | Information on major plans for capital expenditure | Email | No |
| Financial Regulations and Procedures | Financial Regulations and Procedures | Email | No |
| Staff pay and grading structure | Levels of pay scales as part of organisational structure | Email | No |
| Register of suppliers | Schedule of suppliers | Email | No |
| Procurement tender procedures and reports | Within Financial Regulations | Email | No |
| Contracts | Contracts that have been through the formal tendering process | Paper | No |
- What our priorities are and how we are doing
Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews.
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Annual Report | Annual Report | Email | No |
| Corporate and Business Plan | Strategic Plan | Email | No |
| Teaching and Learning Strategy | Teaching and Learning Strategy | Email | No |
| Academic Quality and Standards | Student results
Self Assessment Report
Student Survey Results | Email
Email
Email | No
No
No |
| External Review Information | Ofsted Report
Matrix Standard Report
IiP Report | Email
Email
Email | No
No
No |
| Corporate Relations | Business Services | Internet | No |
| Government and Regulatory Reports | Internal and Financial Statements Audit Reports (Executive Summaries) | Email | No |
- How we make decisions
Decision making processes and records of decisions.
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Minutes from the Governing Body and Academic Board | Finance, Employment and General Purposes Committee
Audit Committee
Search Committee
Quality and Standards Committee
Remuneration Committee
Trust Fund Meeting | Email
Email
Email
Email
Email
Email | No
No
No
No
No
No |
| Minutes of Staff/Student Consultation Meetings | Student Consultative Committees | Email | No |
| Appointment Committees and Procedures | Recruitment and Retention Policy | Email | No |
- Our policies and procedures
Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Policies and Procedures for Conducting College Business | | Email | No |
| Procedures and Policies relating to Academic Services | Full range of policies relating to students. Examples include Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy, Assessment Policy, Counselling Policy, Tutorial Policy, Learner Support Funds Policy. | Email | No |
| Procedures and Policies relating to Human Resources | Full range of policies relating to staff.
Examples include Terms and Conditions of Employment, Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, Sickness Absence Reporting Procedure, Job Evaluation Procedure. | Email | No |
| Procedures and Policies relating to Recruitment | Recruitment and Retention Policy | Email | No |
| Code of Conduct for Members of the Governing Body | Governors Handbook | Paper | No |
| Equality and Diversity | Full range of policies relating to equality and diversity, such as the Single Equality Scheme, Disability Statement, Medical Needs Policy. | Email | No |
| Health and Safety | Full range of policies relating to health and safety, such as Smoking Policy, Health and Safety at Work Policy. | Email | No |
| Estate Management | Full range of policies relating to estates, such as Accommodation Strategy, Car Parking Policy, Environmental Policy. | Email | No |
| Complaints Policies and Procedures | Complaints Procedure | Email | No |
| Records Management and Personal Data Policies | Data Protection Policy
Freedom of Information Act Guidelines | Email
Email | No
No |
- Lists and registers
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Asset Registers | College Asset Register
Learning Centre Catalogue | Email
Email | No
No |
| Disclosure Logs | Data Protection Requests (outline)
FoIA Requests (outline) | Email
Email | No
No |
- The services we offer
Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters.
| Legal and corporate status | Description | Format | Fee |
| Prospectus and course content | Prospectus | Internet | No |
| Careers advice | Learner Support | Internet | No |
| Chaplaincy services | Learner Support | Internet | No |
| Services available to the public | Gaskells Restaurant
Elements Hair & Beauty Salon | Internet
Internet | No |
| Learning Centre (Library and Computer Centre) | Learning Centre information | Email | No |
| Conference facilities | Gaskells Restaurant conference venue available for external bookings | Internet | No |
| Advice and Guidance | Contact Course Information on 01924 789111 | Internet | No |
| Media Releases | Latest News & Events | Internet | No |
How to obtain information
The policy of Wakefield College is to be as open as possible and to supply the information you have requested, but we have to withhold certain information.
The FoIA sets out a series of exemptions to protect confidential or other information where disclosure may prejudice the interests of the College or of third parties. Decisions about refusal of access to information, the way in which access is given or the level of fees or charges, are also subject to review. The two review processes are set out opposite.
Internal review
If you are dissatisfied with the response from Wakefield College you may seek an internal review of that decision. That review will be undertaken by a senior Wakefield College manager who has not previously been involved with your request.
Review by the Information Commissioner
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, or the handling of the internal review you may seek an independent review from the Information Commissioner.
Requests for an internal review or a review by the Information Commissioner should be submitted in writing to:
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545700
Email: data@dataprotection.gov.uk
Website: www.ico.org.uk