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Freedom of Information

Introduction

Derby College Group (College) is committed to making available to the public, as much information as possible, about the College’s activities. This information may be made available by the College through published documents (including those published on the College website) or upon request. Freedom of Information Policy (PDF).

Freedom of Information Act 2000: Publication Scheme

Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Act). The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities, which includes further education colleges.

The College is pleased to meet the obligations of the Act and has adopted a model publication scheme produced by the Information Commissioner’s Officer (Scheme). The Scheme provides a description of the “classes” or types of information that the Information Commissioner expects colleges for further education to make available to the public. Further details of the Scheme can be found at Model Publication scheme (PDF)

In addition to the Scheme, organisations are obliged to produce a guide to the specific information held under each of the classes of information identified in the Scheme, and the following pages should be treated as this guide (Guide). This Guide is not an exclusive list of information that can be requested.

How to Access Information

The College will make available information it holds whether or not listed in the Guide unless identified as not available under one of the exemptions provided for by the Act. Any documents routinely available to the public are noted in the Guide in the descriptions of the different classes of information.

Main Classes of Information

1. Who we are and what we do

  • The College’s Instrument and Articles of Government
  • The Derby College Group Structure, Business Structure and Governance information
  • Information relating to organisations the College works in partnership with and companies wholly owned by it
  • Location and contact details
  • Student information, including safeguarding support, the Student Union and information for parents

2. What we spend and how we spend it

  • Funding Information
  • Annual Statement of Accounts
  • Financial Regulations and Procedures

3. What our priorities are and how we are doing

  • Strategic Ambitions 2017-2020
  • Vision, Values and Mission
  • Annual Report
  • Self-Assessment Report
  • Ofsted Inspection Report
  • Links with Employers

4. How we make decisions

  • Derby College Group Corporation and its Committee Terms of Reference and minutes.

5. Our policies and procedures

  • Derby College Group Corporation Standing Orders
  • Admissions Policy, Procedure and Guidelines
  • Safeguarding Policy, Procedure, Guidelines and Documents
  • Complaints Policy, Procedure and Guidelines
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Sub-contracting Policy and Procedure

6. Lists and registers

  • Corporation Register of Interest

7. The services we offer

  • Prospectus and course content
  • Welfare and counselling services
  • Careers advice
  • Bursaries
  • Inclusion and Support
  • Roundhouse Events
  • Roundhouse Recruitment

If you would like to obtain access to any of the information listed above (and which is not listed on our website), please complete the online form available below and return it to the College at FOI@derby-college.ac.uk or by post at:
Data Protection Officer (Freedom of Information Officer)

Derby College Group

The Roundhouse

Pride Park

Derby DE24 8JE

Please note we do not need to make available the information listed above where:

  1. We do not hold the information.
  2. The information is exempt under of the Act’s exemptions, or its release is prohibited under another statute.
  3. The information is readily and publicly available from an external website to which we have already provided a direct link.
  4. The information is archived, out of date or otherwise inaccessible.
  5. It would be impractical or resource-intensive to prepare the material for the release.

A freedom of information request must be made in writing, and include your real name and an address for correspondence (e.g. email, postal address, or social media account)

A request made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 can be made verbally or in writing. However, a request made in writing will help us to deal more efficiently with your request. Your request will be dealt with under the appropriate legislation. You may send your request by:

Further Information

You can find further information about the Act on the Information Commissioner’s website at: https://ico.org.uk/

Responsibilities

All staff working at the College have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the legal responsibilities of the Act.

The Freedom of Information Officer, is responsible for compliance with the organisation and ensuring all aspects of the Act are adhered to. The Freedom of Information Officer can contacted by email foi@derby-college.ac.uk. The responsibilities as our of the Freedom of Information Officer include:

  • ensuring the Scheme meets the specific requirements and needs of the College; and
  • acknowledging, recording and coordinating responses to freedom of information requests.

Please note that personal data is covered by the Data Protection Act and is not usually available for public access. Contact the Freedom of Information Officer on foi@derby-college.ac.uk for further information regarding our data protection obligations.

Timescales

The College will respond to any requests for information in accordance with the Act’s requirement of 20 working days.

In cases where there is an absolute exemption or other qualified exemption together with a public interest reason for not releasing the information we will inform the requestor of our reasons in writing within the 20 working day limit.

Charges

For most searches the College will issue no charges. However, where the quantity of work required to satisfy the request is greater than 18 hours the College will either refuse to provide the information or charge for its collation.

In all cases the College will consult the requestor to discuss our decision and reasons. We will also offer advice on how the request could be modified to avoid charges or refusal.

For more information on charges and the reasons for their application please see the ICO’s guidance note ico.org fees cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit

Contact

It is our intention to maximise the availability of documents electronically on this website. In the meantime, if you wish to request information under the Freedom of Information Act or if you have any questions or comments about this scheme, please put your query in writing to:

Data Protection officer (Freedom of Information Officer)
Derby College Group The Roundhouse Pride Park Derby DE24 8JE Or e-mail: foi@derby-college.ac.uk

Appeals and Complaints

You can appeal about the range, amount and format of information we have sent following a request. You can also appeal about the way a request was handled – for example, the time it took to respond, or the way responses were worded.

If you are not happy with how we have dealt with your request, write to the address below setting out the reasons why you are unhappy with the response you received.

Freedom of Information Appeals

Data Protection Officer (Freedom of Information Officer)
Derby College Group The Roundhouse Pride Park Derby DE24 8JE

Our appeals process will involve a formal review of our response by a member of the Senior Leadership Team who will review the original request. You will receive a formal reply detailing our decision within 20 working days.

The outcome of the review will be either:

  1. To uphold our original response with an explanation of why we believe we fulfilled your request.
  2. Where it is evident we did not provide an appropriate response in compliance with the Act, or provide a high quality, timely service we will make any necessary corrections, apologise and where appropriate provide you with the information requested.

Complaints outside the College

If we are unable to resolve your objection(s), you can put your complaint in writing to the Information Commissioner’s Office – an independent body that oversees the Freedom of Information Act, at:
Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF

Privacy Notice

Our Privacy Notice describes what Derby College Group does with the personal information it is provided with. You may be asked to give the College personal information to become a student, client or to use college systems and services.

Privacy Notice