Freedom of Information
Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities, which include further education colleges.
Peter Symonds College has adopted the Model Publication Scheme produced by the Information Commissioner’s Officer for further education colleges in October 2008. The Scheme provides a description of the “classes” or types of information that the Information Commissioner expects colleges of further education to make available.
The main classes of Information are:
- What we are and what we do
- What we spend and how we spend it
- What our priorities are and how we are doing
- How we make decisions
- Our policies and procedures
- Lists and registers
- The services we offer
The Model Publication Scheme is available via the ICO website.
In addition to the model scheme organisations are obliged to produce a guide to the specific information held under each of the classes of information identified in the scheme: this guide is attached as Appendix 1 to this policy document.
How to Access Information
Peter Symonds College will make available information it holds whether or not listed in the Guide to the Publication Scheme unless identified as not available under one of the exemptions provided for by the legislation. Any documents routinely available to the public are noted in the Guide in the descriptions of the different classes of information.
Some documents covered by the scheme are published in electronic format via the this website or other websites as indicated. Other documents are only available in hard copy and will be provided on request.
We ask that requests are made in writing and a response will normally be made within 20 working days.
Charging Policy
Printed information on courses and services offered by the college is available free of charge, as are packs issued to people responding to notices of job vacancies. If requested, the College will produce publications and documents in other formats where it is reasonably practical to do so. For items not routinely available on request free of charge, or for items in other requested formats which incur additional cost, the College will usually make a charge. The charge will normally comprise the cost of photocopying or scanning or the direct cost of putting the information into other requested formats, plus postage if applicable. In certain circumstances the college may waive the fee at its absolute discretion.