Education Scotland’s Guide to Information
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to
produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:
•
•
publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost.
Education Scotland has adopted the 'Model Publication Scheme 2012' produced by the Scottish
Information Commissioner
(http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/home/ScottishInformationCommissioner.asp). She has approved
this scheme until 31 May 2016. You can see this scheme on the Scottish Information
Commissioner's website
(http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/ScottishPublicAuthorities/PublicationSchemes/PublicationSchem
esModelPublicationSchemes.asp).
The purpose of this guide to information is to:
•
•
•
•
•
allow the public to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to
each class. (A class is a group of information having one or more common characteristics
such as subject or origin.)
state what charges may be applied.
explain how to find the information easily.
provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information.
explain how to request information we hold that has not been published.
Education Scotland
Education Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national development and improvement agency for
education. It is charged with providing support and challenge to the education system, from the early
years to adult learning, in furtherance of the government’s policy objectives.
It came into existence on 1 July 2011 as an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. It was
created by bringing together the resources and the functions of Learning and Teaching Scotland
(LTS), HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), the National CPD Team and the Scottish Government’s
Positive Behaviour Team.
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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Availability and formats
The information we publish through the model scheme is, wherever possible, available on our
website. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the
information online or by inspection at our premises. For example, we can usually arrange to send
information to you in paper copy (although there may be a charge for this).
Exempt information
We will publish the information we hold which falls within the classes of information below. If a
document contains information that is exempt under Scotland’s Freedom of Information laws (for
example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we will remove or redact the information
before publication and explain why.
Copyright
Where Education Scotland holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be
copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
•
•
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it is copied, whole or in part, or reproduced accurately;
it is not used in a misleading context, and
the date and source of the material is acknowledged.
However, no part may be reproduced within a prospectus or in connection with any commercial
activity or promotional or advertising campaign.
Where Education Scotland does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this
clear.
Charges
This section explains when we may make a charge for our publications and how any charge will be
calculated.
There is no charge to view information on our website or at our premises.
We may charge for providing information to you e.g. photocopying and postage, but we will charge
you no more than it actually costs us to do so. We will always tell you what the cost is before
providing the information to you.
Our photocopying charge per sheet of paper is shown in the table below:
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
2
Type
Size of paper
Black and white
Colour
A4
A4
Pence per sheet
of paper
10p
30p
Information provided on CD-Rom will be charged at 50p per computer disc. We can also email
documents.
Postage costs will be recharged at the rate we paid to send the information to you.
When providing copies of pre-printed publications, we will charge no more than the cost per copy of
the total print run.
We do not pass on any other costs to you in relation to our published information.
Please note that this charging schedule does not apply to our commercial publications (see Class 8
below). These items are offered for sale through our website and include the cost of production.
Contact us
You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme:
Education Scotland (Headquarters Office)
Denholm House
Almondvale Business Park
Almondvale Way
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6GA
enquiries@educationscotland.gov.uk
Tel: 0141 282 5000
We will also advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish or how to complain if you
are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.
The classes of information that we publish
We publish information that we hold within the following classes. Once information is published
under a class we will continue to make it available for the current and previous two financial years.
Where information has been updated or superseded, only the current version will be available. If you
would like to see previous versions, you may make a request to us for that information.
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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Class 1: About Education Scotland
Class description:
This class includes information about Education Scotland: who we are; where to find us; how to
contact us; how we are managed; and our external relations.
The information we publish under this class
How to access it
General information about the authority
•
About us
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/index.a
sp
•
Contact us
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/contact
/index.asp
Constitution
• Framework document
How the authority is run
• Corporate Management Group
•
Management Board and Audit and Risk
Committee
Corporate planning
• Education Scotland’s remit and purpose
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/remita
ndframework/framework.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/cmg/index.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/managementboard/index.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/remita
ndframework/index.asp
•
Education Scotland’s key areas of work
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/areaso
fwork/index.asp
•
Corporate Plan 2013-2016
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/remita
ndframework/corporateplan.asp
•
Annual Business Plan 2013-2014
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/planning/index.asp
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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External relations
• Strategic agreements – Service Level
Agreement between Scottish Funding
Council and Education Scotland
Keeping others informed
• News releases
•
Press releases covering published
inspection reports, publications and events
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/collegereviews/index.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/media/i
ndex.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/reports/irpressreleases/index.asp
5
Class 2: How we deliver functions and services
Class description:
Information about our work, our strategy and policies for delivering functions and services and
information for our service users.
The information we publish under this class
Functions
• Education Scotland’s areas of work
How to access it
•
How to complain about the work of the
agency
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/contact
/index.asp
•
Corporate Plan 2013-2016
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/remita
ndframework/corporateplan.asp
Services
• About inspections and review
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/areaso
fwork/index.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/index.asp
•
About validated self-evaluation
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/validatedselfevaluation/index.asp
•
Sharing good practice in inspection and
review
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/sharingpractice/index.asp
•
Sharing practice in learning and teaching
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/sharingpracti
ce/index.asp?strReferringChannel=about&strRefer
ringPageID=tcm:4-685909-64
•
Resources for learning and teaching
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/ind
ex.asp?strReferringChannel=about&strReferringP
ageID=tcm:4-685909-64
•
International activities
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learningteach
ingandassessment/learningacrossthecurriculum/th
emesacrosslearning/globalcitizenship/international
education/index.asp
•
Shared risk assessment
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/sharedrisk/index.asp
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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•
School consultation
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/schoolconsultations/index.asp
•
School Inspection Framework
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/principles/review/index.asp
•
Publications on exercise of statutory
functions
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/principles/review/index.asp
•
Principles of Inspection and Review
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/principles/index.asp
•
Gaelic Language Plans
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/publications/
e/publication_tcm4686839.asp?strReferringChann
el=about&strReferringPageID=tcm:4-685909-64
•
Support for continuing professional
development
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/c/c
lpl/introduction.asp
•
Glow
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/usingglowan
dict/glow/index.asp
•
Community learning and development
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/communityle
arninganddevelopment/index.asp
•
Scottish Schools Online database
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scottishscho
olsonline/index.asp
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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Class 3: How we take decisions and what has been decided
Class description:
Information about the decisions we take, how we make decisions and how we involve others.
The information we publish under this class
Decision making
• Management Board and Audit and Risk
Committee
How to access it
•
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/principles/index.asp
Principles of inspection and review
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/managementboard/boardpapers.asp
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Class 4: What we spend and how
Class description:
Information about our strategy for, and management of, financial resources in sufficient detail to
explain how we plan to spend public money and what has actually been spent.
The information we publish under this class
• Annual Review and Accounts
How to access it
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/annualreview/index.asp
•
Pay and grading structure
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/scssalary-data
•
Expenses policies and procedures
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/ServicesGroups/HR/HR/Staff-Handbook
•
Government procurement care
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/foi/clas
sfour/gpc.asp
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Class 5: How we manage our human, physical and information resources
Class description:
Information about how we manage the human, physical and information resources of the authority.
The information we publish under this class
Human resources
• HR Policy (HMIE)
How to access it
Adobe Acrobat
Document
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directora
tes/Services-Groups/Corporate-Services/HR
•
HR Policies on recruitment, performance
management, grading, pensions, discipline,
grievance, staff development etc
(NB Education Scotland as an executive
agency follows Scottish Government’s
policies.)
Physical resources
• Annual Review and Accounts
•
Annual Report (FY 2011/12)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/ServicesGroups/HR/HR/policies-guidance
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/annualreview/index.asp
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/e/
genericresource_tcm4725534.asp?strReferringCh
annel=educationscotland&strReferringPageID=tcm
:4-615801-64
Information resources
• Records Management Policy (HMIE)
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Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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Class 6: How we procure goods and services from external providers
Class description:
Information about how we procure goods and services, and our contracts with external providers.
The information we publish under this class
How to access it
•
Procurement policies, procedures and
contract guidelines
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/procur
ementandstandards/index.asp
•
Contract for services document
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Pr
ocurement/buyerinformation/spdlowlevel/EUGuidance
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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Class 7: How we are performing
Class description:
Information about how the authority performs as an organisation, and how well it delivers its functions
and services.
The information we publish under this class
• Annual Review and Accounts
How to access it
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/manag
ement/annualreview/index.asp
•
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/e/
genericresource_tcm4725534.asp?strReferringCh
annel=educationscotland&strReferringPageID=tcm
:4-615801-64
Annual Report (FY 2011/12)
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
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Class 8: Our commercial activities
Class description:
Information about the services, software and publications that Education Scotland has available for
sale.
The information we publish under this class
Education Scotland offers software and
publications for Scottish education.
• International activities policy
How to access it
•
Software licensing
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/ordere
ducationresources/licensing.asp
•
Ordering software
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/about/ordere
ducationresources/index.asp
Education Scotland’s Guide to Information, April 2014
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionan
dreview/about/principles/internationallinks.asp
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