State Schools and the Freedom of Information Act
Obligations Under the FOI Act
Under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000, state schools in England are legally required to disclose certain information about their operations to the public.
Important Information
As public bodies, state schools must make available information regarding:
- Their activities and spending
- Staffing and governance
- Curriculum and educational policies
Responsibilities of Governing Bodies
The governing body of each school is responsible for ensuring compliance with the FOI Act. This includes:
- Publishing key information on the school's website
- Responding to requests for information from the public within statutory deadlines
- Maintaining records of all FOI requests and responses
Accessing Information
Members of the public can request information from state schools by submitting a written request. The school has 20 working days to respond, unless an exemption applies.
The FOI Act promotes transparency and accountability in the operation of state schools, enabling the public to access information about their local schools and hold them accountable.
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