Freedom of Information Publication

Freedom of Information Publication Scheme on information available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 aims to promote greater openness by public authorities such as government and other public sector organizations, including maintained schools. The Freedom of Information Act came into effect on 1st January 2005.

If you request information, the school is required to tell you whether or not it holds that information and to make it available to you within twenty school days. Anyone may ask for information.

Certain categories of information are exempt – such as personal data about students and staff.

Aims and Objectives

The John Bramston School & College aims to:

1. To provide all students with the opportunity and encouragement to develop their full potential.
2. To provide an environment where love of learning can flourish, so that students and staff are encouraged to view learning as a continuing and lifelong process.
3. To prepare students to play a full and constructive role in a democratic and pluralist society; in the worlds of work, leisure and family life.

OBJECTIVES

1. To provide a well structured curriculum with appropriate mechanisms to ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve the best of which he or she is capable in academic terms.
2. To provide a range of academic and leisure opportunities for students to achieve success.
3. To provide a pastoral structure in which all students are viewed as individuals and are provided with the support and guidance needed to assist them to achieve their full potential.
4. To provide a framework for spiritual development, and for the encouragement of moral and social values which will enable students to respect the views and rights of others, to know right from wrong and stand up for what is right.
5. To maintain a friendly, purposeful and caring atmosphere where all can feel secure and equally valued as members of the school community.
6. To provide a working environment which is well resourced in staffing, books and equipment, and where the premises are clean, tidy and well cared for.
7. To maintain good relations with the local community, including parents, local industry, feeder junior schools, and other local organisations and services, and to provide opportunities for students to make a contribution to the local community.
8. To provide a structure for consultative management and sound administration so that all members of the school community are able to make a full contribution.
9. To ensure that there is a continuous programme of staff development and training for all members of staff, linked to a supportive appraisal system.
10. To be able to adapt and respond to the changing needs of the students, staff, parents and the wider community.
11. To ensure that the aims are known and understood by all members of the school community and that all staff actively work towards the achievement of the objectives.

The Publication Scheme

The publication scheme sets out the broad “classes” of information published by The John Bramston School & College. There is also a list of the actual documents, grouped under the “class” headings, which will be amended from time to time.

How is information available?

Some information can be found on our website (www.johnbramston.co.uk) The website will be built during 2005-6 so that most of the school’s published information is available online.

If you would like to receive a printed copy of a document or information please contact:
The Information Officer
The John Bramston School & College
email:  information@johnbramston.essex.sch.uk

It will help facilitate your request if you mark your email or letter “Freedom of Information Request”.

If you ask for information that is not already published, we will do our best to provide advice and assistance. However, the law requires us only to provide information which already exists and which we already hold.  If the information you ask for is held by another organization, we will put you in touch with that organization.

The cost of providing information

Printed copies of information are usually free but the school reserves the right to charge for photocopying. If your request involves a large amount of copying or administrative time in preparing documents which contain personal information which has to be removed we may charge. You will be informed of the charge before you decide whether you wish to pursue your request.

Retention Schedule

The John Bramston School & College  follows the Retention Guidelines for Schools (2004) proposed by the Records Management Society of Great Britain and approved by the DfES.

Feedback

We welcome suggestions of how The John Bramston School and College can provide more useful or clearer information. Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing or by email to the Information Officer at The John Bramston School and College.

If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get or if we have not been able to resolve your complaint and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the Information Commissioners Office.  This is the organisation that ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints.  They can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 700
e-mail: publications@ic-foi.demon.co.uk
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

The John Bramston School and College Publication Scheme

Class 1:The School Prospectus
Class 2: Documents about the Governing Body
Class 3: Information that relates to students and the school curriculum
Class 4: School policies and other information related to the school in general.
Class 5: Documents produced by other bodies which are held by the school

Publication List

This list includes all of the information currently published by The John Bramston School and College under the five classes of its publication scheme.

Most of the information is included in either the School Prospectus or the Governors Annual Report to Parents.  Click on links to download using Acrobat Reader. School policies can also be download or viewed in the School Policies section. Other information can be viewed on the web site or can be requested from school as detailed previously.

Class 1: The School Prospectus

Class 2: Documents about the Governing Body

Class 3: Information that relates to students and the school curriculum

Class 4: School policies - additional

Class 5: Documents produced by other bodies which are held by the school

Coming soon
This class consists of various documents which are produced by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Local Education Authority (Essex County), the Learning and Skills Council and other organizations.