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Publication Scheme

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This document is split into two parts.  Part 1 sets out some introductory information relating to the College and its arrangements in relation to Freedom of Information Compliance (which are not part of the College’s Publication Scheme).  Part 2 contains the College’s Publication Scheme itself.

PART 1 - INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION

Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”). The Act promotes greater openness and accountability across the public sector by requiring all public authorities to make information available proactively, through a publication scheme. Public authorities are defined in the Act and include universities, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.  The College’s publication scheme follows the ICO’s model Publication Scheme, based on the Information Commissioner’s definitions document for Colleges of Further Education (published by the Information Commissioner in October 2021 and accessible via the following:

Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

WHAT IS A PUBLICATION SCHEME?

The College’s publication scheme (set out in Part 2 of this document) describes the information Winstanley College publishes, or intends to publish. In this context, ‘publish’ means to make information available, routinely on our website.  Some documents may only be available in hard copy. Requests made under the Act have to be made in writing and, in general, public authorities have 20 working days to respond.  We may charge a fee, which will have to be calculated according to applicable legislation.  We are not required to release information to which an exemption in the Act legitimately applies.  The scheme is not a list of the actual publications, because this will change as new material is published or existing material revised. It is, however, Winstanley College’s commitment to make available the information described.  The College’s publication scheme also makes clear how the information described can be accessed and whether or not charges will be made.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE

Winstanley College was incorporated on 1st April 1993 in response to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (FHEA). We are a large sixth form college with over 2000 16-19 year olds enrolled and the College offers a wide range of A level options.  There are also c50 students enrolled on a full time Art Foundation programme.  The College is located within the borough of Wigan near its borders with Lancashire and St Helens.  The Principal is Mr Simon Lett and the Chair of Governors is Mr James Pearson.  As with all staff, the Principal and Chair of Governors can be contacted through the College. 

THE GOVERNING BODY

The Governing Body under its Articles of Government, in summary, is responsible for the financial solvency of the institution, the proper use of public funds and for ensuring effective management.  Governors are also responsible for the College’s Mission, its educational character and the quality of the service to its students and their welfare.  Information regarding the composition and work of the Governing Body, including the Code of Conduct for members of the Governing Body, can be accessed on the College’s website.  Minutes of Board and Committee meetings, excluding material that is properly considered to be confidential, are also available from the website.  Information on Governors is also in the Financial Statements.

THE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Senior Leadership at Winstanley College comprises the Principal and Deputy Principal (the Principalship) working with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) as the key decision-making body.   The current post holders are:

 

Simon Lett                                 Principal

Debbie Owen                            Deputy Principal

Karen Newton                          Director of Finance & Resources

Victoria Morgan                       Assistant Principal

Mike Woods                              Director of Operations

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

Information relating to the operation and activities of the Student Union and other clubs, associations and non-academic activities that are organised for or by the students can be found both on the College’s website and in the annual prospectus which is available on request from the College.

STUDENT EXAM PERFORMANCE AND DESTINATIONS

The government publishes comparative performance data for schools and colleges relating to student exam performance and destinations.  This data can be found on the DFE website

DFE 

THE COLLEGE’S FINANCES

The College produces a financial forecast for the funding agency (Education and Skills Funding Agency).  The College’s annual financial statements for the current and previous three years and the financial regulations are all also available on the website.  Additional benchmarking data is published by the funding agency.

Financial benchmarking tool

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Board of Governors is responsible for setting a framework for the terms and conditions of employment for all staff.  In effect, this means that teachers and support staff are employed in accordance with the nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment as negotiated between the recognised trades union and the Sixth Form Colleges Association.  Senior Post Holders’ terms and conditions of employment are set by the Board of Governors.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

The College’s Self Assessment Report is shared with the Education and Skills Funding Agency every year.  The summary plan and report can be accessed via the College’s website as can the students’ results and destinations for the last three years.  In addition the College’s most recent Ofsted reports for 2007 and 2020 can be accessed via Ofsted’s website on www.ofsted.gov.uk.  The College’s Annual Report is published at the end of the spring term and is available on the governance area of the college website.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities are all available via the website including but not limited to:

  • Equality and Diversity Strategy
  • Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures
  • Health Safety and Welfare
  • Handling of Complaints against the Board 
  • Complaints Procedure
  • Data protection and GDPR
  • Financial Regulations
  • CCTV Policy
OTHER INFORMATION WE ROUTINELY PUBLISH
  • Report and Financial Statements
  • Management Structure
REQUESTING INFORMATION NOT MADE AVAILABLE VIA THE COLLEGE’S PUBLICATION SCHEME

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, you have the right to request any information held by the College (subject to certain exemptions) which has not been made available via the College’s publication scheme.  Requests must be made in writing and in general the College has 20 working days to respond to any such request.  We are not required to release information which is legally exempt, or which would breach data protection laws.

Any such requests should be made to the College’s Director of Finance & Resources by email to foi@winstanley.ac.uk.

We will do everything we reasonably can in the circumstances to meet your information needs but if you have a complaint which we cannot resolve, you do have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (the independent body which oversees the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000):

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

PART 2 - WINSTANLEY COLLEGE’S PUBLICATION SCHEME

This publication scheme follows the model publication scheme prepared and approved by the ICO and has been adopted without modification by the College.

This publication scheme commits the College to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities.  The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by the College.  Additional assistance is provided to the definition of these classes in sector specific guidance manuals issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Under this publication scheme, the College commits to:

  • Proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the College and falls within the classifications below;
  • Specify the information which is held by the College and falls within the classifications below;
  • Proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this publication scheme;
  • Produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public;
  • Review and update on a regular basis the information the College makes available under this publication scheme;
  • Produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available;
  • Make this publication scheme available to the public; 
  • Publish any dataset held by the College that has been requested, and any updated versions it holds, unless the College is satisfied that it is not appropriate to do so; to publish the dataset, where reasonably practicable, in an electronic form that is capable of re-use; and, if any information in the dataset is a relevant copyright work and the College is the only owner, to make the information available for re-use under the terms of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015, if they apply, and otherwise under the terms of section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The terms ‘dataset’ and ‘relevant copyright work’ are defined in sections 11(5) and 19(8) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 respectively.
1. Classes of information

Information that is available under this publication scheme includes:

  • Who we are and what we do: Organisational information, locations and contacts, information on constitutional and legal governance;
  • What we spend and how we spend it: Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts;
  • What our priorities are and how we are doing: Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews;
  • How we make decisions: Policy proposals and decisions, decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations;
  • Our policies and procedures: Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities;
  • Lists and registers: Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the College; and
  • The services we offer: Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

The classes of information under this publication scheme will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure;
  • Information in draft form; and
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.
2. How information published under this scheme will be made available

Information covered by this publication scheme will, as far as possible, be published on the College’s website.  Where this is impracticable, or if you do not wish to access the information via the College’s website, information covered by this publication scheme can also be obtained by contacting our Director of Finance & Resources via foi@winstanley.ac.uk (including where you are unable to access the College’s website or where the information is required in an alternative format which is appropriate having regard to any disability of the requestor).

Requested information under this publication scheme will ordinarily be delivered electronically, but paper copies can also be provided upon request (subject to payment of any additional charges as mentioned in section 3 below).

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person.  Any information which falls into this category will be identified as such on the College’s website.  In the event that you wish to view any such information, please request an appointment by contacting our Director of Finance & Resources via foi@winstanley.ac.uk (following which an appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale).

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required.  Where the College is legally required to translate any information, the College will do so.  

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this publication scheme.

3. Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme

The purpose of this publication scheme is to make the maximum amount of infor
mation readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public.  Charges made by the College for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on the College’s website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

  • Photocopying;
  • Postage and packaging; and
  • The costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information.

Charges may also be made for information provided under this publication scheme where they are legally authorised, they are (in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities) justified, and are in accordance with a published schedule of fees which is readily available to the public.

Charges may also be made for making datasets (or parts of datasets) that are relevant copyright works available for re-use.  These charges will be in accordance with the terms of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (where they apply), or with regulations made under section 11B of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or with any other statutory powers of the College.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided.  Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

4. Written Requests

Information held by the College that is not published under this publication scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Contact should be made with

Karen Newton (Director of Finance & Resources) at the College

Email: foi@winstanley.ac.uk

Date of last review: [October] 2022

Date of next review: [October] 2025

 

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