Size: Extra LargeLargeDefault | Colour: Black On WhiteBlack On YellowGreen On BlackBlack On PinkDefault | Text Version

You are here: Home>About Us>Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Hull College

The Freedom of Information Act is all about the right of access to information held by public authorities.

The College is committed to being transparent in the conduct of it's operations and to fully comply with the Freedom of Informtion Act

If you wish to obtain information about yourself, then the Data Protection Act 1998 will apply and you should make a Subject Access Request.

If the information that you are looking for is not about you, but is in relation to the College, then the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will apply.

Hull College Publication Scheme Introduction

Hull College has adopted the Model Publication Scheme (MPS) for Further Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will find an introduction to the publication scheme Hull College has used on this page. The Publication Scheme Classes for Hull College contains the actual Publication Scheme.

This introduction to Hull College's publication scheme covers the following topics:

  1. Legal requirement
  2. What is a publication scheme?
  3. The model publication scheme for further education
  4. Who we are
  5. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme
  6. What about information not covered by the publication scheme?
  7. Feedback
  8. Further information
  1. Legal Requirement
    1. Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This Act promotes greater openness and accountability across the public sector by requiring all ‘public authorities’ to make information available proactively, through a publication scheme.
    2. ‘Public authorities’ are defined in the Act and include universities, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.

    Back to the Top

  2. What is a publication scheme?
    1. A publication scheme is a document which describes the information a public authority publishes, or intends to publish. In this context, ‘publish’ means to make information available, routinely. These descriptions are called ‘classes of information’. 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, the public authority's commitment to make available the information described.
    2. A publication scheme must set out the classes, or categories, of information published. It must also make clear how the information described can be accessed and whether or not charges will be made.

    Back to the Top

  3. The model publication scheme for further education
    1. Hull College has adopted the model publication scheme developed for the Further Education sector and is therefore committed to publishing the information it describes.
    2. This model is designed for Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The purpose of the model is to save institutions duplicating effort in producing individual schemes and to assist the public in accessing information from across the sector. However, to reflect the diversity in size and function of the institution, a number of optional classes of information are included. As a result, models within the sector will vary slightly. Any optional classes relevant to us have been included in our scheme.
    3. To assist with the development of the model, a number of institutions across the sector volunteered as pilots. Information about the pilot exercise is available from the JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) website.

    Back to the Top

  4. Who we are

    Hull College is the largest FE provider in the region. It is currently celebrating its £11 million development of three landmark new buildings (supported with funding provided by the LSC and Hull Cityventure, through Yorkshire Forward's SRB) and a major £200k re-modelling programme.

    The College's provision includes full time, part-time and flexible study options; from Community courses to Access programmes, GCSEs to AS/A Levels, BTECs to HNDs and Foundation Degrees.

    • Four centres of excellence in Hull; one in Goole.
    • Triple Centre of Vocational Excellence status: Construction Technologies CoVE; Humber Food Manufacturing Technology CoVE; and Ports and Logistics CoVE.
    • National Beacon Award winner for Employer Engagement.
    • FEFC Inspection Assessed as one of the top Colleges
    • Excellent Results in the Training Standards Council Inspection
    • National Trainee Award winners
    • Investors In People Status
    • Guidance Council Accredited Status
    • Lead partner of Hull's Increased Flexibility Project, providing vocational experiences for 14-16 students.
    • Over 36,000 enrolments 2003/4.
    • 5,200 full time and 27,212 part-time students during period 2003/4.

    Back to the Top

  5. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme
    1. The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.
    2. Next to each class we have indicated the manner in which the information described will be available. We have also indicated whether charges apply to material in each class.
    3. To request information available through our publication scheme, please contact:
      The Freedom of Information Officer
      Hull College
      Queen's Gardens
      Hull
      HU1 3DG
      Tel: 01482 329943
      Fax: 01482 598733
      FOIA@hull-college.ac.uk

    Back to the Top

  6. What about information not covered by the publication scheme?
    1. From 1 January 2005 you will have the right, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to request any information held by a public authority which it has not already made available through its publication scheme.
    2. Requests will have to be made in writing and, in general, public authorities will have 20 working days to respond. They may charge a fee, which will have to be calculated according to fees regulations. They will not be required to release information to which an exemption in the Act legitimately applies. However, public authorities may be required to explain to the applicant why they are not releasing information and they may also have to justify this to the Information Commissioner.

    Back to the Top

  7. Feedback
    1. It is important that this publication scheme meets your needs. If you find the scheme difficult to understand, please let us know. We also welcome suggestions as to how our scheme might be improved. Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to:
      The Freedom of Information Officer
      Hull College
      Queen's Gardens
      Hull
      HU1 3DG
      Tel: 01482 329943
      Fax: 01482 598733
      FOIA@hull-college.ac.uk
    2. If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the Freedom of Information Act:
      Information Commissioner
      Wycliffe House
      Water Lane
      Wilmslow
      Cheshire
      SK9 5AF

    Back to the Top

  8. Further information
    1. More information about the Freedom of Information Act is available on the Information Commissioner’s website at:
      http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
    2. Please note that Scotland has its own Freedom of Information Act and Information Commissioner. For more information, please see the Scottish Executive’s website at:
      http://www.scotland.gov.uk/government/foi