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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

BOSTON COLLEGE - PUBLICATION SCHEME

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

1.1 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.

1.2 'Public authorities' are defined in the Act and include universities, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.

2. What is a publication scheme?

2.1 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.

2.2 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.

3. The 'model' publication scheme for further education

3.1 Boston College has adopted the model publication scheme developed for the Further Education sector and is therefore committed to publishing the information it describes.

3.2 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 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.

4. Who we are

4.1 Boston College is a medium-sized general Further Education College in the town of Boston in the County of Lincolnshire As part of its strategy to widen participation, the College has opened a number of centres based in the community in Lincolnshire. These include Learning Centres in Market Deeping, Spalding, Boston, Sleaford and Mablethorpe. We also run several mobile learning units.

4.2 The College offers a broad range of qualifications funded by both the Learning & Skills Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. In 2003 we became a Centre of Vocational Exercise in Early Years Care. The College provides opportunities for education and training to companies in the region and works closely with the local community to support both private business and public sector organisations. It maintains a tradition of having a significant number of international students.

4. The college's mission "Boston College: a Learning Organisation raising aspirations and meeting the skills needs of individuals, communities and employers through high quality education and training"

5. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme

5.1 The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.

Any exceptions are noted in the descriptions of the different classes of information. These will generally be for reasons related to the Data Protection Act or commercial sensitivity. We reserve the right to publish some items without certain parts which may be exempt.

5.2 Next to each class we have indicated the manner in which the information described will be available. Our preferred means of publication is in electronic format via the college's website http://www.boston.ac.uk.

5.3 Printed information on courses and services offered by the college is available free of charge, as are packs issued to people responding to notices of job vacancies. If requested, we will produce publications in other formats; in these cases we will usually make a charge, amounting to the cost of producing the item in the format requested and sending it, with a minimum charge of £5. In certain circumstances the college may waive the charge

5.4 To request information available through our publication scheme, If you are not able to obtain what you require from the website, then please indicate clearly what information you require, and contact :

The Freedom of Information Officer

Boston College

Boston

LINCS

PE21 6JF

Tel 01205 365701

Fax 01205 313252

Email FOI@boston.ac.uk

5.5 Please note that a publication scheme relates to 'published' information. Therefore, material covered has already been prepared in a format ready for distribution.

6. What about information not covered by the publication scheme?

6.1 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.

6.2 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.

7. Feedback

7.1 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 Publication Scheme Co-ordinator below.

The Freedom Of Information Officer

Boston College

Boston

LINCS

PE21 6JF

Tel 01205 365701

Fax 01205 313252

Email FOI@boston.ac.uk

7.2 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

8. Further information

More information about the Freedom of Information Act is available on the Information Commissioner's website at:

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Page Last Updated : 10/05/2010 12:15:57