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Publication scheme
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
Deeside 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 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 institutions 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.
3.3
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 at: www.jisc.ac.uk
4. Who we are
With extensive partnership links across Wales , the UK and internationally, Deeside College is a leading and wide-ranging provider of education, training, development and consultancy.
Deeside College draws considerable strength from its ability to provide modern and flexible learning environments. The college is working in partnership with local and national employers, with private training providers, secondary schools and the voluntary sector, to ensure that learning provision meets the needs of both the local community and businesses across Wales and Britain .
Deeside College has over 20,000 enrolments based around its main campus in Connah's Quay and over 20 learning centres across the local communities of Flintshire. In addition, the college has set up 3 learning centres with local employers at Airbus UK, Corus Colors and Castle Cement.
In recent years, annual turnover has increased significantly from £6.7m in 1997 to over £18m at present. This represents a tremendous boost to the local economy.
On 4 June 2003 , the Deeside College Centre of Engineering Excellence was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The centre provides local industry with the latest high technology training services in the motor vehicle, aero-engineering, electrical/electronic, fabrication and welding and gas installation fields. Specialist electronic, optronic and avionic equipment has been installed within the new workshops and laboratories at the college.
International consultancy and development work continues and Deeside College has strong links with other educational institutions and business networks in South Africa, USA, Germany and Finland, to name but a few.
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.
5.2
All the information contained in our publication scheme is available electronically. A charge, inclusive of Second Class Postage, will be made for documents provided in paper format and this will be reviewed on an annual basis. Details of individual publication costs will be provided upon request but an example of charges is shown below for information:
| Band A (Up to 10 A4 Sheets) |
Band B (11 - 50 A4 Sheets) | Band C (Over 50 A4 Sheets) |
|---|---|---|
| £1.00 | £5.00 | £10.00 |
Deeside College is committed to ensuring that disabled people, including those with learning differences, are treated fairly. All reasonable adjustments will be made to information provided to ensure that disabled people are not substantially disadvantaged. Information can also be provided through the medium of Welsh if required.
5.3
To request information available through our publication scheme, please contact:
The Freedom of Information Officer
c/o The Principal's Office
Deeside College
Kelsterton Road
Connah's Quay
Deeside
Flintshire CH5 4BR.
Tel 01244-834521
Fax 01244-810251
Email foi@deeside.ac.uk
5.4
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 at the following address:
The Freedom of Information Officer
c/o The Principal's Office
Deeside College
Kelsterton Road
Connah's Quay
Deeside
Flintshire CH5 4BR.
Tel 01244-834521
Fax 01244-810251
Email foi@deeside.ac.uk
7.2
If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, the independent body which oversees the Freedom of Information Act as the following address:
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
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: www.scotland.gov.uk/government/foi
Part 2:. Main categories
- 1. Governance
- 2. Financial resources
- 3. Human resources
- 4. Physical resources
- 5. Student administration and support
- 6. Information services
- 7. Teaching and learning
- 8. External relations
MAIN CATEGORIES
- 1. Governance
- 2. Financial resources
- 3. Human resources
- 4. Physical resources
- 5. Student administration and support
- 6. Information services
- 7. Teaching and learning
- 8. External relations
