Bishop Burton College

Freedom of Information

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 publication, 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.
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.

Bishop Burton College has adopted the model publication scheme developed for the further education sector and is therefore committed to publishing the information it describes.
The 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 an institution, a number of optional classes of information are included. As a result, models within the sector will vary slightly. Any option classes relevant to us have been included in our scheme.

The college was established in 1954 with the principal aim of serving the training and education needs of the local farming industry. Since that time the diversification and range of courses at the college has grown. Total enrolled students exceed 7,100 per annum.

Accessing Information Covered

The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.
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.
To request information through our publication scheme, please contact the Freedom of Information Manager, Bishop Burton College, Bishop Burton, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 8QG.
Please note that a publication scheme relates to 'published' information. Therefore, material covered has already been prepared in a format ready for distribution.

Information Not Covered

From 1st 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.
Requests will have to be made in writing, 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.

Policy

1 - Governance

This section covers information relating to the way Bishop Burton College is governed and how decisions are made. It includes information on the legal status of the College which individual member of staff or group within the organisation is responsible for specific functions and where they fit in the overall structure of the organisation. In some instances information from committee minutes will be exempt from disclosure where it contains personal information, information that may damage the commercial interests of the institution or that may threaten the health and safety of specific individuals.

1.1 Legal framework

This class contains information relating to how the College was established and its standing from the point of view of the law. Ultimately the corporate status of some FE 'corporations' will be conferred by the relevant statutes, in particular the Education Reform Act of 1988 and the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The actual legislation is often already publicly available, for example on the HMSO web site (www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts.htm) and need not be duplicated.

Every educational institution (University, Further or Higher Education College) has a legal basis, which forms its legal status. This legal status can have been obtained in a variety of ways such as by Instruments and Articles of Government, Charter or an Act of Parliament.

Manner Available: On paper, in the prospectus and on the website.

1.2 How the institution is organised

This class contains information relating to how the individual units of the College are organised and where each unit fits in the overall structure of the College. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Organisational structure charts
Description of work/responsibilities of units

Manner Available: On paper.

1.3 Information on the institutional context

This class should include information to be made available by FE corporations on:

The FE corporation's mission statement
Relevant sections of the FE corporation's corporate plan
Statement of the FE corporation's quality assurance policies and procedures
The FE corporation's learning and teaching strategy and periodic reviews of progress

If some or all of the information listed above appears in another class(es), then cross-reference(s) to where in the publication scheme (PS) it appears should be included here.

Manner Available: On paper.

1.4 Management structure

This class contains information relating to how the institution's management structure is organised and the function and purpose of each part of the management structure. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Description of Statutory Bodies (eg Governing Body, Corporation). In many cases it will be appropriate to list the names of people who are members of the above, as they are matters of public interest
Codes of Conduct for members of governing bodies
Description of the sub-structures and committees supporting them. This may include Academic Boards, Boards of Governors and Steering Groups. These may have 'Standing Orders' that indicate the mode of operation
Objectives on which the structure is based
Terms of reference, membership and mode of operation of all boards and committees in the formal structure
Code of practice for college elections and committee procedures
Minutes and papers of Governing Body, Corporation meetings and Steering Groups etc
Appointment committees and procedures

Manner Available: On paper.

2 - Financial Resources

This section covers information on Bishop Burton College's strategy and management of financial resources. Finance provides accounting, procurement and contracting services, helping to make best use of resources and fulfilling statutory responsibilities. Information that may damage the institution's commercial interests will be excluded from publication.

2.1 Finance

Examples of the type of information in this class include policies and procedures relating to:

Budgets and accounts
Contracting
Goods and services
Insurance
Pensions
Remuneration of senior staff as published in annual accounts
Travel and subsistence

Manner Available: On paper.

2.2 Resource planning

This class should include information that defines how the college undertakes its planning and resource allocation, how it regulates the deployment of resources and how it publishes the outcomes.

Examples of the type of information include:

Financial regulations, including procurement policy
Annual accounts
Annual budget (as appears in the final accounts)
Planning and budgeting procedures
Corporate plan/Mission statement
Annual report

Manner Available: On paper.

3 - Human Resources

This section covers information on Bishop Burton College's strategy and management of human resources, rather than information relating to individual members of staff which is exempt from disclosure as personal information. The information available covers personnel policies and procedures (including terms and conditions of service including all current versions of the information specified in each class).

3.1 Employment and employee relations

Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Policies, statements, procedures and guidelines relating to recruitment
Generic terms and conditions of employment
Salary grades
Collective bargaining procedures and consultation with recognised trade unions and professional organisations, and agreements reached
Grievance procedures and policies
Disciplinary procedures and policies
Harassment and bullying policy
Health and safety policy and procedures
Public interest disclosure (for compliance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act)
Job vacancies
Any other policies relating to staff not included elsewhere in the PS

Manner Available: Electronic.

3.2 Equal opportunities/ Diversity

Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Policies, statements, procedures and guidelines relating to the provision of equal opportunities with respect to age, race/ethnic origin, gender, religion and belief, sexual orientation and disability
Race Relations/Race Equality Policies, as required under the Race Relations Amendment Act of 2000

Manner Available: Electronic.

3.3 Human resources strategy

This class sets out the general aims of the institution, priority areas and plans for addressing them. Examples of the type of information under this class should include any supporting policies and plans that are not covered in the classes specified below.

Manner Available: Electronic.

3.4 Staff development

This class should include information on staff development and training, including induction programmes, probation and appraisal. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Induction - details of areas covered and procedures
Policies and procedures relating to probation
Policies and procedures pertaining to appraisal
Policies and procedures relating to the on-going development of staff, including schemes such as Investors in People
Policies on upgrades and promotions

Manner Available: On paper and electronic.

4 - Physical Resources

Institutions are often substantial land and property owners in their own right. Classes in this section cover information at a strategic level relating to Bishop Burton College's management of its physical resources. Information that provides specific details of the College's future plans to alter its estate (eg proposals to purchase additional property) may be exempt from disclosure where such disclosure would damage the College's commercial interests. [1]

4.1 Estates

Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Estates strategy and plan
Tendering policies
Catering policies
Cleaning policies
Grounds maintenance and upkeep
Building maintenance and upkeep
Recycling policies
Disposal policies
Map of main site
Address of main site and any other locations

[1] The types of information and documents listed in the classes are examples only and not mandatory, eg 'Cleaning policies'.

Manner Available: On paper.

5 - Student Admin and Support

This section contains information on how Bishop Burton College manages the administration and progression of their students from admission to course completion, including student support services. Information available within this section does not include specific student personal details, by virtue of being personal information.

5.1 Information on student admission, progression and completion

This class should include information recommended to be made available by the Cooke report under this heading (as above) [2]:

Student qualifications on entry
The range of student entrants classified by age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability and geographical origin as returned to LSC
Student progression, retention and completion data
Data on qualifications awarded to students
Data on employment/training outcomes for graduates/students

Manner Available: In the prospectus.

5.2 Student accommodation

This class should include information relating to:

Accommodation services

Manner Available: On the website.

5.3 Student administration

This class should include information relating to all areas of the maintenance of individual student records, including policies and procedures covering the management of the student records system itself, the division of responsibilities between central registry staff, school/faculty/college staff and the students themselves. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Registry student records policies and procedures documents
Registry security and data protection policy and procedure documents

Manner Available: On paper.

5.4 Student admission and enrolment

This class should include information relating to the admission/enrolment of new students, including policies and procedures covering the assessment of external qualifications, the creation of student records, the coordination of student funding arrangements and the division of responsibilities between central admissions or equivalent and college/school/faculty staff. An example of the type of information in this class is:

Admissions and enrolment policies and procedures documents

Manner Available: On paper.

5.5 Student discipline

This class should include information relating to the conduct of disciplinary proceedings against students. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Code of student discipline and other policy and procedure documents
Internal student complaint and appeals procedures

Manner Available: On the website.

5.6 Student learning support services

This class should include information on student support services from an academic and learning perspective, particularly those not covered under Information Services. This will also likely appear in the Student Handbook and Prospectus in some form. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Learning development and support
Personal development advice
Services for students with special needs

Manner Available: On paper.

5.7 Student liaison

This class should include information relating to the structure and functioning of staff/student consultative committees or other liaison groups. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Terms of reference of staff/student liaison committee(s)
Minutes of previous staff/student liaison
committee(s) meetings

Manner Available: On paper.

5.8 Student policies

This class should include a guide to all student policies issued by the College:

Policies relating to students not included elsewhere in the PS
Reference to student policies included elsewhere in the PS

Manner Available: On paper.

5.9 Student welfare

Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Manner Available: On paper.

5.10 Student Associations and Activities

This class should contain information relating to the operation and activities of the Students' Union and other clubs, associations and non-academic activities that are organised for or by the students. Examples of information include:

Students' Union Constitution, Code of Practice, List of Officers and any other related documents

[2] Where applicable for colleges who carry out HE work. Information on quality and standards in higher education: Final report of the Task Group, HEFCE 02/15 March Report, 2002 (Cooke report)

Manner Available: On paper.

6 - Information Services

This section covers those functions within Bishop Burton College that provide access to information to the student body and both academic and administrative staff. These include libraries, computing services and information support services.

Such functions may be managed separately from each other, or in various combinations. These services routinely explain their facilities (and the conditions of their use) to students, staff and the general public, it is information of this nature that is included within this section. Information services inevitably hold large quantities of personal data that are exempt from general disclosure.

6.1 Availability and conditions of use of facilities

Information in these classes provides details about who can access systems and services and the facilities that they can access. They also provide assurance for external bodies/individuals that rules exist to ensure that breaches of conditions of use (eg breach of copyright, email spamming of an external site) are appropriately dealt with. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Opening hours of libraries, helpdesks, etc, scheduled maintenance times of systems
Who is allowed to use the facilities (for example, categories of persons and their associated rights/levels of access)
The general rules and conditions of use (eg no smoking/drinking/eating, the existence of policies with regard to law such as copyright, computing code of practice, data protection). For other student policies, see reference to other relevant student in PS
Some of the information may be covered in the student registration details or staff conditions of employment, but it will be necessary to advise how other categories are accepted as users, eg
temporary staff, short course or conference use, 'taster sessions' etc.
There should be a pointer to other codes of conduct or rules external to the institution which may apply to the user) eg JANET acceptable use rules, Athens registration rules)
Access to/use of Archives, including how far back in time information exists and if so to what extent it is available
Details of logging, monitoring and procedures followed in case of breach of conditions of use

Manner Available: On paper, On the VLE, Intranet and website.

6.2 Mission statements and related documents

This class should include information regarding the aims of the department in context of its place in the organisation, a definition of the service provided and, where appropriate, service level agreements.

Manner Available: On paper.

6.3 Policies with regard to data and information

Information in this class offers assurances to data subjects, whether they are individuals or companies that deal with the College, that data relating to them is being handled well, minimising the risk of unauthorised access or disclosure. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Security policies (ie how the data is protected). It could be argued that provision of information on this could risk a crime being committed, so it might be exempt or certain parts would not be published. (This is only really an issue where the security policy is explicit enough to include detailed description of implementation. Clearly disclosure of this sort of information could potentially lead to a crime under the Computer Misuse Act)
Data retention and archive policies (how long it is kept for, what happens to it after the need for it has passed, anonymising data to keep for statistics)
Data protection statements/policies
Policies on CCTV monitoring, RIPA etc

Manner Available: On paper, On the VLE and Intranet.

6.4 Procurement and disposal policies

Information in this class offers assurances that monies are being appropriately spent and assurances that procurement is fair and open. The disposal policies also assure that the College is making correct and appropriate use of funds. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Policies relating to the procurement and disposal of equipment
Collection management/preservation strategy (including policy on disposal of stock)

Manner Available: On paper.

6.5 Scope of collections held

Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Guides to collections
Scope and availability of catalogues

Manner Available: On paper and Intranet.

7 - Teaching and Learning

This section contains information regarding the management of teaching and learning within the institution, including mechanisms for reviewing and ensuring the quality of teaching provided.

7.1 Academic year dates

This class should include information on the dates for the current academic year as well as future academic years (as far as is known).

Manner Available: On paper.

7.2 Further course information

This class should include information relating to particular schools and departments, also information relating to programmes and qualifications. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Term dates
Structure of courses
Qualification gained
Changing courses
Work experience

Manner Available: On paper.

7.3 Information on internal procedures for assuring academic quality and standards

This class should include information about the College's internal quality audit programmes and annual review. It should also include information on the FE college's internal procedures for assuring academic quality and standards. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Programme specifications
Annual monitoring and review processes
Accreditation and monitoring reports by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies

Information on assessment procedures and outcomes:
Assessment strategies, processes and procedures
The range and nature of student work

Information on student satisfaction with their college experience, covering the views of students on:
Arrangements for academic and tutorial guidance, support and supervision
Library services and IT support
Suitability of accommodation, equipment and facilities for teaching and learning
Perceptions of the quality of teaching and the range of teaching and learning methods
Assessment arrangements
Quality of pastoral support

Information and evidence available to teams undertaking internal reviews of quality and standards in relation to:
The effectiveness of teaching and learning, in relation to programme aims and curriculum content as they evolve over time
The range of teaching methods used
The availability and use of specialist equipment and other resources and materials to support teaching and learning
Staff access to professional development to improve teaching performance, including peer observation and mentoring programmes
The use of external benchmarking and other comparators

Manner Available: On paper.

7.4 Staffing structure of schools/ departments

This class should include information about staff roles within schools and departments, together with organisational charts. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Job titles of academic staff and support staff
Contact details for each school/department

Manner Available: On paper.

7.5 Student assessment strategy

This class should include information on the regulations and/or policy governing student assessment. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Examination periods
Examination regulations
Appeal procedures
Policy on plagiarism
External examination bodies

Manner Available: On paper.

7.6 Tuition fees

This class should include information relating to tuition fees for UK students, EU students and other international students, including information on when tuition fees will be payable and how to pay. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Information for home/EU students
Information for international students
Information on other charges

Manner Available: On paper and website.

8 - External Relations

This section covers information relating to Bishop Burton College's relationship with its external environment. These include the formal reports the College is required to provide to its funding bodies,

Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) - www.hefce.ac.uk/
Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) - www.ali.gov.uk/
Learning and Skills Council (LSC) - www.lsc.gov.uk/

arrangements with other institutions, how it manages its relationship with the local community and how it retains contact with its former staff and students.

8.1 Community liaison

This class contains information about the Bishop Burton College's relationship with their local community. The information included within this class represents the institution's approach to maintaining and fostering that relationship. An example of the type of information in this class is:

Policies relating to the institution's community relations

Manner Available: On paper.

8.2 Fundraising

Information included within this class relates to the activities undertaken by the institution to raise additional revenue to that provided by its main funding bodies. An example of the type of information in this class is:

Promotional material relating to institutional fundraising objectives including plans, prospectus etc, where their release would not damage the commercial interests of the institution

Manner Available: On paper.

8.3 Government and Regulator relations

This class relates to the information that the College is legally obliged to make available to its funding and/or monitoring bodies.

Ofsted - www.ofsted.gov.uk/
Department for Education and Skills (DFES) - www.dfes.gov.uk/

Such material may provide information as to how well the institution is performing. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Reports/returns to funding councils, inspectorates, standards bodies, research councils, professional bodies, government departments etc
OFSTED Inspections (for FE), Teaching Quality Assessment and Research Assessment Exercise Policies (see also Teaching and Learning)

Manner Available: On paper.

8.4 Marketing and recruitment

This class should include publications relating to student recruitment (UK and International), including the college prospectus. It will also include information related to the learning experience. There will be some overlap with Student Administration and Support. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Prospectus
Open days
Entry requirements
Widening participation

Manner Available: On paper.

8.5 Public relations

This class should contain information that is created specifically by the College to help publicise its facilities and activities. The majority of such information will have been created for prospective and current students but may still be of considerable interest to those wishing to know more about what the College has to offer and the activities of its students and staff. Examples of the type of information in this class include:

Press releases
Prospectus
Course brochures
Newsletters and magazines
Current information provided to an enrolled student

Manner Available: On paper.