Whenever you receive an Freedom of Information Request you should:
✅Log the freedom of information request with your DPO. Our customers can log this on our Knowledge Bank platform in the FOI log
✅Check that the request is valid - our customers can contact us for advice
✅Consider and review if you have the information in a recorded format
✅Respond within the timeframe (20 school days or 60 working days if that is sooner)
✅Check when the request was received as this is when the clock starts ticking
✅You can clarify information if you need to if the request is not clear
✅You do not need to respond on the spreadsheet that was sent through
Risks
⚠️Due to the nature of this request, it is likely that the recorded format may include personal data, so you may need to check or ask for further advice⚠️If your provision is specialist or small, then it may be easy to identify a person from the data, so you may need to check or ask for further advice
⚠️If the behaviour is unique and the person could be identified, you may need to check and ask for further advice
Knowledge Bank
Our customers should refer to our Freedom of Information Best Practice Area which includes a template response.All public bodies require a Freedom of Information Policy and Publication Scheme which should be available on their website.
BBC News Request:
Subject: FOI Request - BBC News
Dear Sir/Madam,
Please consider the following request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
BBC News is conducting research into the challenges of handling harmful sexual behaviour in schools. We have received anecdotal evidence of schools facing multiple allegations with little external support – and having to design solutions to safeguard different parties. We hope to better understand the national picture and collate data on trends in this area. Please complete the attached survey, detailing the total number and nature of HSB incidents recorded for each of the last five academic years, including 2024/25 to date. Individual schools will not be named in respect of the information supplied in response to this request - unless this is directly agreed with the BBC, following a response - and students will not be identified.
The categories of HSBs can be found on the below link from paragraphs 458-461:
Yours sincerely,
Chris Bell
Senior Journalist
BBC News