Freedom of Information Requests
Please see the ICO: 'Guide to Freedom of Information'
Below are the requests for information that we have received under the Freedom of Information Act.
Click a question heading to expand the answer.
The cost of your energy bill for the 2017-18 financial year, for electricity and gas.
Electricity Spend 2017/18 - £66,328
Gas Spend 2017/18 - £27,913
Gas Spend 2017/18 - £27,913
The unit rate and standing charge you are currently being charged by your energy supplier.
Current Electricity Price - Half Hourly meters
Meter 1
Day rate 10.562 p/kWh
Night rate 7.083 p/kWh
Standing charge 2.404 £/month
Capacity charge 1.065 £/KVA/month
Meter 2
Day rate 10.903 p/kWh
Night rate 7.063 p/kWh
Standing charge 2.404 £/month
Capacity charge 1.065 £KVA/month
Current Gas price - Unit rate 2.1543
Meter 1 standing charge - £2.45 /day
Meter 2 standing charge - £0.89 / day
Meter 2 standing charge - £19.04 / day
Meter 1
Day rate 10.562 p/kWh
Night rate 7.083 p/kWh
Standing charge 2.404 £/month
Capacity charge 1.065 £/KVA/month
Meter 2
Day rate 10.903 p/kWh
Night rate 7.063 p/kWh
Standing charge 2.404 £/month
Capacity charge 1.065 £KVA/month
Current Gas price - Unit rate 2.1543
Meter 1 standing charge - £2.45 /day
Meter 2 standing charge - £0.89 / day
Meter 2 standing charge - £19.04 / day
The name of your supplier for electricity and gas, for each year as far back as possible without incurring unreasonable cost or working time for you.
Electricity Suppliers
NPower from approx. 2010 to 2013
Scottish Power 2013 to date
Gas Supplier
West Mercia Energy 2010 to date
NPower from approx. 2010 to 2013
Scottish Power 2013 to date
Gas Supplier
West Mercia Energy 2010 to date
Have you, or do you intend to, apply to set up a satellite site or annex? If so, please could you let me know where you intend to set up such a site, for how many pupils, and when?
We do not intend to set up a satellite site or annex.
Have you applied for, or do you intend to apply for, capital funding to expand? If so, please let me know how much you have applied for, or intend to apply for, for 2018-19, 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
Due to rules on the funding of the expansion of selective schools we are not able to apply for capital funding to expand.
Do you plan to increase your planned admission number over the next four years? If so, please let me know the current PAN for 2017-18, and the intended PAN for 2018-19, 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
We plan to increase our PAN from 120 to 150 for 2018-19 therefore our PAN in the years you have selected is planned to be 120 in 2017-18, 150 in 2018-19, 150 in 2019-2020, 150 in 2020-2021 and 150 in 2021-2022.
The home-to-school distance of the last successful applicant, assuming distance was used to allocate this place.
This was not used to allocate this place.
The admission criterion under which the last successful applicant was admitted.
The last successful applicant was admitted on the basis of their qualifying rank in the Entrance Test.
The number of unsuccessful on-time applicants remaining on the school’s waiting list (if any).
We have four boys remaining on the waiting list.
The total number of Reception places offered for September 2017
As a secondary school, we do not offer Reception places. We offered 120 Year 7 places and on allocation day we had 18 boys on the waiting list, eight of whom susequently gained a place through the appeal process.
A request for information on the outcome of pay increase decisions taken for September 2017 for teachers in your school.
The school implemented a 1% pay increase to all pay ranges.
The lowest placed rank for each year of entry is as follows:
September 2017 entry Down to rank 265
September 2016 entry Down to rank 275 *
September 2015 entry Down to rank 205
September 2014 entry Down to rank 223 #
September 2013 entry Down to rank 192 #
September 2012 entry Down to rank 199 #
September 2011 entry Down to rank 235 #
* Some Gloucestershire Grammar Schools increased the number of qualifying Year 7 pupils they admitted in September 2016. As a result, there was an increase in how far down the rankings places were allocated in all Grammar Schools across the county.
# Entrance was based on achieving a minimum pass mark and applicants were not given a rank. However, we have calculated the rank equivalent for these years.
September 2017 entry Down to rank 265
September 2016 entry Down to rank 275 *
September 2015 entry Down to rank 205
September 2014 entry Down to rank 223 #
September 2013 entry Down to rank 192 #
September 2012 entry Down to rank 199 #
September 2011 entry Down to rank 235 #
* Some Gloucestershire Grammar Schools increased the number of qualifying Year 7 pupils they admitted in September 2016. As a result, there was an increase in how far down the rankings places were allocated in all Grammar Schools across the county.
# Entrance was based on achieving a minimum pass mark and applicants were not given a rank. However, we have calculated the rank equivalent for these years.
The number of children admitted to Sir Thomas Rich’s following an appeal. Please list the number for each current year group
Please see attached document.
How many children sat an entrance exam for your school in the last 3 years
We can now report that 796 boys sat the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools test in September 2016
How many children passed the entrance exam for you school in each of the last 3 years that data is available
We can now report that 318 boys who sat the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools test* in September 2016 met the qualifying standard for Sir Thomas Rich’s.
How many children eligible for free school meals sat an entrance exam for your school in the last 3 years
Our Admissions Policy sets out the criteria for entry to Sir Thomas Rich’s. As eligibility for Free School Meals has not been included within our policy, we do not collect this data for the testing and results process.
How many children eligible for free school meals passed the entrance exam for you school in each of the last 3 years
Our Admissions Policy sets out the criteria for entry to Sir Thomas Rich’s. As eligibility for Free School Meals has not been included within our policy, we do not collect this data for the testing and results process.
How many children eligible for free school meals who passed the entrance exam received a place at your school?
Due to the low numbers involved in each year group individual children would be identifiable. Therefore, this information is personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998
What is your DfE URN?
136306
How did you advertise your most recent vacancy for an English teacher?
Internally and Externally
On what date was the first advertisement for the most recent vacancy for an English teacher placed?
2 April 2015
Through which channels did you advertise for the most recent vacancy for an English teacher?
The Gloucestershire County Council online Job Board, School Website, E-Teach, Gloucester Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo, TES.
How did you advertise your most recent vacancy for an Maths teacher?
Internally and Externally
On what date was the first advertisement for the most recent vacancy for an Maths teacher placed?
18/11/2016
Through which channels did you advertise for the most recent vacancy for an Maths teacher?
The Gloucestershire County Council online Job Board, School Website, E-Teach, Gloucester Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo, TES.
What are the admission criteria for entry to the Sixth Form?
5 GCSE grades at A/7 or above
The postcodes of residence of pupils on the current school roll at Sir Thomas Rich’s School
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Total | |
| BS4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BS5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BS15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BS16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| BS32 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| BS34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BS35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| GL1 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 85 |
| GL2 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 25 | 111 |
| GL3 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 90 |
| GL4 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 15 | 70 |
| GL5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| GL6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| GL7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 27 |
| GL8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| GL10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| GL11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| GL12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| GL14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 19 |
| GL15 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 19 |
| GL16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| GL17 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| GL18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| GL19 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 22 |
| GL20 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 53 |
| GL50 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 39 |
| GL51 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 26 | 25 | 107 |
| GL52 | 13 | 15 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 124 |
| GL53 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 86 |
| GL54 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 22 |
| HR1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| HR8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| HR9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| NP16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| NP25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| NP26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| OX18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| SN1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| SN2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| SN3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| SN4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| SN5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| SN6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| SN16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| SN25 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| WR8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| WR12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| WR13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
It is my understanding that your school has never had the requirement for students to get B grades at AS level, or equivalent internal exams, to progress in to year 13.
I can confirm that Sir Thomas Rich’s School has never had the requirement for students to get B grades at AS level, or equivalent internal exams, to progress in to Year 13.
How many reports of biphobic, homophobic and transphobic bullying were reported in your school in each year from 2010 up to and including the year ending in 2018
2010-2011 - No incidents reported
2011-2012 - No incidents reported
2012-2013 - No incidents reported
2013-2014 - One incident recorded involved homophobic language. Restorative talk and whole class talk.
2014-2015 - One incident recorded including cyber-bullying and homophobic language. Sanctions and parental contact.
2015-2016 - Two incidents recorded involved bullying using homophobic language. Sanctions and parental contact in both cases.
2016-2017 - No incidents reported
2017-2018 - No incidents reported to date
2011-2012 - No incidents reported
2012-2013 - No incidents reported
2013-2014 - One incident recorded involved homophobic language. Restorative talk and whole class talk.
2014-2015 - One incident recorded including cyber-bullying and homophobic language. Sanctions and parental contact.
2015-2016 - Two incidents recorded involved bullying using homophobic language. Sanctions and parental contact in both cases.
2016-2017 - No incidents reported
2017-2018 - No incidents reported to date
1. Please provide the number of children who were accepted into your grammar school in 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16
2. Please provide the number of admissions appeals submitted to your grammar school for 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16
3. Please provide the number of successful appeals made to your grammar school where the children met the academic standard and reasons.
4. Please provide the number of successful appeals made to your grammar school where the children did not meet the academic standard and reasons for admission.
I can confirm that Sir Thomas Rich’s does hold the following information:
Whilst we acknowledge that we hold the information relating to the reasons for successful / unsuccessful appeals for 2014 and 2015 Entry, these records are exempt from disclosure under section 40 (2) and (3) (a) (i) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The information we are able to disclose is as follows:
I can confirm that Sir Thomas Rich’s School does not hold the following information:
We do not hold the reasons for successful / unsuccessful appeals for 2013 Entry for either qualifying or non-qualifying appellants.
- number of children who were accepted into Year 7 at Sir Thomas Rich’s School in September 2013, September 2014 and September 2015.
- number of Y7 appeals lodged for 2013 Entry, 2014 Entry and 2015 Entry.
- number of successful appeals made to Sir Thomas Rich’s School where appellants met the qualifying standard in the entrance test. We do hold the reasons for successful appeals for 2014 and 2015 Entry.
- number of successful appeals made to Sir Thomas Rich’s School where appellants did not meet the qualifying standard in the entrance test. We do hold the reasons for unsuccessful appeals for 2014 and 2015 Entry.
Whilst we acknowledge that we hold the information relating to the reasons for successful / unsuccessful appeals for 2014 and 2015 Entry, these records are exempt from disclosure under section 40 (2) and (3) (a) (i) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The information we are able to disclose is as follows:
| 2013 Entry | 2014 Entry | 2015 Entry | |
| Students who joined Y7 in Sept each year of entry | 111 | 112 | 119 |
| Appeals Lodged | 28 | 35 | 32 |
| Successful Appeals who met the qualifying standard | 5 | 6 | 13 |
| Successful Appears who did not met the qualifying standard | 4 | 5 | 1 |
I can confirm that Sir Thomas Rich’s School does not hold the following information:
We do not hold the reasons for successful / unsuccessful appeals for 2013 Entry for either qualifying or non-qualifying appellants.
Please provide the following:
The number of candidates that have sat an entrance exam to attend your school in each year since 2010
The number of candidates that have passed the entrance exam to attend your school in each year since 2010
The number of candidates that have been offered a place at your school in each year since 2010
The number of pupils on roll that attend your school that previously attended an independent school in each year since 2010
| Date of Test | Year of Entry | Number Who Sat Test | Number Met Qualitying Standard | Number Offered # |
| Autumn 2009 | September 2010 | Information not held. Pre-Academy Status. Testing was organised by Gloucestershire County Council. | ||
| Autumn 2010 | September 2011 | Information not held. Pre-Academy Status. Testing was organised by Gloucestershire County Council. | ||
| Autumn 2011 | September 2012 | 742 | 235 | 107 * |
| Autumn 2012 | September 2013 | 683 | 259 | 108 |
| Autumn 2013 | September 2014 | 727 | 265 | 108 |
| Autumn 2014 | September 2015 | 726 | 298 | 108 |
| Autumn 2015 | September 2016 | 794 | 279 | 120 ~ |
* PAN was 108, but insufficient pupils met the qualifying standard.
~ Increase in PAN to 120
Number of pupils who had previously attended a fee-paying independent school:
2010 - 17 boys in Y7 cohort
2011 - 14 boys in Y7 cohort
2012 - 14 boys in Y7 cohort
2013 - 19 boys in Y7 cohort
2014 - 16 boys in Y7 cohort
2015 - 24 boys in Y7 cohort
2016 - 18 boys in Y7 cohort
I request that you provide information about the number of children who took the 11plus exam at grammar schools in your area, together with the number of passes and fails, and the number of subsequent appeals.
I require this information for 2016 and for each of the years 2015-2010 inclusive.
| Date of Entry | Lodged | Withdrawn | Refused | Allowed |
| September 2010 * | 26 | 5 | 13 | 8 |
| September 2011 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
| September 2012 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| September 2013 | 28 | 0 | 20 | 8 |
| September 2014 | 34 | 0 | 24 | 10 |
| September 2015 | 32 | 3 | 15 | 14 |
| September 2016 | 27 | 0 | 22 | 5 |
* These appeals were held prior to the School becoming an Academy and were therefore arranged by Gloucestershire County Council. This is the information provided to the School by GCC, but we have no way of verifying its accuracy.
What is the total amount your school had spent on supply teachers in each academic year since 2010/2011?
What is the average daily rate of a supply teacher each academic year since 2010/2011?
| Year | Total sum spent on supply | Estimated daily rate of a supply teacher |
| 2010/2011 | £15940 | £120.70 |
| 2011/2012 | £17783 | £122.00 |
| 2012/2013 | £12534 | £123.30 |
| 2013/2014 | £12734 | £124.60 |
| 2014/2015 | £7776 | £125.90 |
| 2015/2016 | £9481 | £127.20 |
The first three or four letters and figures of the postcode and the number of pupils resident in each of these areas:
With regard to your request, we have provided the data for the majority of pupils. However, for some postcode areas, due to the low numbers involved, individual children would be identifiable. Therefore, this information is personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998. As it is information about someone else by law, I am unable to give this to you.
Data is attached here.
Data is attached here.
Please provide details of whether your academy will provide sex and relationship education in the 2016-17 academic year;
Please provide details of at what age pupils at your academy will receive sex and relationship education in the 2016-17 academic year;
Please provide details of how many hours per term of sex and relationship education your pupils will receive in the 2016-17 academic year;
Please provide the number of pupils enrolled at your academy for the 2016-17 academic year.
We do intend to provide sex and relationship education to Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 with a maximum provision of 10 hours per term – our current roll is 995 pupils.
For each of the following years, how much has your school spent on advertisements for teaching positions a) 2010/11 b) 2011/12 c) 2012/13 d) 2013/14 e) 2014/15?
2010/11 - £4851
2011/12 - £10013
2012/13 - £9044
2013/14 - £11075
2014/15 - £8229
2011/12 - £10013
2012/13 - £9044
2013/14 - £11075
2014/15 - £8229
For each of these years, how much of this amount was spent on re-advertisements for teaching positions (where the position had not been filled following the first advertisement)?
We have not spent any money on re-advertisements.
In your school, how many non-specialists (those without a relevant post A-level qualification) are teaching a) Maths b) English c) Science d) History e) Geography e) Modern Foreign Languages?
a) Maths – all teachers are specialists.
b) English – all teachers are specialists.
c) Science – none of our Computing Teachers have Computer Science Qualifications beyond A-level. Computer Science is currently only delivered to Key Stage 3 although GCSE Computer Science will be taught to Year 10 next year. All other Science teachers are specialists.
d) History – one teacher of Key Stage 3 History is primarily an English teacher and only has a History A-level. All other History teachers are specialists.
e) Geography – all teachers are specialists.
f) MFL – all teachers are specialists.
b) English – all teachers are specialists.
c) Science – none of our Computing Teachers have Computer Science Qualifications beyond A-level. Computer Science is currently only delivered to Key Stage 3 although GCSE Computer Science will be taught to Year 10 next year. All other Science teachers are specialists.
d) History – one teacher of Key Stage 3 History is primarily an English teacher and only has a History A-level. All other History teachers are specialists.
e) Geography – all teachers are specialists.
f) MFL – all teachers are specialists.
How many teaching vacancies does your school currently have in a) Maths b) English c) Science d) History e) Geography e) Modern Foreign Languages f) overall?
We do not currently have any vacancies for teaching staff.
Does your school use classroom management software? If so please specify the type of software and its capabilities.
We have not purchased any software designed for the purposes of classroom management. Our language laboratory has SANAKO software which has some classroom management capabilities which are incidental to its main purpose.
How much has your school spent on this software?
We have not spent any money on software designed specifically for this purpose.
The number of devices that the software has been installed on, please provide the following breakdown: School-owned devices, Pupil-owned devices.
School-owned devices: There are 30 machines with SANAKO installed on them; Pupil-owned devices: Zero
Does the school obtain consent from parents before installing the software on pupil owned devices?
We do not install software on pupil owned devices.
Copies of any documentation relating to the use of classroom management software in your school.
The only relevant documentation would be the school’s ICT policy which can be found on the school website.
"The numbers of pupils in each of the years Y7, Y8, Y9, Y10 and Y11 (for academic year 2015/2016) who are eligible for Free School Meals"
With regard to your request for the number of pupils eligible for Free School Meals in each of the Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, we have carefully considered this part of your request and have come to the decision that due to the low numbers involved in each year group individual children would be identifiable. Therefore, this information is personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998. As it is information about someone else by law, I am unable to give this to you. (As you are not the data subject, release of this information would constitute a breach of principle 1 of the Data Protection Act. Principle 1 states that personal data shall be processed (used) fairly and lawfully and, in particular, shall not be processed unless at least one of the conditions in Schedule 2 is met; in this case none of the conditions in Schedule 2 have been met.)
This means that the section 40 exemption of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) is engaged; this email therefore acts as a refusal notice under section 17 of the FoIA as some of the information you have requested is exempt from disclosure.
However, I can inform you that 9 pupils within the years 7-11 inclusive are currently entitled to Free School Meals.
This means that the section 40 exemption of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) is engaged; this email therefore acts as a refusal notice under section 17 of the FoIA as some of the information you have requested is exempt from disclosure.
However, I can inform you that 9 pupils within the years 7-11 inclusive are currently entitled to Free School Meals.
“The numbers of pupils in Y7, Y8, &9, Y10 and Y11 (for academic year 2015/2016) who attended fee-paying private primary schools prior to attending Sir Thomas Rich’s School”
With regard to your request for the numbers of pupils who attended fee-paying private primary schools, prior to attending Sir Thomas Rich’s, I can provide the following information:
- Current Year 7 = 24 pupils; Current Year 8 = 16 pupils; Current Year 9 = 19 pupils; Current Year 10 = 14 pupils; Current Year 11 = 14 pupils
We do not hold this information for all pupils at our School as some have joined us from overseas or as an In Year Admission from another secondary school.
- Current Year 7 = 24 pupils; Current Year 8 = 16 pupils; Current Year 9 = 19 pupils; Current Year 10 = 14 pupils; Current Year 11 = 14 pupils
We do not hold this information for all pupils at our School as some have joined us from overseas or as an In Year Admission from another secondary school.
How many children from your 2014 intake went to private/independent primary schools? (ie. Did NOT come from the state sector)
I can confirm that of the 113 boys admitted to Year 7 in September 2014, 16 had attended a private/independent primary school.
I am writing to obtain information about the number of your employees at your school who received remuneration of more than £100,000 in 2013-14.
I can confirm the number of employees at our school who received remuneration of more than £100,000 in 2013-14 is NIL. This information is included in our end of year accounts.
I would like to know which primary schools all children currently on the roll at Sir Thomas Rich’s School attended in Y6.
Please see the data in this PDF.
I would like to know the primary schools attended by children registered to take the entrance exam at Sir Thomas Rich’s on Saturday September 13, 2014
Please see the data in this PDF.
I would like to know the number of children from each primary school, and their year of entry to Sir Thomas Rich’s school.
We have carefully considered this part of your request and have come to the decision that due to the low numbers involved individual children would be identifiable. Therefore, this information is personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998. As it is information about someone else by law, We are unable to give this to you.
Please inform me of the cost structure for 11+ testing that has been agreed with Durham University's CEM entre for Evaluation and Monitoring for 11+ testing this year.
We can confirm that we hold the information relating to the detail of the cost structure for 11+ testing that has been agreed with Durham University’s CEM Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring this year.
However we consider that disclosure of such information would prejudice the commercial interests of Durham University. Accordingly we consider that the exemption under s43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies. The information requested would enable competitors of the University to obtain an understanding of the structure and level of charges made to the school for the tests, which would not otherwise be available to the University about its competitors. This would lead to competitors having an unfair advantage, and would therefore potentially prejudice the commercial interests of Durham University.
Thereafter we considered the public interest test (s43 is a qualified exemption) but do not consider there is an overriding public interest in providing the information. There is a general public interest in understanding how Schools spend their funds, but this would not be furthered by the release of the information that has been withheld here. We see no other genuine public interest in the information that has been requested that would override the ability of the University to carry out its commercial functions on a level playing field, which could be damaged by the release of the information requested.
However we consider that disclosure of such information would prejudice the commercial interests of Durham University. Accordingly we consider that the exemption under s43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies. The information requested would enable competitors of the University to obtain an understanding of the structure and level of charges made to the school for the tests, which would not otherwise be available to the University about its competitors. This would lead to competitors having an unfair advantage, and would therefore potentially prejudice the commercial interests of Durham University.
Thereafter we considered the public interest test (s43 is a qualified exemption) but do not consider there is an overriding public interest in providing the information. There is a general public interest in understanding how Schools spend their funds, but this would not be furthered by the release of the information that has been withheld here. We see no other genuine public interest in the information that has been requested that would override the ability of the University to carry out its commercial functions on a level playing field, which could be damaged by the release of the information requested.
Please inform me the current cost per additional paper that has to be marked, eg if 1000 extra candidates sit the test, what is the extra cost? Else what was the cost per additional paper?
Information not held. Additional cost is calculated based on a number of variables including the number of additional papers to be marked.
What formula is used to distribute the cost of testing between grammar schools?
The formula is based on where the candidates sit the test.
Please provide me with any evidence the University of Durham provided to the schools claiming that its tests were resistant to preparation and tests innate ability.
We do not hold this information
CEM design their tests to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without excessive preparation." What evidence do you have or were given. Was the evidence independently verified?
We do not hold this information
On what date did you last carry out a full consultation, in line with the Admission Code 1.44 requirement to consult every 7 years in full with with a) parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen; b) other persons in the relevant area who in the opinion of the admission authority have an interest in the proposed admissions; c) all other admission authorities etc?
We last consulted during the six weeks from 2/10/2017. Further details can be found at https://strschool.co.uk/admissions/consultation
On what date do you next intend to carry out a full consultation in line with Admissions Code point 1.44?
We have not yet planned our next consultation.
In your last year of admissions did you use an admission criteria prioritising disadvantaged pupils e.g. pupil premium or FSM?
No, but for 2018 entry the criteria changed to prioritise qualifying pupils who were eligible for Pupil Premium https://strschool.co.uk/about/policies/Admissions%20Policy%20Y7-11%202018%20entry.pdf
Are you planning any changes to your admission criteria involving disadvantaged pupils next year?
This information is publicly available in our admissions policy for 2018 entry which can be found at https://strschool.co.uk/about/policies/Admissions%20Policy%20Y7-11%202018%20entry.pdf
Who was the admissions test provider in 2017
CEM Assessments (University of Durham)
Can you give details of the admissions test format: What subject areas are covered by the papers? How are the subject areas weighted? How much time is given per paper?
The information we are able to give about this can be found at https://strschool.co.uk/admissions/GGSH-Common-FAQ-2016-Entry.pdf. We are unable to give out any further information as it would compromise the integrity of the test.
How many children who achieved the qualifying score in 2017 were eligible for Pupil Premium or FSM
2
How many appeals for places were there in your last admission round for Year and How many pupils were successful on appeal?
This information is publicly available as part of a previous FOI disclosure and can be found at https://strschool.co.uk/about/foirequests/Success-of-previous-appeals.pdf
Could you detail any physical plans to expand your school buildings that have been discussed in the last 18 months. Have you approached the DfE, local authority, or other body about expansion on a) another site to where your main building is situated b) your current school site.
We currently have no physical plans to expand our school buildings.