A Guide to the Publication Scheme, May 2012

Harlow College has adopted the Model Publication Scheme developed for the Further Education sector and approved by the Information Commissioner in October 2008.

This guide has been produced as a requirement of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and provides a description of the “clauses” or type of information we make available.

Information to be made available by Harlow College

1. Who we are and what we do
   Organisational information, structures, locations, contacts
2. What we earn and how we spend it
   Published accounts
3. What our priorities are and how we are doing
   Strategies and plans, performance indicators, inspections and reviews, benchmarking data, teaching and learning strategies.
4. How we make decisions
   Decision-making processes, records of decisions
5. Our policies and procedures
   Current written policies and procedures for delivery of College services and responsibilities.
6. Lists and registers
   Currently maintained lists and registers only.
7. The Services we offer
   Prospectuses, leaflets, advice and guidance, newsletters

We cannot make information available if:

• The College does not hold the information
• The disclosure is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure
• Information in a draft form
• Information is no longer readily available as it is contained in archive storage or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

The model publication scheme and definition document for Further Education Colleges can be viewed here.

How to obtain information

We ask that requests are made in writing and a response will normally be made within 20 working days.

• By e-mail:
• In writing to: The Clerk to the Corporation, Harlow College, Velizy Avenue, Harlow, Essex CM20 3LH

General information on the Freedom of Information Act can be obtained from:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF

Charges for information

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, the College will produce publications and documents in other formats where it is reasonably practical to do so.

For items that are not routinely available we will make a charge. We will calculate direct labour costs based on the time spent in researching and collecting the information which will be charged at a flat rate of £25 an hour, regardless of the actual costs per hour, and these costs will be charged if applicable. There is no obligation to disclose information if the total cost calculated exceeds £450. We will also charge ten pence plus VAT per photocopy or scanned document and/or the direct cost of putting the information into other requested formats, plus postage if applicable.