Welcome to London Graduate School’s Freedom of Information Publication Scheme. The links below will help you find information relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and London Graduate School’s publication scheme. As a Kingston University initiative, the London Graduate School shares the same Freedom of Information Publication Scheme as Kingston University.
Although we feel that our scheme and website are simple to use, please email our Freedom of Information Officer on with any comments or feedback about this site.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Legal Requirements
The ‘model’ publication scheme for universities
Accessing information covered by the publication scheme
What about information not covered by the publication scheme?
Feedback
Further Information
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) gives a right, with some exemptions, for access to all types of recorded information held by Kingston University. Any person who makes a request to Kingston University for information must be informed if the University holds it and, subject to exemptions, be supplied with it.
The Act extends individual rights granted by the Data Protection Act 1998 to allow public access to all types of information held.
Under the Act, the University is required to maintain a “Publication Scheme” which provides a guide to information that the institution makes routinely available. The purpose of a scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information proactively and to develop a greater culture of openness.
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1. Legal Requirements
1.1 Maintaining a publication scheme is a requirement of the Act. The 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 6th form colleges
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2. The ‘model’ publication scheme for universities
2.1 Kingston University has developed its publication scheme in accordance with the Definition Document for the Model Publication Scheme for Universities and is therefore committed to publishing the information that the Definition Document describes.
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3. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme
3.1 The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.
3.2 For each class we have listed the types of information that are routinely available, together with weblinks to the information wherever possible. To request paper or e-mailed electronic copies of information available through our publication scheme, please contact:
Gail Laughlan
Freedom of Information Officer – Information Services
Kingston University
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2EE
Email:
Tel: 020 8417 2090
3.3 Documents available electronically, either via links in this publication scheme or via an e-mail attachment from the Freedom of Information Officer, will be supplied free of charge. A charge of £1 per CD-ROM will be made where the size(s) of electronic file(s) requested is sufficiently large for it not to be possible to send the requested information by e-mail, or where the information has been specifically requested in this format. A charge will not be made for hard copy paper documents, except where a total of 100 or more pages has been requested, in which case a charge of 2p per page will be made to cover photocopying costs. The University reserves the right to amend this charging policy at any time. Any charges payable will be notified to the applicant, and payment required, prior to the request being fulfilled.
3.4 Please note that a publication scheme relates to ‘published’ information. Therefore, material covered has already been prepared in a format ready for distribution.
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4. What about information not covered by the publication scheme?
4.1 You have the right, under the Act, to request any information held by a public authority which it has not already made available through its publication scheme.
4.2 Requests have to be made in writing and, in general, public authorities have 20 working days to respond. They may charge a fee, which will be calculated according to Fees Regulations. They are not 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.
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5. Feedback
5.1 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.
If you are unhappy with the service that you have received in relation to either this publication scheme or any other request that you have made to the University under the Act, and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the University’s decision, please contact:
Dr Chris Ince, Head of Secretariat, Kingston University, River House, 53-57 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 1LQ
5.2 If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the Freedom of Information Act:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
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6. Further Information
More information about the Act is available on the ICO website at:
www.ico.gov.uk/