Dr Carlton Brand BA. MSc. EngD

Director of Resources

Mark Walker

[FOI #19925 email]

Fax: 01225 718399

Direct Line: 01225 713643

Operator: 0300 456 0100

E-mail: [email address]

Please ask for: Ms S Evans Our ref: RFI 1783 Your ref:

13 October 2009

County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8JN

Dear Mr Walker

Request for Information - RFI 1783 - Teachers' political affiliations

Thank you for your request for information received 09 October 2009.

As of 1^st April 2009 Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury and North Wiltshire District Councils and Wiltshire County Council ceased to exist and a unitary authority, Wiltshire Council, was created.

In response to your request for information:

There has been no known incident or conduct issue in schools relating to activities on behalf of any political party, but HR do not hold information on anyone's private political affiliations.

Parent complaints would be addressed to individual schools/Governing Bodies and not HR directly unless a conduct/disciplinary matter evolved so no data available for this in HR and no known cases.

Teaching staff are exempt from being treated as 'politically restricted posts' but are covered by the Education Act 1996 where there are provisions concerning political bias or activities in schools in sections 406 and 407, which in summary state that LAs, governing bodies and head teachers of all maintained schools must ensure that teachers do not promote one-sided political views when teaching any subject. Teachers must present different views in a balanced way where political issues are covered. LAs, governing bodies and heads must also forbid pupils under 12 from taking part in partisan political activities at school, or otherwise where the activity is arranged by a member of staff (acting in his or her capacity as such) or anyone acting on behalf of the school or the member of staff. Any breach of this primary legislation would be regarded as a potential disciplinary act.

The Council has not withheld any information in relation to this request under the exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I hope the information received is what you were expecting.  However if you are unhappy with what has been provided, you can raise a complaint under the Council's Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure (enclosed) or you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, 01625 545745. If you would like to discuss any of the information provided to you or would like further information on the complaints procedure, please contact me on the above number.

Information supplied under the Freedom of Information Act and/or Environmental Information Regulations will be subject to copyright protection under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Information can be re-used for the purposes of research for non-commercial purposes, for private study or for news reporting and reviews, without requiring formal consent. However, if you wish to re-use the information for commercial purposes, including publishing, you are required to seek the permission of the copyright owner. Permission to re-use Wiltshire Council's copyright information is granted in the form of a licence. Authorisation to re-use copyright material not owned by Wiltshire Council should be sought from the copyright holders concerned.

Yours sincerely

Sharron Evans

Principal Information Officer