Teachers who are members of political Parties.

Dear Mr Walker

Request for Information (Reference 09/FOI/1672)

Thank you for your request for information for promotion of racism in
schools, received on 9 October 2009.

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to the principles of the
Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) and will wherever possible provide all
the information requested unless constrained by another statute or by an
exemption within the FoIA. Please note that some information you have
requested may not be provided to you; this will only be information that
can be withheld by law. In most cases the reasons will be explained to you
along with your copy of any information that can be released to you.

Your request is being considered and you will receive a response as soon
as possible and within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, as
defined by the FoIA; that date is 6 November 2009.

We may need to contact you if the request needs to be clarified; this is
to ensure that we provide you with the information you require.

If the information you have requested is held by another public authority
we will transfer the request to them. If you have any objections to this
approach please contact us as soon as possible so we know not to transfer
the request and we will provide you with the relevant contact details
instead.

Yours sincerely

Sue Morris

Information Management Service Administrator

Information Management Service

Gloucestershire County Council

Community & Adult Care Directorate

Shire Hall

Gloucester

GL1 2TG

Tel: 01452 426837

Email: [1][email address]

Go to [2]www.gloucestershire.gov.uk to find information on any County
Council service. It couldn't be easier to find information instantly and
in some cases apply for services on line.

For Freedom of Information (FOI) requests please email
[3][Gloucestershire County Council request email]

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Dear Mr Walker,
Thank you for you recent FoI request, received in the email below.
Responses received from colleagues to your questions are:

1. Has your authority ever found a member of the BNP or any other
political Party guilty of a disciplinary offence related to their
Party membership in the last three years? If so please give
information as to when and how many.
The Authority is not aware of any disciplinary action taken against a
member of BNP because of their party membership, in any of the schools
within the Local Authority control.

2. Has any parent complained to you regarding the Party membership
of any employee or the expression of political views within School
classrooms under your authority during the last three years?
No parent has complained to the LA about this January 2008 – June 2009.
However, as it is the statutory duty of the governing body of every school
to deal with complaints, and for the day to day management of their
school, including disciplinary issues, it is not impossible that parents
might have made representations to the head or governors without our
knowledge.
3. What safeguards do you currently have in place to prevent
members of any political Party promoting their views within
Schools?
Teachers are bound by the GTCE Code, and by other documents which
articulate expected standards of teacher practice such as: the School
Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; the National College for School
Leadership National Standards for School Leaders; and the Training and
Development Agency’s Professional Standards for Teachers. The
professional conduct of staff is a matter for the Governors, who are in
many cases the employers of staff.

If you are unhappy with this response, you are entitled to request a
review of the decision by writing to:

Victoria Wathen
Information Manager.
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TG.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the Council.

The Information Commissioner can be contracted at:-

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

Yours sincerely
John
John James
Commissioning Manager ~ Data Management
Data Management Team
Commissioning Section
Children & Young People's Directorate
Information Management & Strategic Planning
Gloucestershire County Council
Quayside House Room 109
Shire Hall, Westgate Street
Gloucester GL1 2TP
( Tel: 01452 425329
2 Fax: 01452 426415
* email: [1]mailto:[email address]

Go to [2]www.gloucestershire.gov.uk to find information on any County
Council service. It could not be easier to find information instantly and
in some cases apply for services online.
P Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you
really need to.

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