This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'emails/meeting notes and reports relating to the whistle blowing complaint issued to ESFA in October 2018 ENQ-289433- F6C7K324/10/2018 - Cotham School – Academies.'.


Education & Skills Funding Agency  
2 Rivergate  
Temple Quay  
Bristol  
BS1 6EH  
 
Tel: 0370 000 2288 
http://www.gov.uk/esfa 
 
 

                                                    
 
 
 
 
 
Emma Burgess 
 
Sent via email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx  
 
 
                                                                                       
 
                                
24 May 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ref: ENQ-314259-M5R3X3  
 
Dear Emma Burgess 
 
Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 29 April 
2019. You requested “a copy of any emails/meeting notes and reports relating 
to the whistle blowing complaint issued to ESFA in October 2018 ENQ-
289433- F6C7K324/10/2018 - Cotham School – Academies”.  I am dealing 
with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”). 
 
The Department holds the information you have requested.  However, I 
consider that the following exemption apply to your request: 
 
Section 42 of the Act - Legal and professional Privilege. This covers 
confidential communications between lawyers and clients and certain other 
information that is created for the purposes of litigation. 
 
The Act obliges the Department to respond to requests promptly, and in any 
case no later than 20 working days after receiving your request.  However, 
where one of the exemptions listed above is applicable, the Department must 
consider whether the public interest lies in disclosing or withholding the 
information.  In these circumstances the Act allows the time for response to 
be longer than 20 working days.  
 
In your case the Department estimates that it will take an additional 15 days to 
take a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies.  It is 
anticipated that you will receive a full response by 20 June 2019.  If it appears 
that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we will keep you 
informed. 
 
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.  Please 
remember to quote the reference number above in any future 

communications.   
 
If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should 
make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar 
months of the date of this letter.  Your complaint will be considered by an 
independent review panel, which were not involved in the original 
consideration of your request.   
 
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the Department, 
you may then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.   
 
 
Yours sincerely 
  
 
Grant Edgeworth