Dear Ms Semat,

Re: Freedom of Information request - Clare College Computer Science
Admissions Statistics 2022

I refer to your e-mail below dated 17 June 2022, the contents of which are
noted. 

Regarding the information requested for the 2022 entry UCAS cycles,
insofar as it is held (noting that the current undergraduate applications
cycle is ongoing), is exempt under section 36(2)(c) of the Act because its
disclosure would be likely to prejudice the effective conduct of public
affairs, in this case the integrity of the College’s applications and
admissions process which form a fundamental part of its mission as an
educational institution.  As the information requested is statistical in
nature, the opinion of the qualified person did not need to be sought for
this application of section 36.

The College considers that the disclosure of detailed statistics about
applications made within the current cycle would be likely to prejudice
the notion of a fair and confidential admissions process whereby each
applicant has the same information at their disposal and partial granular
data is not disclosed to specific members of the public while the process
is ongoing.  As this is a qualified exemption, the College has considered
whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in
maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the
information.  The College considers that, while some people might have an
understandable private interest in these statistics, there is no genuine
public interest in them when set against the extensive statistical
information available about previous admissions cycles published at
[1]https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.u..., coupled
with the prevailing public interest in maintaining a level playing field
in terms of the information available to all applicants.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the request, please request
an internal review of the decision.  If, after following those procedures
you are still not satisfied with the way in which your request has been
dealt with you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision.  Generally, the Commissioner will not entertain your complaint
unless you have exhausted any relevant internal review procedures.

Yours sincerely,

Emma Easterbrook

Miss Emma Easterbrook

Assistant Bursar

Clare College

Trinity Lane

Cambridge CB2 1TL

E-mail: [2][email address]

[3]www.clare.cam.ac.uk

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