Directions re. Exam Results

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Education,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a copy of all correspondence (including emails) and written directions between the Department for Education and:

(a) Ofqual
(b) Examination Awards Bodies (e.g. AQA, Cambridge Assessment)

Between 4 August 2020 and 10 August 2020.

Yours faithfully,

William Maitland

MINISTERS, Department for Education

1 Attachment

Thank you for contacting the Department for Education. If you are
contacting us about coronavirus (COVID-19) you can find advice and
guidance on [1]GOV.UK. This includes [2]guidance for educational settings
in England. You can also contact our coronavirus helpline on 0800 046
8687. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and weekends 10am to
4pm.

For emails and other written enquiries you will usually receive a reply
within 15 working days. You can find out how the department processes your
personal information by reading our [3]Privacy Notice.

 

 

[4]cid:image001.jpg@01D42E43.58989C30

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/collection...
https://www.gov.uk/government/collection...
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati...
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati...

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

Dear  William Maitland 

Thank you for your recent enquiry which was received on 10 August.

A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible. For information; the
departmental standard for correspondence received is that responses should
be sent within 20 working days as you are requesting information under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your correspondence has been allocated
reference number 2020-0042783. 

Department for Education

Ministerial and Public Communications Division

Tel: 0370 000 2288

Web: [1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

Dear William Maitland 

 

"Thank you for your request for information, which was received on
10/08/2020 16:24 . You requested  

 

"Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a copy of all
correspondence (including emails) and written directions between the
Department for Education and: (a) Ofqual (b) Examination Awards Bodies
(e.g. AQA, Cambridge Assessment) Between 4 August 2020 and 10 August 2020"

 

I have dealt 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 applies to your request:

Section 35: Formulation of government policy
This section aims to protect government policy-making processes.
It covers the development of government policy, communications between
ministers (including Cabinet proceedings), conversations with officers of
the Law and the operation of a ministerial private office.

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 20
days to make a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies. 
It is anticipated that you will receive a full response by 6^th October
2020.  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, who 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.

 

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, who review panel, who 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."

 

Qualifications Division

Web: 

[1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

 

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

 

Dear Mr Maitland,

Re: 2020-0042783
 

As you will recall, on 11 August you requested under the FOI Act:

“Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a copy of all
correspondence (including emails) and written directions between the
Department for Education and: (a) Ofqual (b) Examination Awards Bodies
(e.g. AQA, Cambridge Assessment) Between 4 August 2020 and 10 August
2020”.
On 8 September I confirmed that we do hold information falling within the
terms of your request. I explained that when a qualified exemption
requiring a public interest test applies to the information the Act allows
the time for response to be longer than 20 working days, and a full
response must be provided within such time as is reasonable in all
circumstances of the case. I indicated that we hoped to provide you with a
response by 6 October 2020, and that if it appeared that it would take
longer to reach a conclusion we would let you know. I am afraid that a
further delay will indeed be necessary and I am therefore writing to let
you know and to explain the reasons for this.

 

Given the large amount of information and complexity of some of that
information in respect of which exemptions are, or appear likely to
be, engaged we estimate that it will take an additional 20 working days
to reach a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies, and
to provide you with a full reply. I apologise for the fact that this is
later than originally planned, but we hope now to let you
have the response by 3 November 2020.  I do hope that you will understand
that this delay is simply due to the fact that the Department is trying to
fulfil your request in a conscientious and thorough manner. If it appears
that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we will keep you
informed, and if it is possible to provide you with a substantive response
sooner we shall of course do so. 

 

The Department takes its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information
Act very seriously, and always seeks to respond to enquiries openly and
fully in the spirit of the Act.  But if you are unhappy with the service
you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint
or request a review of our decision, you should write to me quoting the
reference number above.

 

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

 

 

Yours sincerely, 
 

Qualifications team
[1][email address]
 

Web: 

[2]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [3]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [4]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

 
 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.education.gov.uk/
3. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
4. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

Dear Mr Maitland,
 
Re: 2020 0042783
 
As you will recall, on 11th August you requested under the FOI Act:
“Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a copy of all
correspondence (including emails) and written directions between the
Department for Education and: (a) Ofqual (b) Examination Awards Bodies
(e.g. AQA, Cambridge Assessment) Between 4 August 2020 and 10 August
2020”. 
 
On 6th October I indicated that we hoped to provide you with a response by
3rd November 2020, and that if it appeared that it would take longer to
reach a conclusion we would let you know. I am afraid that a further delay
will indeed be necessary and I am therefore writing to let you know and to
explain the reasons for this.
 
Given the large amount of information and complexity of some of that
information in respect of which exemptions are, or appear likely to be,
engaged we estimate that it will take an additional 20 working days to
reach a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies, and to
provide you with a full reply. I apologise for the fact that this is later
than originally planned, but we hope now to let you have the response by
1st December 2020.  I do hope that you will understand that this delay is
simply due to the fact that the Department is trying to fulfil your
request in a conscientious and thorough manner. If it appears that it will
take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we will keep you informed,
and if it is possible to provide you with a substantive response sooner we
shall of course do so.
 
The Department takes its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information
Act very seriously, and always seeks to respond to enquiries openly and
fully in the spirit of the Act.  But if you are unhappy with the service
you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a 
complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to me
quoting the reference number above.
 
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the review,
you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. 
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our
complaints/review procedure.
Yours sincerely, 
Qualifications team
[email address]      
 

Web: 

[1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

Dear Mr Maitland,
 
Re: 2020 0042783

 

As you will recall, on 11th August you requested under the FOI Act:

“Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a copy of all
correspondence (including emails) and written directions between the
Department for Education and: (a) Ofqual (b) Examination Awards Bodies
(e.g. AQA, Cambridge Assessment) Between 4 August 2020 and 10 August
2020”.

On 3rd November I indicated that we hoped to provide you with a response
by 1st December 2020, and that if it appeared that it would take longer
to reach a conclusion we would let you know. I am afraid that a further
delay will indeed be necessary and I am therefore writing to let you know
and to explain the reasons for this.

 

Given the large amount of information and complexity of some of that
information in respect of which exemptions are, or appear likely to
be, engaged we estimate that it will take an additional 20 working days
to reach a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies, and
to provide you with a full reply. I apologise for the fact that this is
later than originally planned, but we hope now to let you
have the response by 28th December 2020.  I do hope that you will
understand that this delay is simply due to the fact that the Department
is trying to fulfil your request in a conscientious and thorough manner.
If it appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we
will keep you informed, and if it is possible to provide you with a
substantive response sooner we shall of course do so. 

 

The Department takes its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information
Act very seriously, and always seeks to respond to enquiries openly and
fully in the spirit of the Act.  But if you are unhappy with the service
you have received in relation to your request and wish to make
a  complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to me
quoting the reference number above.

 

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

 
Yours sincerely, 

Qualifications team

[1][email address
 

Web: 

[2]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [3]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [4]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.education.gov.uk/
3. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
4. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

Dear Mr Maitland 

As you will recall, on 11^th August you requested under the FOI Act:
“Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a copy of all
correspondence (including emails) and written directions between the
Department for Education and: (a) Ofqual (b) Examination Awards Bodies
(e.g. AQA, Cambridge Assessment) Between 4 August 2020 and 10 August
2020”.
 
On 1^st December I indicated that we hoped to provide you with a response
by 28^th December 2020, and that if it appeared that it would take longer
to reach a conclusion we would let you know. I am afraid that a further
delay will indeed be necessary and I am therefore writing to let you know
and to explain the reasons for this.
 
Given the large amount of information and complexity of some of that
information in respect of which exemptions are, or appear likely to
be, engaged we estimate that it will take an additional 20 working days
to reach a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies, and
to provide you with a full reply. I apologise for the fact that this is
later than originally planned, but we hope now to let you
have the response by 23^rd January 2021. I do hope that you will
understand that this delay is simply due to the fact that the Department
is trying to fulfil your request in a conscientious and thorough manner.
If it appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion,
we will keep you informed, and if it is possible to provide you with a
substantive response sooner we shall of course do so. 
 
The Department takes its responsibilities under the Freedom of
Information Act very seriously, and always seeks to respond to enquiries
openly and fully in the spirit of the Act.  But if you are unhappy with
the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to
make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to
us quoting the reference number above.
 
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the review,
you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. 
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our
complaints/review procedure.
 

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, who review panel, who 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."

 Qualifications Team

Web: 

[1]https://www.education.gov.uk
Twitter: [2]https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
Facebook: [3]https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

 

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.education.gov.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/educationgovuk
3. https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Maitland,
 
Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 11th
August 2020. 
 
Please see the attached letter for an update on your case.
 
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us. 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 us within two calendar
months of the date of this letter. Your complaint will be considered by an
independent review panel, who 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
 
Qualifications Team
[1][email address]
 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Maitland,
 
Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 11
August 2020. 
 
Please see the attached letter for an update on your case.
 
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us. 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 us within two calendar
months of the date of this letter. Your complaint will be considered by an
independent review panel, who 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
 
Qualifications Team
[1][email address]
 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

ACCOUNT, Unmonitored, Department for Education

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Maitland,
 
Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 11
August 2020.
 
Please see the attached response letter to your request.
 
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us. 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 us within two calendar
months of the date of this letter. Your complaint will be considered by an
independent review panel, who 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
 
Qualifications Team
[1][email address]

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]