FoI Request: School Climate Strikes and the Fridays for Future Movement

The request was successful.

elizabeth thomson

Good morning,

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

I am requesting this information on behalf of Amnesty International UK, to help us understand the position of Local Authorities regarding the climate strike actions taken by school pupils in Scotland. We need to be able to advise our young activists, youth groups, and teachers about their potential participation in climate strikes and any action that may be taken against pupils with unauthorised absences.

Please send me:

1. The position of your local authority towards climate strikes and authorised/unauthorised absences from school in order to attend any Friday climate strikes, as of the date you respond to this request.

2. Confirmation of whether climate strikers will be recorded as authorised or unauthorised absences by schools in your Local Authority area, and whether any punitive action will be taken against pupils or schools for involvement in climate strikes.

3. Details of any changes to the position or policy towards climate strike actions and authorised/unauthorised absences in your Local Authority during 2019.

4. Copies of any letters that your Local Authority has sent to schools or to all parents/carers in your authority area during 2019, that relate to climate strikes or the Fridays for Future Movement.

I would like the above information to be provided to me in electronic format.

If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters.

If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Elizabeth Thomson
Campaigner
Amnesty International

Administrator, Argyll and Bute Council


Dear Elizabeth Thomson

Request for information: School climate strikes

Thank you for your information request which we have logged as reference
argyllbuteir:10594.

It has been passed to the relevant service(s) for attention and you should
receive a response under either the Freedom of Information (Scot) Act 2002
or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 by 2019-09-23
00:00:00.

Please quote the reference number above in any correspondence you may have
with the Council in regard to this request.

Regards

FOI Officer

Privacy information: Any personal information you have provided in
relation to this request will be used only for the intended purpose -
please read the full privacy notice to find out more about how your
personal information will be handled, and your rights under data
protection legislation.

Harper, Suzanne, Argyll and Bute Council

2 Attachments

Classification: OFFICIAL

Hi David

 

Please find below the suggested response to this media
(whatdotheyknow.com) request.  If this is okay, please could you send it
out?

 

Many thanks,

Suzanne

 

 

[1][FOI #599567 email]

 

Dear Ms Thomson

 

Request for information: School climate strikes

Reference: argyllbuteir:10594.

 

I refer to your request for information, which was dealt with in terms of
the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

 

In fulfilment of your request, I can confirm that none of your questions
are applicable within Argyll and Bute.  This has not been discussed within
our Council, therefore no decisions have been made about how to record
potential absences and no policies or other documents exist.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request for information
has been dealt with you are entitled to request a review by writing to the
Executive Director Customer Services, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory,
Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RT, or by email to [2][Argyll and Bute Council request email].

 

Your request for review must state your name and address for
correspondence, specify the request for information to which your request
for review relates and why you are dissatisfied with the response. 

 

You must make your request for review not later than 40 working days after
the expiry of the 20 working day period for response to your initial
request by the Council, or not later than 40 working days after the
receipt by you of the information provided, any fees notice issued or any
notification of refusal or partial refusal.

 

If you make an application for review and remain dissatisfied with the way
in which the review has been dealt with you are entitled to make an
application to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DS (Tel: 01334 464610) for a
further review.  You can now do this online here -  
[3]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.  

 

You must make representation to the Scottish Information Commissioner no
later than 6 months after the date of receipt by you of the notice or
decision you are dissatisfied with or within 6 months of the expiry of the
period of 20 working days from receipt by the Council of your request for
review.

 

Yours sincerely

 

[4]cid:image001.jpg@01D2EC02.4FE19800

Suzanne Harper

Admin Officer

Argyll and Bute Council

Customer Services: Education

Argyll House, Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, PA23 8AJ

 

Email: [5][email address]

Tel: 01369 708527

 

(Work Pattern: Monday - Friday 09:00-12:30, during school term time)

 

        [6]roundel_fc_cmyk_with_initials_signature_0_0

 

   [7]www.argyll-bute.gov.uk

 

  

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Harper, Suzanne, Argyll and Bute Council

Harper, Suzanne would like to recall the message, "DRAFT MEDIA RESPONSE - argyllbuteir:10594 [OFFICIAL]".

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Harper, Suzanne, Argyll and Bute Council

Harper, Suzanne would like to recall the message, "DRAFT MEDIA RESPONSE - argyllbuteir:10594 [OFFICIAL]".

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Sinclair, David (Risk Management Assistant), Argyll and Bute Council

2 Attachments

Classification: OFFICIAL

Dear Ms Thomson

 

Request for information: School climate strikes

Reference: argyllbuteir:10594

 

I refer to your request for information, which was dealt with in terms of
the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

 

In fulfilment of your request, I can confirm that none of your questions
are applicable within Argyll and Bute.  This has not been discussed within
our Council, therefore no decisions have been made about how to record
potential absences and no policies or other documents exist.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request for information
has been dealt with you are entitled to request a review by writing to the
Executive Director Customer Services, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory,
Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RT, or by email to [1][Argyll and Bute Council request email].

 

Your request for review must state your name and address for
correspondence, specify the request for information to which your request
for review relates and why you are dissatisfied with the response. 

 

You must make your request for review not later than 40 working days after
the expiry of the 20 working day period for response to your initial
request by the Council, or not later than 40 working days after the
receipt by you of the information provided, any fees notice issued or any
notification of refusal or partial refusal.

 

If you make an application for review and remain dissatisfied with the way
in which the review has been dealt with you are entitled to make an
application to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DS (Tel: 01334 464610) for a
further review.  You can now do this online here -  
[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.  

 

You must make representation to the Scottish Information Commissioner no
later than 6 months after the date of receipt by you of the notice or
decision you are dissatisfied with or within 6 months of the expiry of the
period of 20 working days from receipt by the Council of your request for
review.

 

Yours sincerely

 

[3]David Signature

[4]roundel_fc_cmyk_with_initials_signature_0_0

  

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