Private v state school admissions
Good afternoon,
I am writing to request the following information under FOISA:
In each of the last six academic years, how many applications to begin an undergraduate programme at your institution did you receive from:
1. rUK (England, Wales, NI) domiciled students? How many of these gained their entry qualifications at a private or fee paying school?
2. EU domiciled students? How many of these who gained their entry qualifications at a private or fee paying school?
3. Scottish domiciled students who gained their entry qualifications at a private or fee paying school? if any of these applicants were in the SIMD20 regarding deprivation, please state how many.
4. overseas domiciled students? How many of these gained their entry qualifications at a private or fee paying school?
If you require any clarification or further information please let me know asap.
Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
elizabeth thomson
Dear Ms Thomson
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Request.
Your request is receiving our attention and you will hear from us again within 20 working days.
Yours sincerely
Mel Augusto
Miss Mel Augusto | Information Rights Co-Ordinator
Information Rights, University Secretary’s Office
The Open University, Level 5, Charles Pinfold Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Tel: +44 (0) 1908 653994
Email: [Open University request email]
Dear Elizabeth
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.
We are currently agreeing the definitions we will be using with the Office for Students (OFS) regarding applications, offers, accepted offers and registrations this is because most of our Undergraduate course we do not have a formal offer stage, therefore we are unable to provide you with any statistics at present.
The Open University is unable to release these statistics to you as it is exempted from doing so under section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 22 applies where the Public Authority (in this case The Open University) intends to publish the information at a future date and where it is reasonable for the information to be withhold before that publication date.
In applying this exemption I am obliged to consider "a public interest test" to balance the public interest in releasing the information against the public interest in retaining it. I recognise the public interest in providing these statistics at the earliest possible stage but there is a counter argument that there is a greater public interest in having access to accurate and consistent figures which are available to all. Overall, we feel that the factors favouring non-disclosure outweigh the factors favouring release.
The information will be published by 31 August 2019, please contact us again if you would like us to provide this information directly to you when it becomes available.
More information can be found at http://www.open.ac.uk/about/main/
I am sorry that we are unable to help on this occasion, but should you have any further questions please contact this office.
If you have any concerns about the way the University has observed the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act you may apply for your request to be reviewed. Freedom of Information Reviews are considered by the University Secretary or his delegate. Your request must be submitted within 40 working days of receipt of this letter/email. Reviews should be addressed to the above inbox, entitled "FOIA Review", and should set out the reasons for the review. You will have a further right of appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office.
Regards
Mel Augusto
Miss Mel Augusto | Information Rights Co-Ordinator
Information Rights, University Secretary's Office
The Open University, Level 5, Charles Pinfold Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Tel: +44 (0) 1908 653994
Email: [Open University request email]
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