Department for Education

The complainant has requested information relating to the background checks undertaken for the former Chief Executive of the Education Fellowship Trust and correspondence and communication between the DfE, the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the regional commissioners between January and the end of March 2017 with regard to any discussions or proposals that deal with measures to tackle poor performance by the Education Fellowship Trust, its trustees, senior management and its schools. The DfE responded, it refused to disclose the requested information under section 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii), section 36(2)(c) and section 40(2) FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the DfE correctly applied section 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) and section 36(2)(c) FOIA to the withheld information. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken. This decision notice is currently under appeal to the Tribunal.