Department for Education

The complainant requested information from the Department for Education (“the DfE”) about a report prepared by a School Resource Management Advisor, recommending potential savings at a particular school. The DfE provided some redacted information and withheld other information in its entirety, citing all three limbs of the exemption at section 36(2) of the FOIA – prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs. The Commissioner’s decision is that while the exemption at section 36(2)(b)(ii) is engaged, the balance of the public interest favours the disclosure of the information. The Commissioner requires the DfE to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation: subject to the redaction of personal data, as described in this notice, disclose the information to the complainant. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal EA/2021/0262 appeal allowed.