Bidborough CEP School

The complainant has requested correspondence about a safeguarding concern. Bidborough Church of England Primary School (‘the School’) withheld the information under section 36 and section 40 of FOIA. These exemptions concern prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs and personal data, respectively. The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: The School hasn’t demonstrated that section 36(2)(b)(ii) of FOIA is engaged. However, the School is entitled to withhold some of the information under section 40(1) of FOIA as it’s the complainant’s own personal data and is entitled to withhold the remaining information under section 40(2) as it’s other people’s personal data and disclosing it would be unlawful. The School didn’t comply with section 17(1) of FOIA as its refusal notice was inadequate. It’s not necessary for the School to take any corrective steps.