Our Publication Scheme and how to use it

Introduction

This is the Publication Scheme for the General Teaching Council for England (‘the GTC’). It is made available in accordance with Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’). The Act establishes a right of access to information held by public authorities, subject to certain exemptions. Further information about the Act and Publication Schemes is available from the website of the Information Commissioner.

Purpose and structure of our Publication Scheme

The purpose of our Publication Scheme is to help you find all the information that the GTC publishes. We have designed this Scheme to be a route map so that you can find information about the GTC easily. The Scheme sets out:

• The classes of information that the GTC publishes as a matter of course
• How the GTC publishes this information
• Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment

Feedback

It is important to us that you find this Scheme helpful. If you have any questions or comments about this Scheme, or its operation, they should be sent in writing to:

Data Protection Officer
The General Teaching Council for England
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4AJ

Obtaining information

We are ready to provide advice and assistance to facilitate requests. If you require advice or assistance, please contact the Data Protection Officer, whose address appears above or, if you are unable to make a request in writing, please telephone our Help Desk on 0870 001 0308.

Obtaining information listed in this Scheme

Some of the documents listed may be available on our web site and links are provided to enable you to obtain them easily. Where no online version is available, please contact the Data Protection Officer, whose address appears above.

How the GTC publishes this information

Requests for a paper copy of information, or for information not listed in this Scheme, should be addressed to the Data Protection Officer, whose address appears above.  Please include

• Your name, and an address for correspondence, and
• A description of the information requested.

You may also state a preference for communication of information by one or more of the following means:

• Hard copy
• Opportunity to inspect a record containing the information, or
• Digest or summary of the information in a permanent form.

We will accommodate your preference so far as is reasonably practicable. Where not reasonably practicable we will notify you of the reasons why we are unable to accommodate your request. We will respond to requests promptly, and in any event within 20 working days, provided we have sufficient information to do so and where applicable, have received the requisite fee.

Fees

Many of the documents we hold are in Word or PDF format, and can be downloaded free of charge from our web site. To read PDF documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free and available from the Adobe website.

Under the provisions of the Act we are entitled to charge fees to cover some of the costs of determining whether we hold information requested, and for locating, retrieving and supplying information in accordance with the request. Where information detailed in this Publication Scheme requires a fee to be paid, this is clearly marked.

Exemptions

The Act contains certain exemptions from the obligation to disclose information, and in some cases also to the obligation to confirm or deny whether we hold information. These exemptions protect either individuals or the legitimate confidentiality of information.

Complaints procedure

Where we invoke an exemption, or if you are otherwise dissatisfied with the outcome of your request (for example, with the way we give access or the fees we charge) you may write to our Data Protection Officer, whose address is shown above, to request an internal review. You may also contact the Office of the Information Commissioner to request an independent review of the decision (although an internal review by us will usually be a precondition for such a review). Requests should be made in writing to:

FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF