Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,792releases indexed
39,278attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,073partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

Timeline

2026-05 339 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263 2025-10 217

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
157 matching releases

Schools re-opening full time decision making correspondence: FOI release

Any internal Scottish Government correspondence (including emails, letters, typed or hand-written notes, text messages and briefings) regarding the decision for schools to reopen full-time on 11 August, as announced by the Deputy First Minister on 23 June 2020. I would like this information from 01 June 2020 until 23 J...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.25(1) s.28(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-09-24
Reference
FOI/202000057060
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Education, Public sector

Briefings from Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): FOI release

All briefings received from the SQA by the Cabinet Secretary for Education or any other Scottish Minister. On 13 August 2020, you further clarified: I’m happy for you to narrow your search to correspondence and briefings between Scottish Government ministers and the SQA between 1 April 2020 and 5 August 2020.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-09-09
Reference
FOI/202000074358
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Meetings with Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): FOI release

In your request, you asked: Details of any meetings (including typed or hand-written notes, any minutes or briefings produced for these meetings) between the Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills, John Swinney MSP, and the SQA. I would like this information between 01 June 2020 and 30 June 2020, and for 30 July 2020...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-09-09
Reference
FOI/202000074442
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Cancellation of the 2020 exam diet: FOI release

All correspondence or documentation (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, texts or instant messages, minutes of meetings, briefings or otherwise) between the Scottish Government and the SQA regarding the cancellation of the 2020 exam diet. I would like this i...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 50 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.30 s.34(1) s.28(1) s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-08-10
Reference
FOI/202000034452
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Education, Public sector

23 October 2019 meeting Education Scotland and ADES: FOI Review

Further to my letter of 3 February, I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) for "information regarding the 23 October 2019 meeting involving the Scottish Government (including Deputy First Minister), Education Scotland and ADES".

FOI already published 80 score 13 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.25(1) s.29 s.29(1) 10 attachments
Published
2020-02-26
Reference
FOI/202000016380
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence concerning the meeting about Newlands Junior College: FOI release

You asked for: All notes and minutes pertaining to a meeting between John Swinney and Jim McColl about Newlands Junior College, which took place on 16th January 2019.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence meetings s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-02-10
Reference
FOI/202000011519
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Communities and third sector, Education, Public sector, +1 more … Work and skills

Bed bugs at schools - First Minister correspondence: FOI review

For the contents of any emails or letters to Nicola Sturgeon (including emails to either the First Minister or SNP account) in 2019 on the topic of bed bugs at schools.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.17(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-12-16
Reference
FOI/201900006881
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) attainment results meeting - briefings, minutes, correspondence: FOI release

In your request you asked for:- Please release the following material in relation to the meeting on 1/8/19 referred to in the attached screenshot (which has come from a Scottish Government FOI response). Briefings provided to staff in advance of the meeting Minutes (if no minutes have been taken please make this clear...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 8 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2019-11-22
Reference
FOI/201900004091
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Supporting transgender pupils in schools - correspondence and guidance: FOI release

All information relating to Scottish Government’s guidance on supporting transgender pupils in schools and correspondence with LGBT Youth Scotland that relates to their transgender guidance for schools.

FOI already published 80 score 3 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2019-11-15
Reference
FOI/201900005131
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Equality and rights, Public sector

Bed bugs at schools - First Minister correspondence: FOI release

You asked for: "The contents of any emails or letters to Nicola Sturgeon (including emails to either the First Minister or SNP account) in 2019 on the topic of bed bugs at schools."

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.17(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2019-11-15
Reference
FOI/201900005399
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Health and social care, Public sector

Independent Review of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments - drafts, correspondence: FOI release

You asked for the following information in relation to the Independent Review of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments at Primary 1 (the independent review) under FOISA: • Any draft copies/versions of the independent review • All communication between the Scottish Government and David Reedy (including staff wo...

FOI already published 80 score 34 working days over deadline correspondence ministers contracts s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.27(1) s.30 s.33(1) 4 attachments
Published
2019-07-31
Reference
FOI/201900002056
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Notes and correspondence with North Lanarkshire Council - St Ambrose school campus, Coatbridge: FOI release

You asked for: • "Any briefing documents provided to Scottish Ministers on St Ambrose school campus in Coatbridge within the last year (prior to 20 June 2019)" (Fol/19/10503) • "Any correspondence (emails, letters, phone calls or otherwise) between Scottish Government ministers, senior civil servants or special advis...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38 s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-07-29
Reference
FOI/19/01503, FOI/19/01504
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Public sector

Independent Review of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments at Primary 1 information: FOI release

You asked for the following information in relation to the Independent Review of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments at Primary 1 (the independent review) under FOISA: Any draft copies/versions of the Scottish Government’s response to the independent review All internal communication regarding the independe...

FOI already published 80 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 18 attachments
Published
2019-07-26
Reference
FOI/201900002062
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Scottish National Standardised Assessments, correspondence with Professor Sue Ellis: FOI review

Further to my letter of 30 April 2019, I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) for any correspondence the Scottish Government has (a) sent to or (b) received from Professor Sue Ellis, in relation to Scottish National Standardised Assess...

FOI already published 80 score 17 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1) s.27(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.17 s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-05-30
Reference
FOI/201900001392
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Scottish National Standardised Assessments, correspondence with Professor Sue Ellis: FOI release

Any correspondence the Scottish Government has (a) sent to or (b) received from Professor Sue Ellis, in relation to Scottish National Standardised Assessments from May 2015.

FOI already published 80 score 28 working days over deadline correspondence s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.27(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-05-13
Reference
FOI/201900000649
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence relating to meeting of ICEA and statements from Council member: FOI release

 All a) minutes and b) drafts that led to the statement contained in evidence from the Scottish Government on SNSAs (available here), that “Dr Allison Skerrett (from the University of Texas, Austin) speaking on behalf of the Council said that Scotland had carefully designed the assessments, their modes of delivery and...

FOI already published 80 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2019-04-10
Reference
FOI/19/00661
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Teaching in a Diverse Scotland Report publication: FOI appeal

1) Copies of all correspondence and communication between the Scottish Government (including the Working Group and members of the Working Group) tasked with drafting this report) and the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, including minutes or notes of meetings/discussions, records of phone conversations, evidenc...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 9 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.2 s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-04-10
Reference
FOI/18/03373 Appeal
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Data relating to the handling of FOI/18/02237 and associated questions: FOI release

1. Please provide all the data the Scottish Government has relating to the handling of FOI/18/02237, including all internal correspondence, phone calls, handwritten notes or other such documentation). Please also include all data relating to the involvement of ministers and special advisers. 2. Using the same paramete...

FOI already published 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers s.2 s.4 s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-03-05
Reference
FOI/19/00293
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Potential impact of Brexit upon school-level education in Scotland: FOI review

Any material held by the Scottish Government relating to the potential impact of Brexit upon school-level education in Scotland (NB this would also include indirect impacts upon schools such as the possible effect on recruitment to Initial Teacher Education programmes).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 46 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.29(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.36(1) 10 attachments
Published
2019-03-01
Reference
FOI/18/03575 Review
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Brexit, Education, Public sector

Potential impact of Brexit upon school-level education in Scotland: FOI release

Any material held by the Scottish Government relating to the potential impact of Brexit upon school-level education in Scotland (NB this would also include indirect impacts upon schools such as the possible effect on recruitment to Initial Teacher Education programmes).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence meetings s.25(1) s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-02-28
Reference
FOI/18/03575
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Brexit, Education, Public sector

Establishment, work and material from P1 practitioner forum: FOI release

You asked for : 1. All communications regarding the decision establish the P1 Practitioner Forum (including attachments) 2. All communications regarding the decision to appoint Prof Ellis as chair of this forum (including attachments) 3. Any other communication regarding the work of the forum (including attachments) ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.27(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2019-02-25
Reference
FOI/19/00268
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

First Minister's visit to Auschwitz: FOI release

FOI not held 40 score correspondence ministers s.28(1) s.30 s.32(1) s.38(1) s.3(2) s.32 18 attachments
Published
2018-12-10
Reference
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector