FOI/202000070655 · FOI · partially withheld
Exam results and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD): FOI release
Information requested
All communications - external or internal - involving ministers, SPADs and Learning Directorate officials regarding the impact of the SQA results moderation process on different SIMD categories (or any other measure of socio-economic inequality such as free school meals) The time frame for this request is 19 March 2020 - present
Response
I enclose a copy of the information you requested. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) 38(1)(b) (personal information) and 25(1) (publicly available information) of FOISA applies to that information.
Some of the information you have requested is available from the SQA website – www.sqa.org.uk. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. the names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) 38(1)(b) (personal information) and 25(1) (publicly available information) of FOISA applies to that information. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. the names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.