Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

19,099releases indexed
31,532attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
7,049partially withheld
2018-11-16oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 7,049 unclear 6,352 not held 2,688 released 1,289 already published 610 cost limit 529 clarification 306 withheld 208 transferred 68

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4381 s.20 3726 s.34(1) 3480 s.39(2) 2967 s.30 2536 s.17(1) 2457 s.25(1) 2090 s.10(4) 1747 s.11(2) 1413 s.29(1) 1021 s.2 1021 s.3 800

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 1,082 releases · 27.9 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 858 releases · 31.1 avg days Marine Directorate 802 releases · 29.6 avg days Learning Directorate 714 releases · 34.4 avg days Population Health Directorate 607 releases · 28.7 avg days Economic Development Directorate 577 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 573 releases · 36.1 avg days People Directorate 536 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
43 matching releases

Correspondence relating to counsellors within schools: FOI Release

1. A copy of all the returns received from local authorities, all correspondence surrounding this between the Scottish Government and local authorities, and all internal correspondence and analysis relating to these returns. 2. Confirmation of whether the national commitment to 350 counsellors for schools by September ...

FOI unclear 80 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.2 s.25(1) 6 attachments
Published
2021-05-11
Reference
FOI/202100170681
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Information relating to Higher and Advance Higher exams 2021: FOI release

The Scottish Government has previously announced that National 5 exam diets would be cancelled but that Higher and Advanced Higher diets would go ahead. Education secretary John Swinney has since stated that alternate approaches have been developed and that a decision could be made as late as February to switch to thes...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.2 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.25(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-03-17
Reference
FOI/202000114519
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Information relating to Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018: FOI release

I would like to request further information on the following. 1. Has data from the PISA 2018 study for Scotland been linked to administrative records of children, including their National 4 and National 5 examinations. 2. Could you please provide me with the National 4 and National 5 grades achieved by the PISA 2018 sa...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.2 s.3 s.12(1) s.4 s.5A s.6
Published
2021-03-16
Reference
FOI/202100141438
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Education, Public sector

Support for teachers and the education system during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI release

1. Can you please confirm what, if any, steps have been taken to protect teachers from the COVID pandemic? 2. Further, as the pandemic is due to continue for some time to come what steps are planned to help improve the safety of our teachers? 3. What assurance is provided that any measures are being followed within s...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.2
Published
2020-10-23
Reference
FOI/202000091538
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Education, Health and social care, +1 more … Public sector

First Minister, Deputy First Minister and SQA 2020 exam methodology correspondence: FOI release

1. All briefing notes, meetings, minutes, memos, emails and written notes regarding meetings between Education Secretary John Swinney and the Scottish Qualifications Authority regarding the marking and grading methodology for the 2020 Scottish National 4, National 5 and Higher qualifications. 2. All briefing notes, me...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.2 s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-10-21
Reference
FOI/202000072824
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence on the marking and grading methodology for 2020 exam results: FOI release

1. All briefing notes, meetings, minutes, memos, emails and written notes regarding meetings between any Cabinet Secretary, minister, advisor or representative of the Scottish and the Scottish Qualifications Authority regarding the marking and grading methodology for the 2020 Scottish National 4, National 5 and Higher ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.2 s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2020-10-20
Reference
FOI/202000072834
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Correspondence and consultation regarding the grading for 2020 SQA exams: FOI release

1. All consultation responses from academics, policy experts and stakeholders supplied to the Scottish Government regarding this year’s grading system for SQA exams. 2. All correspondence between academics, policy experts, stakeholders and the Scottish Government which contains advice regarding this year’s grading for...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.2 s.5 s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-10-19
Reference
FOI/202000071159
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

School closures: FOI release

"1. What powers do the Scottish Government have to close down Schools anytime they want? 2. When did the Scottish Government require these powers to close down schools at any time? 3. When the Schools closed down this year because of the Corona Virus, who made the decision to close them down? full list of people involv...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.37 s.38 s.4 s.2 s.30 s.29(1) s.19
Published
2020-09-30
Reference
FOI/202000078735
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Education, Public sector

Laptops issued to children and young people due to school closures: FOI release

1. Further to Parliamentary Question S5W-30015 in the name of Alexander Stewart MSP, and the subsequent answer given by John Swinney MSP on July 1 2020, how many of the 25,000 laptops have been issued to children and young people? 2. Can this be broken down by (i) The number given to each Local Authority and (ii) The d...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence s.2
Published
2020-09-14
Reference
FOI/202000066959
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Education, Public sector

Pupil Equity Fund contract conditions: FOI release

A contract was issued by yourself (Donna Bell) to Inverclyde Council on 31 March 2017 for a grant up to £2,450,400 sterling for the Pupil Equity Fund. The contract was accepted under jurisdiction of the Scottish Courts. Within this Offer of Grant - Section 2.2 it states "The Grant shall only be used for the purposes of...

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence contracts s.2
Published
2019-08-21
Reference
FOI/19/01838
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Education, Public sector

Schemes/progress tackling teacher shortages in priority subjects: FOI release

1. A full list of all subjects regarded as shortage subjects (in terms of teacher numbers) in Scottish secondary schools. 2. Details of current schemes to tackle teacher shortages in each of the identified shortage subjects (or in groups of subjects, such as STEM). 3. Details of any targets for increased teacher number...

FOI unclear 80 score 13 working days correspondence s.2 s.4 2 attachments
Published
2019-05-22
Reference
FOI/201900001357
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

LGBTI Inclusive Education Working Group recommendations in relation to curriculum: FOI release

You asked for information regarding the recommendations of the LGBTI Inclusive Education Working Group. Full request for information added at request of the requestor: "I understand that it is the current Scottish Government's intention to implement an LGBT inclusive education curriculum in all Scottish state schools...

FOI unclear 55 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.3
Published
2019-02-14
Reference
FOI/19/00190
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Topic
Education, Equality and rights, Public sector