Stockton Riverside College :: Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information - Publicaton Scheme for Colleges of Further Education

Name of College :	Stockton Riverside College
Type of College :	General Further Education (GFE)
Principal & Chief Executive :	Dr Sujinder S. Sangha OBE
Postal Address :	Harvard Avenue Thornaby Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6FB
Telephone :	01642 865400
Fax :	01642 865470
Website :	http://www.stockton.ac.uk
Chair of Governors :	Mr Steve Cossins

1. Legal requirement

1.1 Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This Act promotes greater openness and accountability across the public sector by requiring all ‘public authorities’ to make information available proactively, through a publication scheme.

1.2 ‘Public authorities’ are defined in the Act and include universities, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.

2. What is a publication scheme?

2.1 A publication scheme is a document which describes the information a public authority publishes, or intends to publish. In this context, ‘publish’ means to make information available, routinely. These descriptions are called ‘classes of information’. The scheme is not a list of the actual publications, because this will change as new material is published or existing material revised. It is, however, the public authority’s commitment to make available the information described.

2.2 A publication scheme must set out the classes, or categories, of information published. It must also make clear how the information described can be accessed and whether or not charges will be made.

3. The ‘model’ publication scheme for colleges of further education

3.1 Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges every public authority to adopt an approved Publication Scheme and Stockton Riverside College has adopted the scheme for Colleges of Further Education.

4. Who we are

4.1 Stockton Riverside College (SRC) is an ambitious, forward-looking, values driven and dynamic college which endeavours to be innovative and inclusive in meeting the complex needs and demands of its learner communities. The college is dedicated to delivering high quality provision and meeting or exceeding national educational and occupational standards in preparing learners for employment, enterprise, higher education, independent living or enhanced lifestyles.

4.2 Stockton Riverside College opened in January 2003 in new purpose built premises and was formerly known as Stockton and Billingham College of Further Education. In May 2008 it merged with Bede College, Hale Road, Billingham, which has become the college’s Sixth Form Centre. The main campus is situated on the Teesdale site, close to Stockton town centre and Thornaby railway station. The curriculum is delivered though five teams, four headed by a Head of Faculty and one headed by the Head of Sixth Form:

Technical and Professional Skills
Creative and Leisure Industries
Public and Service Industries
Flexible and Open Learning
Bede Sixth Form

5. College Mission Statements

5.1 Our VISION is to be the college of first choice for learners, employers and communities.

5.2 Our PURPOSE is to be a college of excellence providing learning and progression for work, enterprise, higher education and independent living.

5.3     In order to achieve that we AIM to:

5.3.1   Provide learning and progression opportunities that raise aspirations and contribute to personal, social and economic development and social mobility

5.3.2   Develop in our learners the abilities, skills, knowledge and qualifications needed in the local and wider economy

5.3.3   Deliver high quality teaching and learning, promoting and sustaining excellence in all our provision, services and everything we do

5.3.4   Provide safe, welcoming, inspiring and stimulating environments for learners, staff and visitors

5.3.5   Value and develop staff in line with our strategic directions and corporate goals and be an excellent employer

5.3.6   Be open, flexible, innovative and responsive in promoting the college and achieving growth

5.3.7   Promote and implement the single equality framework for equality, diversity, social mobility and community cohesion

5.3.8   Promote sustainability, continuing development and the efficient use of resources to achieve best value for money

5.3.9     Corporate Values:

Trust, integrity and respect.
Co-operation and partnership working.
Equality, fairness and inclusion.
Open and inclusive governance.

5.3.10 Our Corporate Goals for 2011-2012 to 2014-15 are:

Innovation, growth and reform for sustainability and continuing development
Cost savings – proportionate to the reductions in funding and through efficiency and value for money
Raising standards – from satisfactory and good to outstanding to be a college of first choice and excellence

5.3.11 The merged college will continue the commitment of Stockton Riverside College and Bede College to develop further, with continuous improvement, quality and standards at the heart of the college’s vision and plans.

5.3.12 The college has realligned the curriculum offering, ensuring relevance to the needs of employers, individuals and the local community in terms of scope and delivery. Maintaining a concentration on high success rates, the college will continue to enhance its upper quartile performance, from its already strong starting point.

5.3.13 The college is re-aligning the curriculum offering to priority skills areas, and supporting the needs of employers locally, regionally and nationally, which will impact upon all areas of delivery.

6. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme

6.1 The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.

6.2 Next to each class we have indicated the manner in which the information described will be available. We have also indicated whether charges apply to material in each class.

6.3 To request information available through our publication scheme, please contact: Director of IT and Information Security, Stockton Riverside College, Harvard Avenue, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees, TS17 6FB.

6.4 Please note that a publication scheme relates to ‘published’ information. Therefore, material covered has already been prepared in a format ready for distribution.

7. What about information not covered by the publication scheme?

7.1 From 1 January 2005 you have the right, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to request any information held by a public authority which it has not already made available through its publication scheme.

7.2 Requests will have to be made in writing and, in general, public authorities will have 20 working days to respond. They may charge a fee, which will have to be calculated according to Fees Regulations. They will not be required to release information to which an exemption in the Act legitimately applies. However, public authorities may be required to explain to the applicant why they are not releasing information and they may also have to justify this to the Information Commissioner.

8. Feedback

8.1 It is important that this publication scheme meets your needs. If you find the scheme difficult to understand, please let us know. We also welcome suggestions as to how our scheme might be improved. Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to:

          Head of ICLT and Information Security
          Stockton Riverside College
          Harvard Avenue
          Thornaby
          Stockton on Tees
          TS17 6FB

8.2 If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the Freedom of Information Act:

          Information Commissioner
          Wycliffe House
          Water Lane
          Wilmslow
          Cheshire
          SK9 5AF