Information for schools and settings
The information that you will find in this section will support you in dealing with non-curriculum issues in schools, and provides vital up-to-date news and guidance:
- School Circular
- Industrial action
- Traded Services
- Parental complaints
- Contracts for schools
- Finance and funding
- Freedom of Information Legislation (FOI)
- Health and Safety
- Early years settings support
- Professional development (external)
- Performance tables
- Safeguarding.
School contacts and school diary
- School Contacts List - September 2011
(PDF: 89KB) - School Diary.2011-2012 (PDF: 123KB)
Instructions for Using the USO-FX Secure File Exchange System
USO-FX is a secure method by which sensitive data can be transferred across schools’ LGfL links or Internet into the council or other infrastructure.
You can access USO-FX from the following link: https://support.lgfl.org.uk/secure/default.aspx.
Read our instructions for using the USO-FX Secure File Exchange System (PDF: 991KB)
Traded Services
Traded Services to Schools 2011-12 (PDF: 254KB)
This portfolio sets out details of council services available to schools from April 2011. Please contact any of the services for a discussion on how we can best meet the needs of your school.
For more information please contact Jane Elliott on 020 8359 7621.
Contracts for schools
Corporate contracts for schools - June 2011 (PDF: 28KB)
This list provides details of contracts that are currently being let by Barnet Council that have an impact on or are accessible to schools.
The relevant contact details are attached for each of the services.
There will be periodical amendments to remove expired contracts and include new ones to the list and details of new arrangements – new procurement or extensions - will be provided to the Schools Forum at least six months before expiration.
For any queries, please contact the Children’s Service Contracts Officer on 020 8359 4383.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Legislation and Data Protection Act (DPA)
Providing information
The FOI Act aims to promote greater accountability across the public sector. The Act is overseen by the Information Commissioner and detailed guidance on the legislation can be found on the ICO website. Under the legislation schools are required to have:
- an approved ‘publication scheme’ which sets out what information they hold and where and how this can be accessed. A template for schools can be found on the ICO website (external)
- an FOI Policy in place. Guidance for governors can be found in the Governors Guide to the Law, chapter 25
- be aware of their statutory responsibility to respond to requests for information held by the school. Recent guidance was sent to schools on the required timescales for responding to requests.
Requests for personal information by either the subject of that information or a third party are exempt under the FOI Act as such information is covered by the Data Protection Act.
However, in practice most requests for personal information to schools will be for pupil’s educational records and will be covered by The Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005. Guidance on this can be found in the Governors Guide to the Law, Chapter 25.
Performance tables
- DFE school and college performance tables (external)
Email this pageLast modified by: Lauren Burbidge on 14/02/2012