Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group documentation: FOI release

Information requested

Detailed information regarding the decision-making process and the evidence utilised by the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group in determining the required number of teachers each year. Specifically, I am interested in understanding:

• The criteria and methodology used by the group to forecast teacher demand and supply.
• The data sources and types of evidence considered in these forecasts.
• Any reports, minutes of meetings, or internal communications that detail the decision-making process for setting the number of teaching places funded at universities.
• Any assessments or evaluations conducted by the group regarding the current and future employment market for probationer teachers.
• The rationale behind the continued funding of teaching places at universities in light of the reported surplus of probationer teachers seeking employment.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for. Please note that as you did not specify a timescale for the request, we have interpreted it as relating to the last completed planning cycle, which relates to the intake targets for the 2024/25 academic year.

Some of the information you have requested is available from the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group website https://www.gov.scot/groups/teacher-workforce-planning-advisory-group/ . This contains the minutes of TWPAG meetings and intakes to initial teacher education programmes. 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 websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. The General Teaching Council for Scotland also supplied a paper for the 26 September TWPAG meeting. It is titled Registration Snapshot Report 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024 and can be found at the following address https://www.gtcs.org.uk/documents/the-gtc-scotland-register---registration-snapshot-report .

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 FOISA exemptions apply to some of the information you have requested.

Section 29: Formulation of Scottish Administration policy 

Section 29(1)(a) of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to the formulation or development of Scottish Government policy.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of an abiding interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring policy can be developed through different stages before being agreed and announced.

Section 30: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs

Sections 30(b)(i) and 30(b)(ii) of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to the free and frank provision of advice to Ministers or inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances  of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of an abiding interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining private space to discuss topics at preliminary stages of consideration. 

Section 38: Personal Information

Section 38 contains four exemptions, all relating to personal information. Information is exempt from disclosure if it is: (i) the personal data of the person requesting the information (section 38(1)(a)); (ii) the personal data of a third party – but only if other conditions apply (section 38(1)(b)); (iii) personal census information (section 38(1)(c)); or (iv) a deceased person’s health record (section 38(1)(d)). This is not subject to the ‘public interest test’. 

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400437826 - Information released - Annex

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