Department for Education

The complainant has requested a complaint report associated with a particular school, and information associated with the report.  The Department for Education (DfE) has refused to either confirm or deny it holds the requested information under section 36(3) of the FOIA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs).  It considers the public interest favours maintaining this position.  The Commissioner’s decision is as follows: DfE can rely on section 36(3) to neither confirm nor deny it holds the requested information, and the balance of the public interest favours maintaining this exemption. The Commissioner does not require DfE to take any remedial steps.