Our commitment to openness
The CAM Academy Trust is committed to being open and transparent about how we operate. We welcome requests for information and aim to respond in line with our legal duties under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
As a Multi-Academy Trust, we are a public authority for the purposes of FOIA and are required to provide access to recorded information we hold, unless a valid exemption applies.
Publication scheme
All public authorities, including schools, are required under the Freedom of Information Act to adopt a publication scheme that has been approved by the Information Commissioner.
There is currently one approved model publication scheme, which has been produced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Schools must adopt The ICO model publication scheme and make it publicly available.
Our published guide to information
Schools should publish a guide to information alongside the publication scheme and the guide should specify:
- The documents available
- The format of the documents
- Any charges made for the information
Some information is already available without the need to make a request. This includes:
- Our Publication Scheme
- Statutory and financial information published on our website
- Policies and reports required by the Department for Education
We encourage requesters to check our website before submitting a request.
Details of the Publication Scheme and guide to information can be found in the Freedom of Information Policy.
To be valid, an FOI request must:
- Be made in writing (email is acceptable)
- Include the name of the requester
- Provide a correspondence address (email or postal)
- Clearly describe the information being requested
Requests should be sent to:
Email: foi@catrust.co.uk
Post: The CAM Academy Trust, Sheepfold Lane, Cambourne, CB23 6FR
We will respond to Freedom of Information requests within 20 school working days of receipt or 60 working days if this is shorter. When calculating the deadline for response, a “school day” is one in which pupils are in attendance, and the total time limit is subject to an absolute maximum of 60 normal working days to respond.
In some cases, we may:
- Ask for clarification if a request is unclear (the response time will pause until clarification is received)
- Extend the deadline where the public interest test applies (we will notify you if this is the case)
- Most requests are processed free of charge.
However, we may refuse a request if the cost of compliance exceeds the statutory limit (currently £450, equivalent to 18 hours of work). We may also charge for:
- Photocopying
- Printing
- Postage
Any charges will be confirmed in advance.
Some information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Common exemptions include:
- Personal data (covered by data protection legislation)
- Commercially sensitive information
- Information intended for future publication
If we refuse a request, we will explain:
- The reason for the refusal
- Which exemption applies
- Your right to request an internal review