Budget deficits for GoJ schools

​​Original Request 683669993

​Regarding primary and secondary GoJ maintained (fee-paying and non fee-paying) schools, please provide the following information: 

A) which GoJ schools had a budget DEFICIT for YE 31/12/2023 

B) which GoJ schools had a budget DEFICIT for YE 31/12/2024 

For each of these schools, please provide: 

- The name of the school 

- The number of children enrolled at the school 

- The total amount of the budget deficit 

C) which GoJ schools had a budget SURPLUS for YE 31/12/2023 

D) which GoJ schools had a budget DEFICIT for YE 31/12/2024 

For each of these schools, please provide: 

- The name of the school 

- The number of children enrolled at the school 

- The total amount of the budget surplus

Original Response

This information is exempt under Article 37 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011. 

​Article applied

Article 37 - Audit functions

(1) Information is qualified exempt information –

(a) if it is held by a scheduled public authority mentioned in paragraph (2); and

(b) if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise of any of the authority’s functions in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b).

(2) A scheduled public authority referred to in paragraph (1) is a scheduled public authority that has functions in relation to –

(a) the audit of the accounts of another public authority; or

(b) the examination of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which another public authority uses its resources in discharging its functions.

(3) Information is also qualified exempt information –

(a) if it is held by the Comptroller and Auditor General; and

(b) if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise of any of his or her functions.

Public Interest Test 

In this instance, Article 37 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been relied upon as the SPA is satisfied that responding to this question would, or would be likely to, prejudice the exercise of its functions in relation to a matter mentioned in paragraph 2(b) of Article 37 of the said Law. 

Internal Review Request 

Thank you for sending the response below. 

I would like to appeal the decision to apply and exemption under Article 37 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.  

Please can you clarify which section of article 37 is being applied. 

Please provide a copy of the legal advice you received to justify the application of article 37.  

Internal Review Response 

The Department and Senior Officers that were not involved in the original FOI response have reviewed the application of Article 37, it has been determined that the Article cannot be fully applied to this request and therefore the response is detailed below.

The below table represents the budget surpluses and deficits, for each Government of Jersey school as at the end of financial years 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024, along with the number of pupils on roll in the Autumn term.   

Deficits are negative numbers shown in italics and surpluses are positive numbers shown in normal text.

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