Requesting FOI/EIR for Schools in Liverpool

Education England 4 Minutes Read ยท published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

Making a Freedom of Information (FOI) or Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) request about schools in Liverpool, England begins by identifying who holds the information: the local authority for maintained schools or the academy trust for academies. This guide explains the statutory response times, who to contact at Liverpool City Council and at academy trusts, how to submit a clear written request, and what to do if a request is refused or ignored. It covers practical steps for parents, staff and researchers and highlights enforcement and appeal routes when a public body fails to comply.

If a council or school does not respond in time you may complain to the Information Commissioners Office.

How FOI and EIR apply to schools

Maintained schools (those run by the local authority) are subject to the FOI Act and EIR; academies and multi-academy trusts are public authorities for FOI/EIR but operate independently of the council. Always check whether the school is maintained or an academy before sending a request and address the request to the body that holds the information. For Liverpool City Council-managed records, use the councils published FOI request route. Liverpool City Council FOI page[1]

Penalties & Enforcement

Statutory response times and remedies are set out in national legislation and overseen by the Information Commissioner. The typical FOI and EIR response period is 20 working days from receipt; where different time limits or exceptions apply this will be stated by the public authority. If a public body fails to comply you may request an internal review and then complain to the Information Commissioner for enforcement and decision notices. Specific monetary fines for FOI non-compliance are not specified on the Liverpool City Council page cited above; the ICO describes enforcement routes and powers on its guidance pages. ICO FOI guidance[2]

An internal review is normally the first step before a complaint to the ICO.
  • Response time: 20 working days for FOI/EIR unless a statutory exception or extension applies.
  • Appeals: request internal review from the authority, then complain to the ICO; Tribunal options follow ICO decisions.
  • Monetary penalties: not specified on the cited Liverpool page; consult ICO decisions for enforcement actions.
  • Non-monetary remedies: decision notices, enforcement notices, information notices and refusal reasons; criminal offences may apply for deliberate record destruction (see ICO).
  • Enforcer and contact: Information Commissioners Office handles complaints and enforcement; the council handles initial requests and internal reviews.

Applications & Forms

Liverpool City Council provides an online FOI request route and contact details for submitting requests; academies normally publish their own contact details and procedures and should be contacted directly for school-held records. If an official council form is not used you can submit a clear written request by email or post stating your name, contact details and a description of the information needed. For academy-specific guidance, see the national guidance on requesting information from academies and maintained schools. Gov.uk academy/school request guidance[3]

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Failure to respond within statutory time - outcome: internal review, ICO complaint, possible decision notice.
  • Improper refusal or wrongful redaction - outcome: ICO review and potential enforcement notice.
  • Refusal to confirm whether information exists - outcome: ICO can require the authority to clarify.
If the body says information is held by another public authority, direct your request to the correct authority promptly.

Action steps

  • Identify whether the school is maintained or an academy and find the right contact details.
  • Submit a clear written request including name, contact, date and specific description of the records sought.
  • Wait up to 20 working days for a response; if refused, ask for an internal review within the authoritys stated timescale.
  • If still dissatisfied, complain to the ICO and follow the ICOs complaint procedure.

FAQ

Who should I send my request to for a maintained school?
Send the request to Liverpool City Council as the maintainer; use the councils FOI contact route for submission and internal review.
What if the school is an academy?
Contact the academy trust directly; academy trusts are public authorities for FOI/EIR and must publish contact details and procedures.
How long will I wait for a reply?
Standard statutory time is 20 working days for FOI and EIR requests, subject to any statutory exceptions or extensions.

How-To

  1. Confirm the school type (maintained vs academy) and identify the public authority that holds the records.
  2. Search published materials and the council or academy website for the information before requesting.
  3. Draft a written request that names the records clearly and includes your contact details; send by the authoritys preferred method.
  4. Record the date of receipt, wait up to 20 working days, and if refused request an internal review.
  5. If unsatisfied after internal review, submit a complaint to the ICO and follow any remedial directions.

Key Takeaways

  • FOI/EIR requests normally expect a response within 20 working days.
  • Address requests to the body that holds the records: Liverpool City Council for maintained schools or the academy trust for academies.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Liverpool City Council FOI page
  2. [2] ICO Freedom of Information guidance
  3. [3] Gov.uk guidance on requesting information from academies and maintained schools

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