FOI Timescales for School Information in London

Education England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

In London, England, parents, pupils and members of the public can request official school information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Most maintained schools and many local-authority controlled bodies are public authorities and must respond to FOI requests, normally within a 20 working-day statutory deadline unless an exemption applies [1]. Requests should be clear, specify the information sought, and be sent to the schools FOI officer or the school's published contact point.

If you are unsure who handles FOI at a school, contact the school office and ask for the FOI or data protection lead.

When the 20 working days starts and stops

The clock normally starts the day after the public authority receives the request and runs in working days; weekends and public holidays are excluded. If clarification is needed, the statutory period pauses until the requester provides the requested clarification.

Penalties & Enforcement

Statutory deadlines and enforcement are set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and overseen by the Information Commissioner; specific monetary fines for delay in responding to FOI requests are not specified on the cited page [2]. The ICO can issue enforcement actions, require disclosure and may take compliance measures against public authorities that breach the Act [2].

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page [2].
  • Escalation: first failure to comply may lead to an enforcement notice; repeat or continuing failures can lead to further ICO action - details are not specified in monetary terms on the cited page [2].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement notices, orders to disclose information, and referral for prosecution for criminal offences where applicable [2].
  • Enforcer and complaints: the Information Commissioner enforces FOI; complaints about a council or schools FOI handling can be made to the ICO via their complaints page [2].
  • Appeals and reviews: internal review by the public authority is standard; if dissatisfied you can complain to the ICO - specific statutory time limits for internal review requests are not specified on the cited page [2].
Always ask the school for an internal review before contacting the ICO.

Applications & Forms

There is no single national FOI form for school requests; most authorities accept written requests by email or post and some provide online request forms on their websites. Check the school or local authority FOI contact page for submission details.

Practical steps to make a request

  • Identify the schools FOI contact or the local authority records team and use that email or form.
  • Be specific about the information, date ranges and formats to avoid clarification delays.
  • Keep a dated copy of your request and any responses; this helps if you need to complain to the ICO.
Being precise in your request reduces the chance the school will ask for clarification and pause the 20 working-day clock.

FAQ

Who can make an FOI request to a school?
Any person or organisation can make an FOI request to a qualifying public authority school; check whether the school is a maintained school or otherwise a public authority.
How long will the school take to respond?
Public authorities normally have 20 working days to respond to an FOI request, subject to valid exemptions and any pauses for clarification [1].
What if the school refuses or does not reply?
Request an internal review from the school, then complain to the Information Commissioner if you remain dissatisfied [2].

How-To

Step-by-step process to request school information under FOI in London.

  1. Prepare a clear written request stating you are making it under the Freedom of Information Act and describe the records you want.
  2. Send the request to the schools published FOI contact, local authority FOI address, or via any official online form the school publishes.
  3. Note the date you sent the request and allow 20 working days for a response; if clarification is requested, respond promptly to avoid delays.
  4. If the reply is unsatisfactory, ask for an internal review, then complain to the ICO if necessary.
Keep a paper or electronic trail of all correspondence to support any review or complaint.

Key Takeaways

  • The statutory response period for FOI requests is 20 working days in most cases [1].
  • No single national FOI form exists; use the school's published contact method.
  • Complain to the Information Commissioner if internal review does not resolve your concern [2].

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Freedom of Information Act 2000, section 10 - legislation.gov.uk
  2. [2] Information Commissioners Office - Freedom of information and schools

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