Freedom of information publication scheme
A freedom of information publication scheme, normally the ICO model scheme, listing the classes of information published, how each is published and whether it is free or charged for. Every school and trust must publish one as a public authority.
Check this on my websiteWho it applies to
- Published on
- School and trust websites
- School type
- Academies and maintained schools
- School stage
- All stages, from early years to sixth form
- Does not apply to
- No school types are excluded
When is it due?
- Renewal
- No fixed date
The official sources set no renewal date. Keep it accurate whenever it changes.
What's needed
Publish a freedom of information publication scheme adopting the ICO model publication scheme, with the school's guide to information, on the statutory information page.
What it must contain
7 parts- Dates when the publication scheme was last reviewedMust
- States that it has adopted the ICO's model publication schemeMust
- Lists the classes of information it publishes or intends to publishMust
- Says how each class of information is publishedMust
- States whether the published information is free or charged forMust
- Publishes datasets released in response to information requestsMust
- Sets out the seven commitments and seven classes of the publication schemeShould
What the official sources say
Set out in 2 official sources:
Freedom of Information Act 2000 s19 (publication schemes)
1 It shall be the duty of every public authority— a to adopt and maintain a scheme which relates to the publication of information by the authority and is approved by the Commissioner (in this Act referred to as a “publication scheme”), b to publish information in accordance with its publication scheme, and c from time to time to review its publication scheme.
Must§ s. 19(1)(a)-(c)
2 A publication scheme must— a specify classes of information which the public authority publishes or intends to publish, b specify the manner in which information of each class is, or is intended to be, published, and c specify whether the material is, or is intended to be, available to the public free of charge or on payment.
Must§ s. 19(2)(a)-(c)
Show 2 more from this source
2A A publication scheme must, in particular, include a requirement for the public authority concerned— a to publish— i any dataset held by the authority in relation to which a person makes a request for information to the authority, and ii any up-dated version held by the authority of such a dataset, unless the authority is satisfied that it is not appropriate for the dataset to be published,
Must§ s. 19(2A)(a)(i)-(ii)
4 A public authority shall publish its publication scheme in such manner as it thinks fit.
Must§ s. 19(4)
ICO: Publication schemes, a guide (model publication scheme)
As well as responding to requests for information, you must publish information proactively. The Freedom of Information Act requires every public authority to have a publication scheme, approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and to publish information covered by the scheme.
Must§ At a glance
No. Every public authority must have a publication scheme, but the ICO has now created a model publication scheme that all public authorities must use. It is available in two versions; one is designed for those public authorities that are only covered for certain information, and the other is for all other public authorities. Any publication scheme you have that was created before 1 January 2009 is now out of date and you should replace it with the ICO model scheme.
Must§ Do we need to produce our own publication scheme?
Show 1 more from this source
The model publication scheme is a short document (say two pages long) setting out your high-level commitment to proactively publish information. It is suitable for all sectors and consists of seven commitments and seven classes of information.
Should§ What is the model publication scheme?
Questions schools ask
Does every school have to publish the freedom of information publication scheme?
The official sources we check set no requirement for academies. The official sources we check set no requirement for maintained schools.
When does the freedom of information publication scheme need to be published?
Renewal: No fixed date. The official sources set no renewal date. Keep it accurate whenever it changes.
What must the freedom of information publication scheme include?
Dates when the publication scheme was last reviewed; States that it has adopted the ICO's model publication scheme; Lists the classes of information it publishes or intends to publish; Says how each class of information is published; States whether the published information is free or charged for; Publishes datasets released in response to information requests; and 1 more part listed above.
Where does the requirement for the freedom of information publication scheme come from?
It is set out in Freedom of Information Act 2000 s19 (publication schemes) and ICO: Publication schemes, a guide (model publication scheme).
Changes to the official sources
The sources for this item do not publish dated change notes. Their current versions are listed above.
We last checked these sources on 21 September 2026.
Is this on your school's website?
We check your site the way an inspector or a parent would find it: page by page, against the official wording of each requirement. If it's there, you get the page and the words we found. If it isn't, you get every place we looked.
Check this one requirement free, or scan your whole site against every requirement.
Official sources last checked 21 September 2026 · register version 1.0.4