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| Free school bids ordered to be disclosed | Free school bids ordered to be disclosed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The identity of groups wanting to open free schools will have to be publicly revealed, despite the objections of the government. | The identity of groups wanting to open free schools will have to be publicly revealed, despite the objections of the government. |
| The Department for Education has been told to publish details of applicants wanting to set up a free school. | The Department for Education has been told to publish details of applicants wanting to set up a free school. |
| The Information Tribunal rejected an attempt by the government to withhold this information. | The Information Tribunal rejected an attempt by the government to withhold this information. |
| A Department for Education spokeswoman said ministers would consider the decision and "respond in due course". | A Department for Education spokeswoman said ministers would consider the decision and "respond in due course". |
| Free schools are state-funded schools which are set up by groups of parents, charities or other providers. There are about 80 already open with plans for a further 102 this year. | Free schools are state-funded schools which are set up by groups of parents, charities or other providers. There are about 80 already open with plans for a further 102 this year. |
| 'Transparency' | 'Transparency' |
| The Department for Education had previously rejected Freedom of Information requests for details of the groups wanting to set up schools. | The Department for Education had previously rejected Freedom of Information requests for details of the groups wanting to set up schools. |
| The Information Commissioner had backed the requests, but the government had appealed against this decision. | The Information Commissioner had backed the requests, but the government had appealed against this decision. |
| The education department had argued that revealing the identity of unsuccessful applicants could put them off from re-applying or could deter interest from other groups. | The education department had argued that revealing the identity of unsuccessful applicants could put them off from re-applying or could deter interest from other groups. |
| It also made the case that the identities of any bids would become public once they had got beyond an initial application - and that the only extra information to be revealed would be those groups rejected at the first stage. | |
| But the Information Tribunal rejected the appeal and ruled that "the balance of public interest favoured disclosure". | But the Information Tribunal rejected the appeal and ruled that "the balance of public interest favoured disclosure". |
| "The free school programme involves substantial public funds and significant changes to the way the education service is controlled, managed and delivered," the tribunal concluded. | "The free school programme involves substantial public funds and significant changes to the way the education service is controlled, managed and delivered," the tribunal concluded. |
| "It is a matter of considerable public importance and the transparency of the process and its openness to public debate and consideration are of concern to communities across England." | "It is a matter of considerable public importance and the transparency of the process and its openness to public debate and consideration are of concern to communities across England." |
| The legal ruling highlighted the "poor" quality of a survey used by the department to argue its case - saying its bias "fatally undermines" its credibility. | The legal ruling highlighted the "poor" quality of a survey used by the department to argue its case - saying its bias "fatally undermines" its credibility. |
| The survey had been used to show that applicants might have been deterred if their bids had been made public at an initial stage. | |
| "The Tribunal was surprised that a Department of State should have chosen to rely on a survey which even on its face was of doubtful reliability but which on further analysis is deeply suspect." | "The Tribunal was surprised that a Department of State should have chosen to rely on a survey which even on its face was of doubtful reliability but which on further analysis is deeply suspect." |
| The requests for information had come from the Guardian newspaper, the Association of Colleges and the British Humanist Association (BHA). | The requests for information had come from the Guardian newspaper, the Association of Colleges and the British Humanist Association (BHA). |
| The BHA's Richy Thompson said: "We are delighted with today's ruling in our favour, which represents a victory for transparency and democracy." | The BHA's Richy Thompson said: "We are delighted with today's ruling in our favour, which represents a victory for transparency and democracy." |
| The Department for Education will now have to decide whether to submit a further appeal to the Upper Tribunal. | The Department for Education will now have to decide whether to submit a further appeal to the Upper Tribunal. |