Terms & Conditions
Please read our conditions of use carefully, as by using the website you will be taken to have agreed to be bound by them. We reserve the right to vary the conditions of use at any time. You are advised to review the conditions of use on a regular basis, as you will be deemed to have accepted variations if you continue to use the website after they have been posted.
Disclaimer
We take every care and precaution to ensure that information published on the website is accurate when posted and regularly updated, but neither do we guarantee its accuracy. You are advised to verify the accuracy of any information before acting upon it. We may change the information at any time without notice.
We publish the website "as is" without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of our website, the accuracy of the information or the products or services referred to on the website (in so far as such warranties may be excluded under any relevant law). We shall not be liable for any losses or damage that may result from use of the website as a consequence of any inaccuracies in, or any omissions from, the information, which it may contain.
Copyright Statement
All copyrights in this website are strictly reserved to MidKent College.
All copyrights in this website including illustrations, pictures, sound, scripts, animation and other material appearing on this website, otherwise known as "content" belong to MidKent College or third parties authorising MidKent College to use the copyrights.
In accessing the MidKent College website, you agree that you will use the contents for your own private use. You may not make alterations, copy, store in any medium (including other websites), distribute, transmit any part of the website without the prior written permissions of MidKent College.
Accuracy
The information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. We have made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of inclusion. However, like any printed material, the information may be out of date at the time of access by the visitor. We shall not be liable for any error or omission in, or any failure to update such information and any decisions based on the information are the sole responsibility of the visitor.
We reserve the right to make changes to this website at any time without notice.
Links to External Websites
Certain links on this website lead to other websites that will have separate privacy and data collection practices. We have no responsibility or liability for those third party policies.
Freedom of Information Act
About the Freedom of Information Act
How do I apply for information under the Act?
A request for information under the FOI Act should be in writing: a letter, email or fax will be valid.
Who the Act covers
The Freedom of Information Act applies to all recorded information held by English, Welsh and Northern Irish ‘public authorities’ (although access to environmental information will be dealt with according to the provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations and access to personal data will continue to be dealt with under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998).
Public authorities are, broadly speaking, public bodies which exercise public functions, such as central government departments, local government, the police, the health service, the education service and their related offices and agencies. The Act either names these public authorities specifically or describes them in general terms. There are also provisions for other organisations to be brought within the scope of the Act by special Order.
The rights conferred by the Freedom of Information Act may be exercised by anyone, including, but not restricted to, people living abroad, non-UK citizens, journalists, political parties, lobby groups and commercial organisations.
How far back in time does the information go?
The Publication Scheme will contain current documents.
How much will I be charged?
There is no charge for electronically or paper provided documents in the standard format or quantity. This will be kept under review. Alternative formats may be arranged by special request, but there may be a charge to cover production costs.
Conditions of use
The publication scheme and content is the copyright of MidKent College of Higher & Further Education. It may be used freely for non-commercial purposes but may not be copied, adapted or distributed without the written consent of the college.
The model Publication Scheme adopted by MidKent College
Introduction
1. Legal requirement
1.1 Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This Act promotes greater openness and accountability across the public sector by requiring all ‘public authorities’ to make information available proactively, through a publication scheme.
1.2 ‘Public authorities’ are defined in the Act and include universities, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.
2. What is a publication scheme?
2.1 A publication scheme is a document which describes the information a public authority publishes, or intends to publish. In this context, ‘publish’ means to make information available, routinely. These descriptions are called ‘classes of information’. The scheme is not a list of the actual publications, because this will change as new material is published or existing material revised. It is, however, the public authority’s commitment to make available the information described.
2.2 A publication scheme must set out the classes, or categories, of information published. It must also make clear how the information described can be accessed and whether or not charges will be made.
3. The ‘model’ publication scheme for further education
3.1 MidKent College has adopted the model publication scheme developed for the Further Education sector and is therefore committed to publishing the information it describes.
3.2 This model is designed for further education colleges and sixth form colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The purpose of the model is to save institutions duplicating effort in producing individual schemes and to assist the public in accessing information from across the sector. However, to reflect the diversity in size and function of institution, a number of optional classes of information are included. As a result, models within the sector will vary slightly. Any optional classes relevant to us have been included in our scheme.
3.3 To assist with the development of the model, a number of institutions across the sector volunteered as pilots. Information about the pilot exercise is available from the JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) website at: www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=mps_overview
4. Who we are
4.1 As one of Kent's largest colleges of higher and further education, MidKent College provides one of the biggest and best ranges of learning and training services in the South East. Whether you want to train for work, gain an academic qualification, or learn new skills, we'll be able to help you do it. What's more, you can study at the level that suits you best – from total beginner to advanced learner.
From our three campuses in Gillingham, Chatham and Maidstone, we're well placed to offer learning right in the heart of the Medway and Maidstone areas. All three sites are close to town centres and near to main motorways, and they have good public transport links.
We understand that not everyone wants to learn in the traditional full-time way. That's why we offer a lot of part-time day and evening courses.
You're not alone at MidKent College. Our Student Services division offers a superb range of services designed to support you as you're learning and help you achieve your goals.
MidKent College has been providing top quality education and training in Kent for around 100 years. We are well known – and well respected – in this region, and have good links with employers, local authorities and industrial, commercial and educational organisations.
5. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme
5.1 The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.
5.2 Next to each class we have indicated the manner in which the information described will be available. We have also indicated whether charges apply to material in each class.
5.3 To request information available through our publication scheme, please contact:
Management Information Services Manager
Medway Capmus
Medway Road
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 1FN
foiadmin@midkent.ac.uk
5.4 Please note that a publication scheme relates to ‘published’ information. Therefore, material covered has already been prepared in a format ready for distribution.
6. What about information not covered by the publication scheme?
6.1 From 1 January 2005 you have had the right, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to request any information held by a public authority which it has not already made available through its publication scheme.
6.2 Requests will have to be made in writing and, in general, public authorities will have 20 working days to respond. They may charge a fee, which will have to be calculated according to Fees Regulations. They will not be required to release information to which an exemption in the Act legitimately applies. However, public authorities may be required to explain to the applicant why they are not releasing information and they may also have to justify this to the Information Commissioner.
7. Feedback
7.1 It is important that this publication scheme meets your needs. If you find the scheme difficult to understand, please let us know. We also welcome suggestions as to how our scheme might be improved. Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to the address in section 5.4 above.
7.2 If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the Freedom of Information Act:
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
8. Further information
More information about the Freedom of Information Act is available on the Information Commissioner’s website at: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Please note that Scotland has its own Freedom of Information Act and Information Commissioner. For more information, please see the Scottish Executive’s website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/government/foi