Request
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you that I am making a freedom of information request for both the average overall mark and average exam mark of taught masters students who had passed 120 credits at level 4 (stage 1), level 5 (stage 2), level 6 (stage 3), and level 7 (stage 4) by the end of 2017/18.
The specific pool of students that I am looking to obtain this information from is for an entire year group of students who studied a taught masters course in physics (MPhys).
Before looking into my request, I already understand that your university may not be able to deal with certain requests due to time/cost constraints (under section 12(1) of the act), or that the information may not be held regardless. If this may be the case where after reviewing my above request it would be to difficult to process it further, I have proposed some alternative requests which I would greatly appreciate for you to answer that may be more within your limits. These alternative requests are mentioned in a list at the end of this email.
For context, the reason I am making this freedom of information request is because I require information which shows that students as a whole year group would generally do better in their latter stages of study, compared to their earlier stages. I am not interested in individual marks and would simply like this information to be expressed a percentage of the average overall year mark and overall average exam mark for stage 1 in 14/15, stage 2 in 15/16, stage 3 in 16/17, and stage 4 in 17/18. I am more interested in getting a year group from physics courses, but can be flexible to any other courses outside of this which are scientific based. I am more interested in getting the overall mark AND overall exam mark for the year group for each year, but can be flexible to just receiving one or the other. I am also more interested in year groups that studied degrees which include a 4th taught masters year, but can be flexible to year groups which only studied a 3 year bachelors degree. I am also more interested in students from the same year group that graduated with their final year being in the 2017/18 year, but can be flexible to year groups that completed their final year in earlier academic years than 2017/18. Based on this information, I would be grateful if you could please take all of this into consideration when dealing with my initial request, as I am open to flexibility as to the information you would be able to provide. If this is still not possible, please see if you could answer my alternative requests mentioned at the end of the email.
In summary, please refer to the list below of the information that your university will be capable of within your means. I have ordered my requests in order of preference. Please can you answer the two questions under one of the numbers below (a and b). If you are only able to answer one question (a or b) due to your constraints that would be agreeable.
Below I have prepared my requests in priority order:
1. a) Average overall mark of MPhys students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of MPhys students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
2. a) Average overall mark of students on any other taught masters course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students on any other taught masters students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
3. a) Average overall mark of students from all year groups combined of every taught masters course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students from all year groups combined of every taught masters course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
4. a) Average overall mark of Physics BSc students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of Physics BSc students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
5. a) Average overall mark of students on any 3 year bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students on any 3 year bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
6. a) Average overall mark of students from all year groups combined of every 3 years bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, and level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students from all year groups combined of every 3 years bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, and level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
7. Any of numbers 1. to 6. but only answering a) OR b)
You do not need to provide me a reason as to why any of the other requests cannot be dealt with, as I am only interested in your university being able to provide me solely with the information to the relevant request.
Any response that would reveal any information in relation to these requests would be most appreciated.
Cheers,
Response
Dear Mr Hasan,
I write further to your request for information dated 12 March 2019. This request has been handled by the University in accordance with its duties and obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("FOIA").
You requested details of:
1. a) Average overall mark of MPhys students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of MPhys students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
2. a) Average overall mark of students on any other taught masters course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students on any other taught masters students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
3. a) Average overall mark of students from all year groups combined of every taught masters course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students from all year groups combined of every taught masters course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 and level 7 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
4. a) Average overall mark of Physics BSc students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of Physics BSc students who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
5. a) Average overall mark of students on any 3 year bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students on any 3 year bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
6. a) Average overall mark of students from all year groups combined of every 3 years bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, and level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
b) Average overall exam mark of students from all year groups combined of every 3 years bachelors course who had passed 120 credits at level 4, level 5, and level 6 by the end of 2017/18 (or any other year).
7. Any of numbers 1. to 6. but only answering a) OR b)
Your request is refused, as the information is not held. The University does not offer a taught master's course in physics.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you may request an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter by writing to:
Chris Ince
University Secretary
London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway Road
London
N7 8DB
Email: c.ince@londonmet.ac.uk
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745
Website: www.ico.org.uk
There is no charge for making an appeal.
Kind regards,
Tracy Brathwaite
Information Compliance Officer
University Secretary's Office
London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway Road
London N7 8DB
Switchboard: 020 7423 0000