The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force in January 2005. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities (including publically funded universities). It also sets out exemptions from that right (e.g. information about particular persons, which falls under the Data Protection Act) and places a number of obligations on authorities when responding to requests for information. For more information see the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website.

Under the Act you have the right to be told whether particular information exists and, subject to any applicable exemptions, the right to receive that information. Requests must be made in writing (though this can be an email or a fax) and you should state your name, provide an address for correspondence and describe the information requested as clearly as possible. The RCA will respond within 20 working days of receipt of the request. There is an email address foi@rca.ac.uk to which you can submit requests. Alternatively you can write to:

Enquiries Management Team
Media Relations & Marketing Department
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU
T: +44 (0)20 7590 4123

The Act also requires that we institute and maintain a Publication Scheme including all the information the RCA routinely makes available or publishes. In July 2008 the Information Commissioner’s Office introduced a new model publication scheme that all public authorities were required to adopt from January 2009. The scheme has seven broad classes of information. For details of the scheme as applicable to universities see here.

The RCA has produced a Guide to Published Information, listing relevant ‘published’ information under the seven classes of the model Publication Scheme, indicating the format in which the information is available, how it can be accessed and any charges that apply. Wherever possible information is made available online, either as pages on the College website or as PDFs. The information can also be provided in hard copy if required, on request.