24-25/57

I refer to your request for information (FOI 24-25/57) dated 27 October 2024 for records regarding any functionality available to GTC Scotland which would “hide teachers names from search results requested by members of the public” using the “online search capability” which we have handled under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA). You also asked that we include details of what “metadata / audit history is captured” if this functionality is used.

I confirm there exists a functionality available to GTC Scotland which would hide a Registrant from Search the Register if it was selected. This is available as a toggled option as demonstrated below:

We do not hold further information regarding this functionality beyond confirming its existence and to explain that this is likely used to hide test records during digital testing.

You also asked for details regarding how any changes to these records would reflect as metadata on an audit history. I confirm that if this change is made, there is an accompanying entry made in the audit history reflecting the date, user, event and changed values on the individual record.

You may contact informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk if you are dissatisfied with this response, to request GTC Scotland conduct a review of it. You should describe the original request and explain your grounds of review. You have 40 working days from receipt of this response to submit a review request. When the review process has been completed, if you are still dissatisfied, you may use the Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance on making an appeal to make an appeal.

I refer to your request dated 22 November 2024 for a review of the response you received the same day to your original information request to GTC Scotland (FOI 24-25/57), dated 27 October 2024.  

You have expressed dissatisfaction with our response to your information request. To enable your review request to be considered afresh and by someone who has not responded to your original request, I have been appointed to undertake the internal review on behalf of GTC Scotland.  

Your original request

In your original request you asked for the following:  

Please provide a copy of all information the GTCS holds with regard to functionality which enables the GTCS hide teachers names from search results requested by members of the public searching for a teachers name using the GTCS's online search capability. Please include details of what metadata / audit history is captured if a GTCS staff member uses this functionality

On 22 November, we indicated that such a functionality is available to GTC Scotland and that if used it would register the date of the change, the user who did so, which event triggered the change as well as the changed values on the individual record. On 22 November, you sent an email requesting we review our decision in FOI 24-25/57 under section 20(1) of FOISA.

Your internal review request

In your review request of 22 November, you state:  

This is a request for review. Just a simple question re the metadata being captured. Please confirm this is the metadata captured if someone at the GTCS uses the hide a teachers name from the search results functionality because this was what I was referring to when asking for this.

Our response

I can confirm that the information provided in our original response correctly addressed your query. Should the functionality be used then it would record when this happened, who did so, what event triggered this and the changed values on an audit history as metadata. I believe you have already received an example of this in the response to FOI 24-25_70 which you have received. This has therefore shown you what an audit history looks like and we have confirmed that this specific change, if applied, would also be visible in the audit history in that way.

As such, I consider that our original response should be upheld without modification.

If you are dissatisfied with this response to your review request, you have a right of appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months of this review response. The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance on making an appeal describes the process, including the application form. Further information, including relevant contact details is available on the website. www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal. If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the Commissioner, following an appeal to the Commissioner, you have a right of appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law.