How do I access information?
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 provide a general right of access to recorded information held by SQA.
We make a large amount of information available through our website and you may find the information you are looking for is already available. Our guide to information available through SQA's Publication Scheme explains what this is and we recommend that you have a look at this first.
There is no charge to view information on our website or at our premises. We may charge for providing information to you, for example, photocopying and postage, but we will charge you no more than it actually costs us to do so. We will always tell you what the cost is before providing the information to you. You can find further details of these charges in our Publication Scheme.
Make a Freedom of Information request
If the information you are looking for is not available through the Publication Scheme you can make a request by:
Online: FOI request
Write:
Freedom of Information Manager
SQA
The Optima Building
58 Roberson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DQ
For a general FOI enquiry you can contact freedom of information team
What will happen next?
You can expect to receive an acknowledgement within five working days, and a full response within the 20-working day deadline. If we need to ask you for more details to help us understand your request correctly, we will do this as quickly as possible.
We may not release some or all of the requested information to you if it is exempt from disclosure. If an exemption applies, we will explain this to you in our response.
Find information about exemptions on the Scottish Information Commissioner's website.
Will I be charged?
For information that is not already published there may be a charge. If the cost to us of providing the information will be less than £100, there will be no charge. If it will cost SQA more than £100, but less than £600, to provide the information, we may ask you to contribute up to 10% of this cost.
SQA is not required to provide you with information if we estimate that it will cost us over £600 to find and supply it. If this happens, where possible we will help you to limit your request to try to provide whatever information we can within the cost limit.
Can I request my own personal data?
We will not release personal information, such as SQA qualifications results, in response to a Freedom of Information request as it will be refused under Section 38 of FOISA. If you wish to make a request for your own personal information you should submit a subject access request.
Can I request environmental information?
Environmental information is governed by separate regulations, known as the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs). Any FOISA request for environmental information will be refused under section 39(2) of FOISA, but we will respond to such requests under the Environmental Information Regulations. There may be charges for this information.
What if I'm unhappy with how my request was dealt with?
When you make a Freedom of Information request you have the right to ask us to review our decision if you are not satisfied with our response. You can do this online.
Online: Review request
Write: Freedom of Information Manager
SQA
The Optima Building
58 Roberson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DQ
Your request for review must be in writing stating your full name and contact details and explaining what you are dissatisfied with in our response. Your request should be made within 40 working days of receipt of the information. We will acknowledge your review request within five working days and reply in full within 20 working days.
If you are still dissatisfied after any review, you have the right to apply for a decision to the Scottish Information Commissioner.
Online: Scottish Information Commissioner
Write:The Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
KY16 9DS
Tel: 01334 464610
Email: Enquiries Scottish Information Commissioner
Further information
SQA's Freedom of Information Policy sets out how we ensure compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act.
SQA Freedom of Information Policy (122 KB)