Can students use the Act to gain access to their exam scripts?
No. Under the FOIA, exam scripts would be considered personal information so generally would be exempt from access. Usually, this means individuals wishing to access their own personal data can do so via the Data Protection Act (DPA). However, exam scripts are also exempt from access under the DPA. Legally, this means the University is not obliged to provide copies for students who ask for them. The University is entitled however to release scripts at its own discretion. Current University policy states that students have no automatic right of access to examination scripts, but a student who has received a fail mark or been offered a re-sit may have access to his/her script in the presence of a member of the teaching staff where this is judged to assist in the process of advising on examination performance. Under these circumstances, the student is not permitted to take originals or copies away with them.
