Date Protection act

[jenk1]

i have asked my local authority for a copy of an email sent to them from the headteacher of a special school concerning my son.
They say they are not allowed to release emails to a 3rd party and have typed the headteachers comments.
I want to see the email because i want to see their email that they sent.
We are in the middle of a tribunal with my local authority and they have said they have evidence that there wasnt a place for my son back in february via an email yet they wont let me see it.
have i got a right to see it, surely its the same as a letter and the data protection act covers this as this is concerning my son?

TIA

They might not be able to let you see the actual email if it contains references to other children or staff members etc. In a copy of a letter these bits would be blanked out.

Typing out just the headteachers comments seems similar to missing out all the other info.