Schools Complaint Procedure
If you have comments/concerns please tell us.
We welcome suggestions for improving our work in the school. We understand that a common fear is that our relationship with you and your child will be affected if you express dissatisfaction.
1. What to do first
Most concerns and complaints can be sorted out quickly by speaking with your child's class teacher. All staff will make every effort to resolve your problem informally. They will make sure that they understand what you feel went wrong, and they will explain their own actions to you. They will ask what you would like the school to do to put things right. Of course, this does not mean that in every case they will come round to your point of view but it will help both you and the school to understand both sides of the question. It may also help to prevent a similar problem arising again.
2. What to do next
If you are dissatisfied with the teacher's response you can make a complaint to the Headteacher. This could be made in writing or by making an appointment to discuss the problem. (You may find it helpful at this stage to have a copy of the full statement of the School Complaints Procedure as this explains in detail what procedures are followed. This is available from the School Office). The Headteacher will ask to meet you for a discussion of the problem. You may take a friend or someone else with you if you wish. The Headteacher will conduct a full investigation of the complaint and may interview any members of staff or pupils involved. You will then receive a written response to your complaint which you may wish to discuss with the Headteacher.
3. If you are still unhappy
If you are still not satisfied, you may wish to contact the Chair of Governors to ask for referral of your complaint to the Governing Body's Complaints Committee. It will then be heard by a group of three governors who have no previous knowledge of the problem and so will be able to give it fresh assessment. You will be invited to attend and speak to the Committee. The School Complaints Procedure statement explains how these meetings operate.
4. Further Action
Complaints about school problems are almost always settled within schools but in exceptional cases it may be possible to refer the problem to an outside body such as the Advice and Conciliation Service which is independent of the school. Finally you can refer your complaint to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. Again there is more information on this in the School Complaints Policy.
Downloads
This document is a downloadable copy of the School Complaints Guide for Parents. (61.0 KB)