School complaints

Schools aim to provide as many opportunities to keep you informed and involved in your child's progress as they possibly can. Regular reports, open days and visits all helping the process. Questions and concerns are usually dealt with quickly and helpfully.

All schools are happy to hold discussions with parents/carers if there are concerns or differences of opinion.

The main aim is to resolve concerns and ensure the child remains in school.

If you wish to make a complaint or have a discussion about an issue of concern, please contact the school Headteacher in the first instance and arrange to have a face-to-face meeting.

It may be useful to prepare notes or consider what you would like the outcome of the issue to be before this meeting.

Investigating complaints does take time and the answers aren't always readily available, but you will at least be able to decide whether the action taken (or not taken) was reasonable and whether any further steps would solve the problem.

If you are unhappy

In most cases, the problem will have been solved by this stage. However, if you are still unhappy, then you should contact the Chair of Governors. The school will tell you how to make contact with this person who may help to resolve the problem informally, possibly by arranging a meeting between those involved. If, after this, you are still not satisfied with the answer, then you should ask to make a formal complaint to the Governing Body.

Complaints to the Governing Body

A panel of governors will be called to hear your case and all sides will be asked to submit a written statement. You will also be invited to attend any hearing that is held, to present your side of the story.

The decision of the governors' panel will then be sent in writing to all parties.

If you are still unhappy

If after the Governors have dealt with your complaints, you are still unhappy with the decision that was taken, you can contact us for advice on what to do next.