If you have a concern, it is important that you raise this with your child's school as soon as possible. Set out below are the steps you should take.
What to do first – Stage 1
Most concerns can be sorted out quickly by speaking with your child's class or form teacher or, in the case of secondary schools, the head of year.
If you have a concern which you feel should be looked at by the headteacher, you can contact him or her straightaway if you prefer. It is usually best to discuss the problem face to face so you may need to make an appointment by contacting the school office. You can take a friend or relative to the meeting if you wish.
If you are still concerned – Stage 2
If you are still concerned following your meeting, you can make a formal complaint to the headteacher. This should be done in writing in line with the school's complaints policy. The headteacher will contact you to discuss the problem and you will usually be invited to a meeting to discuss this further. The headteacher will then conduct a full investigation of the complaint and may interview if appropriate any members of staff or pupils concerned. You will receive a written response to your complaint.
If you are still unhappy – Stage 3
If you are still not satisfied, you may wish to make a formal complaint to the governing body. You should write to the chair of governors of the school stating ‘I wish to make a formal complaint to the governing body of <insert name of school you wish to make the complaint to>’. This makes it clear that the governing body must respond. The chair of governors will arrange for your complaint to be considered and investigated under the arrangements approved by governors. This usually involves the complaint being heard by a committee of three governors appointed to act on behalf of the governing body, usually called a governors’ complaints panel. These governors will have no prior knowledge of the case and will therefore be able to make a fresh, unbiased assessment. You will be invited to attend the panel meeting, accompanied by a friend or relative if you wish, and to put your side of the matter. The headteacher will also attend to give his or her account. More information on how these meetings are conducted is contained in the school's complaints procedure.
Is there any further action I can take if I am still unhappy with the response received from the Governing Body?
Complaints about school problems are usually settled within the school and Stage 3 is the last step of the process that is managed within the school or school governing body.
If your problem/complaint remains unresolved after Stage 3, then you may raise your complaint with the Secretary of State for Education.
Complaints to the secretary of state are handled by the government’s Department for Education (DfE). Making a complaint to the DfE should only happen after you have exhausted the schools complaints process above. When making a complaint to the DfE you should provide copies of any documentation you have about the complaint. This will help them to investigate your case.
Further guidance on how to complain to the Secretary of State for Education can be found at the link below under the heading ‘Guidance on making a complaint about a school’.