Introduction
As a parent, you may have a query or worry about an aspect of your child’s schooling. This procedure explains the stages you can go through to resolve your concerns.
1) The Informal Stage
In the first instance, please contact your child’s class teacher by contacting the school office. Experience has shown that most difficulties can be solved satisfactorily at this informal stage.
BUT, if this is not the case you will need to move on.
Please contact your child’s Phase Leader (preferably in writing) to explain your concerns and they will investigate the matter further and seek to resolve difficulties. If you are still not satisfied you will need to move on.
Please contact our Assistant Head (again preferably in writing) to explain your concerns and they will investigate the matter further and seek to resolve difficulties. If you are still not satisfied you will need to move on to:
2) The Formal Stage
Please contact the Headteacher in writing and ask for an appointment to discuss the matter, giving details of your concerns. The Headteacher will look into the issues you have raised and respond once the relevant facts have been established.
In the unlikely event that the Headteacher is unable to resolve the issues to your satisfaction, write to the Chair of the Governing Body, c/o the school. The Chair or a nominated Governor will investigate and respond directly to you.
3) The Panel Hearing Stage
Very few parental concerns reach this formal stage. A formal complaint is heard when all previous stages have been undertaken and the issue remains unresolved.
If you decide to take this formal action, you will need to write to the Governing Body (via the Clerk to the Governors), at the school, stating that you wish to make a formal complaint. The Governing Body will convene a small panel of governors, who have not been involved previously, to look in detail at the issues you raise. One member of the panel will be completely independent of the school, the management and the governors.
You will be invited to attend a meeting of the panel to discuss your complaint. You will be given at least 14 days notice of the panel hearing. After fully considering your complaint, the panel will write to you within 14 days to inform you of its decision.
For most complaints about a school, the decision of the panel is the last stage in the procedure. However, there are certain types of complaints for which you need to move forward to.
4) Education Funding Agency
Now contact the Education Funding Agency where you will be given information on what you have to do. A complaint should be sent via the Department for Education’s schools complaints form (available at (www.education.gov.uk)