The complaints procedure can be found on a school or academy's website, or you can ask to see a copy.
We cannot investigate school matters on behalf of a parent, nor can we review how the school has dealt with a complaint. If a complaint is still not resolved after following the school's complaints procedure, write to the Secretary of State for Education.
If your complaint is about bullying, you can find bullying advice for parents and carers.
How to complain
Some schools and academies will differ but most will act in accordance with the following stages:
Informal contact - complaint heard by a member of staff (informal)
Contact the school or academy and try to sort out the problem informally, speak to your child's teacher about your concern in the first instance.
Stage 1 - complaint heard by the headteacher (formal)
If your concern can't be resolved informally, write to the headteacher. It will give the headteacher time to make enquiries if you include:
- brief details of what your concern is about
- who you have spoken to already
- if there has been a particular incident, when and where it happened and who was involved or saw it happen
- what you expect the school to do in response to your concerns
Stage 2 - complaint heard by chair of governors (formal)
If you are still dissatisfied, or your concern is about the headteacher, write to the chair of governors.
Stage 3 - complaint heard by governing body's complaints appeal panel (formal)
If you are still dissatisfied after the chair of governors has investigated your complaint you can write to the clerk to the governing body to ask for your complaint to go before the appeal panel.
Final stage
You can complain to the Department for Education (DfE)if:
- a child is at risk
- a child is missing school
- the school is stopping you from following its complaints procedure