Complaints about a school or academy
If you have a problem with your school, try talking to the school first. Most problems can be sorted out this way.
The local council does not deal with school complaints.
If you tell us about a problem, we will check your complaint. We will usually ask you to use the school’s complaints process.
Sometimes, we might pass your concerns to our safeguarding team. They keep a record of every concern and will act if needed, but they cannot give feedback about individual cases. They look carefully at everything you tell them.
How to make a formal complaint
Every school has a process for making complaints called a complaints procedure. You can usually find it on the school’s website. It explains how to complain and what to do next if:
· You are not happy with the school’s reply, or
· You think the school did not follow its own process properly.
Complaints to the Department for Education
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, or
- you think the school did not deal with your complaint the right way
You must have followed all the steps in the school’s complaints procedure.
Telling Ofsted about a problem
Ofsted cannot respond to or resolve individual complaints. However, you can still tell Ofsted about a problem with a school. They can use the information you provide to decide when to inspect and what areas to inspect.