We believe that our school provides a good education for all our children, and that the Headmaster and other staff work very hard to build positive relationships with all parents. However, the school is obliged to have procedures in place in case there are complaints by parents. The following policy sets out the procedure that the school follows in such cases.
If any parent is unhappy with the education that their child is receiving, or has any concern relating to the school, we encourage that person to talk to the child's class teacher or tutor immediately.
Aims and Objectives
Our school aims to be fair, open and honest when dealing with any complaint. We give careful consideration to all complaints and deal with them as swiftly as possible. We aim to resolve any complaint through dialogue and mutual understanding and, in all cases, we put the interests of the child above all other issues. We provide sufficient opportunity for any complaint to be fully discussed, and then resolved.
The Complaints Process
Stage One: Informal resolution
If a parent is concerned about anything to do with the education that we are providing at our school, they should, in the first instance, discuss the matter with their child's class teacher or tutor. Most matters of concern can be dealt with in this way. All teachers work very hard to ensure that each child is happy at school, and is making good progress; they always want to know if there is a problem, so that they can take action before the problem seriously affects the child's progress.
Complaints made directly to a member of the management team who does not teach the child, will usually be referred to the relevant member of staff unless they deem it appropriate to deal with the matter personally. Those parents who make an informal complaint straight to the Headmaster by email will be dealt with either by the Headmaster or by the member of staff he delegates to act for him, but the matter is usually resolved at this stage.
If a teacher or tutor feels that they cannot deal with the problem alone, they will confer with the Head of Department, the Deputy Head (academic or pastoral) or the Headmaster, as appropriate. The Tutor (or Headmaster) will make a written note (dated) of any parental concerns or complaints.
Where a parent feels that a situation has not been resolved through contact with the class teacher or tutor, the teacher and parent fail to reach a satisfactory resolution or their concern is of a sufficiently serious nature, then parents will be advised to proceed with their complaint in accordance with stage 2 of this procedure.
Stage 2 - Formal Resolution
If the complaint cannot be resolved on an informal basis, then the parents should put their complaint in writing to the Headmaster who will arrange for them to make an appointment to discuss the matter. The headmaster considers any such complaint very seriously and investigates each case thoroughly. Most complaints are normally resolved at this stage. The Head will keep written records of all meetings and interviews held in relation to the complaint.
Once the Head is satisfied that, so far as is practicable, all of the relevant facts have been established, a decision will be made and parents will be informed of this decision in writing. The Head will also give reasons for his decision. Normally no complaint dealt with at any level below the Governing Body should remain unresolved for longer than five working days. When resolution will take longer than this, the parent must be kept informed and told why.
If parents are still not satisfied with the decision, they should proceed to Stage 3 of this Procedure.
Should a parent have a complaint about the Headmaster, s/he should first make an informal approach to one of the members of the governing body, who is obliged to investigate it. The governor in question will do all s/he can to resolve the issue through a dialogue with the school, but if a parent is unhappy with the outcome, s/he can make a formal complaint involving a panel hearing, as outlined below.
Stage 3: Panel Hearing
If an informal complaint and subsequent discussions have failed to resolve an issue, then a formal complaint should be made to the governing body. This complaint must be made in writing, stating the nature of the complaint and the actions of the school so far. This written complaint should be sent to the Chairman of Governors, who will convene a complaints panel.
The complaints panel, represented by no fewer than two governors (neither of whom has any connection with the matter under investigation) and one other person independent of the management and running of the school, must consider all written complaints within a maximum of three weeks. A meeting will be arranged to discuss the complaint; the panel will give the parents at least three days notice of the meeting, allowing for parents to attend the meeting and be accompanied at the meeting if they so wish.
After hearing all the evidence, including that gathered through further investigation, should it be necessary, the panel will consider their findings and will reach a decision. They may make recommendations. This process will be completed within 7 days of the hearing. The Panel's findings, their reasons and any recommendations, will be sent in writing to the parents, the Headmaster, the Governors and, where relevant, the person complained about. The Governing body does all it can at this stage to resolve the complaint to the parent's satisfaction.
Parents can be assured that all concerns and complaints will be treated seriously and confidentially. Correspondence, statements and records will be kept confidential except in so far as is required of the school by paragraph 6(2)(j) of the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations 2003; where disclosure is required in the course of the school's inspection; or where any other legal obligation prevails.
Appendix: Complaints Procedure - Independent Member of the Panel
The DfES has supplied the following guidance in a letter to the ISC General Secretary:
Whilst we do not intend to be prescriptive our general view is that suitable people would be those who have held positions of responsibility and who are used to analysing evidence and putting forward balanced arguments/points. It would add credibility if independent panel members had some standing in the local community. In this connection serving or retired business people, civil servants, heads or senior members of staff at other schools, people with a legal background - perhaps retired members of the Police Force - might be considered suitable by schools. Schools will have their own views and may well have other suitable suggestions to make.
At all stages, a written record is to be kept by the school of all complaints and of whether they are resolved at the preliminary stages or proceed to a panel hearing. All correspondence, statements and records relating to individual complaints are to be kept confidential except where the Secretary of State or a body conducting an inspection under section 163 of the 2002 Education Act requests access to them.
Parents are informed of the complaints process and the number of Ofsted, which they may wish to contact with their complaint:
OFSTED Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA