Complaints Procedure

The Governors and staff of Bletchingdon Parochial School hope sincerely that if any parent is concerned about the curriculum and religious worship or any other aspect of the school, that he or she will contact the school as soon as the cause for concern arises. The first port of call, in the majority of cases, should be the class teacher and if the matter is not resolved, then taken to the Headteacher.   This will ensure that parents and staff can work in partnership to resolve the matter on an informal basis before the issue becomes a problem.

If the complaint cannot be resolved at this stage there is a formal complaints procedure available in the school office, should parents wish to take their concerns further.

The Formal Level

If attempts to settle the complaint informally have failed, the Headteacher will supply the complainant with the name and address of the Clerk to the governing body together with a copy of the complaints procedure.

The complainant should set out the complaint in writing and submit it to the Clerk to the governing body.  This written notification should make clear what the complaint is and that it is to be formally considered under these arrangements.  Parents who have difficulty in writing will be offered the opportunity to express the complaint orally and for someone at the school to produce a written version with which the complainant can agree.

The Clerk will acknowledge receipt of the complaint and arrange for it to be investigated and considered by the Governing Body.  The governors will establish a sub-committee with 3 members to deal with complaints (which shouldn’t include in its membership governors who have been previously involved with the subject of the complaint).  If the complaint concerns a member of staff he or she should be alerted to the fact.

The complainant will be offered the opportunity to make an oral presentation to the sub-committee to supplement the written complaint.  The Headteacher (or other member of staff authorised by him/her) will be permitted to be present at any meeting of the sub-committee at the same time as the complainant.

At any interview in connection with the complaint, the complainant will be offered the opportunity to be accompanied, if desired, by a friend or representative and, where necessary, also by an interpreter.

When the complaint has been fully investigated and considered by the sub-committee, the Clerk to the Governing Body will notify the complainant in writing, of the outcome.  The notification will give an explanation of the conclusion, the reasons for it, and any action taken as a result.

The subjects of complaint frequently fall outside areas for which either the Local Authority (LA)  or Diocesan authorities are responsible.  Nevertheless the LA and Diocesan authorities may often have a role to play offering objective and professional advice and, perhaps, acting in a mediating capacity.  The LA contact would, usually, be via the officer for the school.

Once a local procedure has been exhausted, an unsatisfied complainant will, have a formal channel of complaint left:  a complaint to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.