Complaints - A summary of Guidelines for Parents
If your child has a problem at school you should be able to sort it out through an informal discussion with your child's teacher. If you can't resolve a problem informally, the school have a formal complaints procedure that you can follow.
For more detailed information, please see the full complaints policy on the website under ‘parents’ and ‘complaints’.
Stage 1 – Informal Complaints
It is to be hoped that most concerns can be expressed and resolved on an informal basis.
Concerns should be raised with either the class teacher, deputy headteacher or headteacher. Complainants should not approach individual governors to raise concerns or complaints.
You can arrange a meeting or a telephone conversation with the headteacher through the school office. If this isn’t practical, you may wish to make a written complaint.
Stage 2 – Formal Complaints
Formal complaints must be made to the headteacher (unless they are about the headteacher), via the school office. This may be done in person or in writing (preferably on the Complaint Form).
The headteacher will record the date the complaint is received and will acknowledge receipt of the complaint in writing (either by letter or email) within 10 school days.
If the complaint is about the headteacher, or a member of the governing body (including the Chair or Vice-Chair), a suitably skilled governor will be appointed to complete all the actions at Stage 2.
If you want to complain to the governing body, ask the school for a copy of its complaints procedure. All complaints to the governing body must be in writing.
Stage 3 – Panel Hearing
If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome at Stage 2 and wishes to take the matter further, they can escalate the complaint to Stage 3 – a panel hearing consisting of at least three people who were not directly involved in the matters detailed in the complaint with one panel member who is independent of the management and running of the school. This is the final stage of the complaints procedure.
Stage 4 - Diocese
If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome, you can ask the Diocese to carry out an investigation.
You should write to:
The Schools’ Adviser
The Hallam Pastoral Centre
St Charles’ Street
Sheffield
S9 3WU
Next Steps
If the complainant believes the school and / or the Diocese did not handle their complaint in accordance with the published complaints procedure or they acted unlawfully or unreasonably in the exercise of their duties under education law, they can contact the ESFA after they have completed Stage 4.
St Mary's Herringthorpe Complaints
Over the academic year 2019 - 2020 there were no complaints that went to governors.
During the 2020 - 2021 academic year there has been one complaint that has gone to governors.
Over the academic year 2021 - 2022 there has been one complaint that has gone to governors.