Stage 1: Informal

Most complaints will be dealt with directly by the school. If you have not already done so, you should raise this with a member of school staff. This could be the:

• deputy head teacher
• head teacher
• another person named as the school contact

If you're not sure, contact the school. Ask who is the best person to deal with your complaint and make an appointment with them.

Depending on the seriousness of your complaint, the following information would be helpful:

• the time and dates of any incidents
• the names of any witnesses

When the school has enough information, they will investigate your complaint informally. You will receive a response, which may be verbal or in writing.

You may be invited to a meeting to further discuss your concerns and to see if a quick resolution is possible. Most complaints will be dealt with in this way.

If your complaint is about the conduct of the head teacher and cannot be resolved informally, you should contact the Chair of School Governors via the school.

Complaints should be handled quickly and most issues should be resolved in a few days. The school should tell you how long the investigation may take.