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Make a complaint

  1. Letter to the Head

    Letter to the head teacher

    Dear Mr Jones,

    I have been dealing with Ms Smith over the bullying of my daughter Mary by Jane Brown. Despite discussing this with the class teacher/head of year, bullying is still going on.

    Can you please let me know what strategy you can introduce to resolve this problem and how it will be monitored? Is it possible for you to increase supervision at the time most of the bullying happens (at break/ in the playground/ in the corridor/ in the changing room).



    Can I please have a copy of the school bullying policy? Please put a copy of my complaint onto Mary's file together with your written response.

    Yours sincerely,

    <Your Name...

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  2. Contacting the Governors and LA

    Unfortunately many parents find that bullying continues after they have asked the class teacher, head of year or head teacher to sort it out.

    Contact the governors

    After a written complaint to the head, the next step is to contact the chair of governors. You can get his/her name from the school office. Write to him/her at the school address. Explain the background and enclose any letters between you and the head. Ask for an immediate investigation.

    It's unlikely that all governors will be made aware of your complaint.

    This is because many issues are dealt with as 'Chair's Action' and the chairman may hope to get the matter resolved with the head teacher quickly.

    The other reason not...

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  3. Letter to Head of Year

    Letter to the form teacher of head of year

    Dear Ms Smith,

    When I saw you yesterday and explained how upset my daughter Mary was due to bullying by Jane Brown, you said you would (do some work with the class / monitor the situation / speak to Jane's parents / keep me informed).

    Mary knows that she must tell you if she has any further problems. Can we please have a meeting in a couple of weeks to review the situation?

    Yours sincerely,

    <Your Name>

     

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  4. Contacting the school

    In the first instance, at a primary or junior school, see the class teacher and explain your worries in a friendly non-confrontational way.

    Ask how your child is getting on with others in class and raise any issues of conflict with other children.

    Ask if the teacher has noticed that your child seems unhappy and isolated and is being excluded from games in the playground or regularly not having a partner to work with in class.

    Ask the class teacher, or the head of year at secondary school, if he/she can keep an eye on the situation and let you know if they have any concerns. Ask what the teacher suggests would be the best way of sorting it out. At a primary school perhaps the supervisors could take a...

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  5. Letter to Ofsted

    To the head of Ofsted - [NB Ofsted will only look at complaints if there is a whole school issue with bullying]

    (Chief Inspector, Ofsted, Alexandra House, 29-33 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6SE).

    Dear ...,

    I enclose copies of correspondence with the head teacher and chairman of governors at Park High School where my daughter Mary is being bullied.

    In the report after the recent Ofsted inspection your inspector said that (the school should get a bullying policy/ the school had an effective bullying policy/ bullying was not considered to be a problem).



    Can you please assure me that my daughter's plight will be investigated and that your inspectors will ask to...

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  6. Letter to Secretary of State

    To The Secretary of State

    (DFE, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3BT, or Department for Education, Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ)



    Dear Secretary of State,

    Please use your powers under sections 496 and 497 of the 1996 Education Act because I believe Wessex County Council/ Park High School is acting unreasonably/illegally by (failing to investigate my complaint of bullying/ failing to supply a copy of my daughter's school records/ failing to halt bullying).

    I enclose copies of my correspondence with the head teacher, chairman of governors and LEA. (Detail specific bullying incidents).

    Yours...

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  7. Letter to Director of Education

    To the Director of Education - [only likely to get involved if there is a whole school issue of bullying]

    (at county council/metropolitan HQ, address in phone book).



    Dear Mrs White,

    I enclose copies of correspondence with the head teacher and chairman of governors of Park High School where my daughter Mary continues to be bullied by Jane Brown.

     

    I have asked what measures the school intends to introduce to deal with bullying. The response has been unsatisfactory because (the bullying has not stopped/ I have not been told what the school is doing about the problem).



    Please make a formal investigation into my complaint...

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  8. Letter to the Governors

    Letter to the chairman of governors

    (get his/her name from the school secretary and send the letter to the school address).

    Dear Mrs Green,
    I enclose a copy of a letter I sent to the head teacher of Park High School on (date). Unfortunately, despite writing to the class teacher/head of year and the head teacher, my daughter Mary is still being bullied by Jane Brown.

    As you will see, I have asked the head what strategy he can introduce to stop the bullying (I am not satisfied with his reply/ the bullying has continued). Please investigate my complaint and tell me what steps the governors intend to take to halt the bullying of my daughter.

    As this matter is...

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