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School curriculum and collective worship complaints procedure
There are three stages to making a complaint. These are by:
Informal discussion
If you have a concern or complaint about the curriculum or
collective worship in a school, you should talk it over first with
the headteacher or other staff. You can be accompanied, if you
wish, by an interpreter. If you are concerned about the actions
taken by the LA, you should contact Medway Council. It is normally
possible to find a solution in this way without going through any
formal arrangements.
Formal complaint to the governing body
If you are not satisfied that your complaint has been settled by
informal discussion, you can ask to have it considered by the
governing body. The headteacher will tell you the name of the
Medway Council officer responsible for dealing with complaints
about the curriculum. You should then write to this officer,
explaining as clearly as possible what your complaint is and that
you want it to be considered under these arrangements. The officer
will confirm receipt of your letter and if the complaint should be
dealt with by the governing body, will refer it to the clerk of the
board of governors. The clerk will arrange for the complaint to be
investigated before it is considered by a panel of governors
appointed by the governing body. The clerk will identify any urgent
cases which need to be considered as a priority.
If you would like to explain your complaint in person to the
panel of governors, you should inform the clerk, who will arrange
for you to do so. You can be accompanied, if you wish, by a friend
or representative and by an interpreter, if necessary.
When your complaint has been fully investigated and considered,
the clerk will write to you and to the named officer of the
council, to let you know the outcome. In the letter, the clerk will
explain:
- the decision taken and the reasons for it;
- any action that has been or will be taken to resolve your
complaint (including details of any request to those complained
against to take particular action);
- any further appeal you can make.
Formal complaints to the LA are very similar to those described
above. You should write to the named Medway Council officer,
explaining your complaint as clearly as possible and saying that
you want it to be considered by the LA as part of these
arrangements. The officer will confirm receipt of your letter.
He or she will decide whether your complaint can be referred to
the LA and will identify any urgent cases that need to be
considered as priority.
The officer will arrange for your complaint to be fully
investigated before it is considered by a panel of members of the
LA. If your complaint is about the secular curriculum in a
voluntary aided school (i.e. any part of the curriculum other than
religious education and collective worship) the LA panel will
include a representative of the appropriate Diocesan Body. If you
would like to explain your complaint in person to the panel, you
should inform the officer, who will arrange for you to do so. You
can be accompanied, if you wish, by a friend or representative and
by an interpreter, if necessary.
When your complaint has been fully investigated and considered,
the officer will write to you to let you know the outcome and will
send a copy of the letter to the headteacher and chair of
governors. The letter will explain
- the panel’s decision and the reasons for it;
- any action that has been or will be taken to resolve your
complaint (including details of any request to those complained
against to take particular actions);
- any further appeal you can make.
This letter ends the LA stage of the arrangements.
The Secretary of State
Wherever possible, formal complaints will be resolved by the
governing body or the LA. However, if you have gone through all the
stages in these arrangements and you are still dissatisfied, you
can make a complaint to the Secretary of State for Education.
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