Complaints about the national curriculum, religious education and related matters

If you have a complaint in one of these areas, you should start by talking to the school. If you have been through the school's complaints procedure and are still unhappy, you may escalate the matter further.

This procedure only applies if you believe that the school's governing body or the local authority are failing to:

• provide the National Curriculum in the school for a particular child;
• follow the law on charging for school activities such as school trips;
• offer approved qualifications or syllabuses;
• provide religious education and daily collective worship;
• provide the information that a parent may require;
• carry out any other statutory duty in relation to the curriculum;
• act reasonably in any of the above cases.

Appealing to the local authority

Having gone through the schools’ complaints process if you remain dissatisfied in relation to the specific issues above, you can appeal in writing to the local authority (LA).

You should:

• enclose copies of information submitted to the governors’ complaints panel;
• enclose a copy of the panel's decision;
• explain the reason for appealing to the LA.

Send your letter to:

Children's Services Complaints Team
Children's Services
Elizabeth II Court East
Winchester
Hants
SO23 8UG

The LA will acknowledge the request within five days and arrange for a panel of elected Members of the Schools’ Monitoring Panel to consider written submissions within 20 days of the date of request. Members of the panel will have had no recent involvement or connection with the school. The panel may request relevant information from the Children's Services department. You will also have the opportunity to submit additional information in support of your complaint. The LA will inform parents of the panel's decision in writing within seven days of the panel meeting.

Religious education and worship

The procedure depends on whether your child's school is a community school, a voluntary-controlled school or a voluntary-aided school. If you are not sure which type your child's school is, ask the school or the local authority, or see the guide to types of school in our Admissions section.

Religious education in voluntary-controlled or community schools

For complaints about religious education in a voluntary-controlled or community school, a parent can appeal to the LA (see above) but may also ask for a member of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education [SACRE] to be co-opted as an additional member of the panel.

Religious education and worship in a voluntary-aided school, or worship in a voluntary controlled school

If the complaint is about religious education and worship in a voluntary-aided school or worship in a voluntary controlled school, you should contact the appropriate Diocesan Board of Education. (The school will be able to tell you which Diocese it is in.)

They will arrange a panel of three persons who have had no involvement or connection with the school. The panel will consider written submissions on the complaint within 20 days of the request. Parents will also have the opportunity to submit additional information in support of their complaint. The Diocesan Board of Education/Schools Department will inform the parents of its decision in writing within seven days of the meeting.

See the panel on the right for links to the Diocesan Boards of Education in the Hampshire area.