to want to meet DD's head mistress?

[Aika]

DD goes to an excellent girls secondary school, with which we are very happy in general. However, when we had a couple of issues, we were quite disappointed at how unprofessionally the school dealt with them. In one case, the department head phoned me to apologise and to accept the responsibility but then did precisely nothing to solve the problem. In another case, matters moved forward only after we requested to see the head.

Now, the problem with the head is that her assistant would not let us see her even after we insisted quite strongly. AIBU to want to see the head of the school, where I send my precious DD along with a high proportion of my after-tax income? My concern is not so much the issues we had this year, but how any future issues (which I hope will not arise, but still) will be handled.

[Aika]

Sorry, if I was not clear in my previous message. I guess my question is how easy is it for you to get a meeting with a school head? AIBU to think that it should be pretty straight forward for a parent to see them?

[bigTillyMint]

If it is an independent school, YANBU - you pay her wages.

[WorraLiberty]

It depends on why you want to see the Head really.

Most schools have management teams nowadays so seeing the Head teacher is not always necessary.

[Greatauntirene]

Sounds like this could be petty whingeing but depends on what your issues were about.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

If DH insists, then he has got to see the Head of the Girls School, and on a separate occasion, the Principal. School do try to fob us off with Head of Year etc, but DH can be very persistent.

YANBU

[Greatauntirene]

If DH insists, then he has got to see the Head of the Girls School, and on a separate occasion, the Principal. School do try to fob us off with Head of Year etc, but DH can be very persistent

Makes me grateful for the state schools my DCs attended.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Why Great - does the head have an open door policy at your DC's school?

[Greatauntirene]

haha, exit, no. But pushy parents ensure THEIR child gets whatever..... into the choir, reserve in the team etc etc and sod the rest regardless of their true abilities. A bit like bullying. Thankfully I don't expect you get it as much in state schools.

[WorraLiberty]

The Head at my DS3's Primary very much has an open door policy, despite the fact there are nearly 900 children in the school.

He always has time to speak to parents and makes himself visible in the playground before and after school every single day.

The Head at my DS2's senior school leaves most of these things to his management team and they seem very capable.

The chances are a Head of Year will know a lot more about the individual kids than the Head teacher anyway, depending on the size of the school.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

We were only pushing to see the head because of problems DD had been having. Honest!

[MammaTJ]

It is very easy to see the head of my DCs school. He does meet and greet every morning as we walk in to the school ans is by the school gate every afternoon. Mostly him but sometimes the deputy head. Always available for appointments.

[weblette]

Head of DD's grammar has a 'clinic' once a month where you can just turn up and chat about stuff. Found it v useful and got issues sorted vvv quickly as a result.

[Greatauntirene]

It all depends on what the problem is. But the tone from earlier posts I mistakenly took to be 'I'm paying so I'm going to the top' not that the HT would be the best to deal with prob.

[mummytime]

At DCs state senior school there is a monthly drop in clinic with the head where you can just go and bring up whatever you want. I regularly phone the heads of year about more day to day stuff. We are suposed to contact the form tutor first, but unless they are someone I know and trust I usually don't bother. Subject stuff I deal with the class teacher or the head of department.

If I was paying, I would demand to see the Head, and no assistant would stop me, but then I do know DC's Head's email.

[Tortu]

Just to echo others and say that at my current school, indeed any of my previous schools, it would be pointless seeing the head. They do not generally deal with day to day issues and actually have more of an administrative role. They would be unlikely to have a clue what you're talking about.

Go and see the relevant person for each issue.

[Aika]

I can see the argument that I should be asking to see members of the senior management team rather than the head, but the reason I wanted to see her was that her team was not helpful at all, so I wanted to ask her to review the complaint procedures rather than look at the issue at hand. I also wanted to get some reassurances that if we did have any problems in the future (hope not) we wouldn?t be fobbed off by the SMT and will get to see the HT if necessary.
As I said the school is excellent otherwise, but complaint handling makes me quite nervous.