Headteacher not acknowledging email

[BatmanLovesHowlingAtTheMoon]

I sent an email to the HT yesterday, regarding an incident that happened in school and impacted heavily on my child. I'd rather not say what it was, but it is quite worrying in general (sexual). I'm not the sort to contact school usually either.

There has been no reply, and I saw him round and about at school on several occasions today (I was in for some of the morning). He didn't acknowledge me or email at all.

He has form for this (the only other time I've tried to contact him was regarding my DS2's musical instrument being deliberately vandalised by a Y5). I don't want to know what he is doing about it, but I do want to know he is acknowledging the fact there is a problem.

The Head at the school I work at deals with parental issues very quickly - there and then if she can - so am I expecting too much? I am getting quite cross and feeling my concerns are being ignored. Shall I give him a time limit, then complain to governors?

[lilolilmanchester]

Perhaps ring the school and ask to make an appointment to speak to him about the email you sent - there are lots of possible reasons he might not have got back to you yet, would give him another opportunity to respond before contacting the Governors.

[Melmagpie]

Agree, or try and grab him at pick up today or drop off tomorrow and say just wanted to check he'd got the email. With something like this, don't let it fester, but as lilo says, lots of reasons why might not have got or seen or responded. If it is a bigger and wider problem that he doesn't answer parent concerns then yes maybe mention to governors, but I wouldn't do it in the context of this specific incident. Good luck, hope it's resolved soon.

[BatmanLovesHowlingAtTheMoon]

Thanks for your advice - will try to grab him later. I don't want to let it fester - that was the mistake I made with the instrument. I waited, and waited, and waited, agve him chance after chance to say "Just to let you know, Batman, I had a word with X", and he never did.

Will take the bull by the horns

[trinity0097]

Perhaps he is wanting to come up with some facts before getting back to you. I would expect a response of some sort within 48 hours.

I know that this is going to sound slightly silly, but do you have a name/surname that contains a rude/inappropriate word? I know that mine does and emails I send from school to parents can sometimes go in their spam folders as their email client thinks I'm trying to sell them something to enlarge their manhood!

[admission]

It could be that the head teacher has been involved in other things or that the issue is bigger, wider or more difficult than you realise. As such they may not be able to reply directly about the issue.
However that does not stop them acknowledging your email and saying I will get back to you after investigation.
You do need to go in and see them and put them on the spot, especially if they have "form" for ignoring difficult issues.

[BatmanLovesHowlingAtTheMoon]

Ha - I love the idea of having a surname that might be slightly rude. Would be a drawback as a teacher though

I collared him after school, and asked if he had received it. "Oh, yes," he replied, "Thank you for sending that."

So now I can stop worrying

Thanks folks, for your reasonable, objective views.

[clam]

"Thank you for sending that?" Really? Is that an appropriate response to what was presumably a complaint about a serious issue that needed action?

[BatmanLovesHowlingAtTheMoon]

Yep - he's not great at speaking to people. It's his weakness really. At least I know he's got it.

I am trusting that he is going to deal with the issue. I know that the family involved are a concern for the school, so I am confident that he will act upon what I have told him. I'll probably have a chat with the SENCO in a couple of days and just check that it's all under way, by mentioning the effect the other child had on my child. She's a lot more parent savvy than him!