Aibu to complain about an outstanding academy school?

[Cathycomehome]

For various reasons, not least of them that they have lied to me on more than one occasion.

I have a meeting with the head on Thursday, but if when that goes badly, wibu to make a formal complaint(s), even though this school has an excellent reputation and was graded outstanding at last inspection? And if not, has anyone else complained about this kind of school?

Apologies if this doesn't make much sense, I'm shattered but can't sleep for fretting.

If you have problems with them then YANBU! The place down the road from us is outstanding & we wouldn't send our worst enemy's DCs there. Good luck.

An ofstead inspection only provides a snapshot of the workings of a school. If you are not happy..say so. YANBU, it's your kids they are dealing with!

It's even possible that if word of your complaint gets out, it will be followed by a flood of other complaints from parents who just wanted someone else to go first.

Thanks. It's a bit intimidating, tbh. Thursday, it's me, head of year, deputy head and head as far as I can gather. I'm a bit worried as I feel so cross about various things, and sometimes cross and frustrated threatens to turn into tears.

Would having a good rant on here help?

I'm off to bed now I hope you manage to get some sleep, and good luck.

Can you speak to any other parents about your concerns? If you can then you could face the Head together. Failing that ensure that you have all the details of your complaint to hand when you appraoch the head, it will help you stay focused rather than emotional.

Have you got a close friend or relative (Mum, sister etc) you could take along with you for moral support and so you don't feel quite so outnumbered?

I could get someone to come with me. His dad can't get back from work in time; I don't know what they'd say if I brought someone else.

Ironically, we are both teachers!

I don't see why they could object to you bringing along a supporter (he or she does not have to say anything) if his dad can't make it -- and especially not if the person was a family member, could they?
I'd have thought it was up to you, anyway.
As a teacher you might have some idea of the line they're likely to take with your complaint? Forewarned is forearmed; another reason to have someone with you -- as they have already lied to you, they may well lie again, and tell more lies after the meeting about what was said during the meeting. Please protect yourself. And good luck.

There can be no objection to your bringing another person. They should take notes, and, as the school has lied to you in the past, you should confirm facts back to them: "So, can I confirm that on X, etc...".

You could piss them off royally by introducing your friend as "my advisor".:o

Seriously, I'd do that.

I went through with a complaint against an outstanding school a few years ago.
I would advise that you write down notes on everything you want to discuss with them. By doing this I was able to stay calm and make sure everything was covered.

Definitely have someone with you to take notes and be a support for you. If there is 3 of them in the room it could be quite intimidating, so it will even it up a bit if you have someone on your side!

Obviously it depends on what you're complaining about, before I could say if yabu. But yes you can. I had a complaint at dds old school and the school nurse. My mum came to the meeting with me as dh was working, so you can take other people. Do go expecting the meeting to be rubbish though. You maybe surprised, go in with an open mind. I moved dd to a better school, which is now an outstanding academy, its not perfect but it is very very good. When I have had an issue, the teachers and head teacher have been fantastic. But the status of the school doesn't mean you can't make a formal complaints. i hope the meeting goes well.

I would definitely take someone else with you, to even up numbers, remember things that you forget, take notes and generally back you up.

I've had to put in numerous complaints about my DS's supposedly 'outstanding' primary school. Not least for the fact that they try to temporarily exclude all the dc on the Autistic Spectrum (including my own) for extremely spurious reasons, just for the duration of Ofsted inspections.

They've been doing it for years, but when it is because your child spent too long in the toilet, or hid under a table when they were overwhelmed, and the school are trying to do it illegally, without putting it in writing, doing it all verbally, there comes a point where you have to take it further.

There's been plenty of other things I have had to complain about, but none of them have been enough for the school to lose it's previous 'outstanding' rating, even when 16 parents ALL wrote a complaint direct to Ofsted about the same thing.

YANBU, the fact that they are rated as 'outstanding' but aren't behaving like that is probably even more reason to complain. They'll look into your complaint so if they do consider YABU no harm will have come of it. My son was at an 'outstanding' nursery and we had similar problems (lies, very little communication, no support/empathy shown for my child). At the time I just wanted it over so pulled him out and sent him elsewhere, but I always regret not complaining, my child was ok but I left other people to go through the same thing. If in that position again is always complain.

YANBU. I hope you sort it out when you see them, but out of interest, who do you go to to take it further with an academy? If they are out of local authority control, who do you go to? Mr Gove himself? I only ask as I had a similar situation with my school, the Governors were useless and all 'closed rank' with eachother, LEA could not help as they were not in their control. There was no one higher to go to. In the end I had to ask for my complaint to lie on file as I was not happy but could not resolve it. Not a great situation and I have a bad relationship with the school now. Don't regret complaining though, it was an issue which was IMO very serious. Good luck!

Cathy,

Write down a short list of bullet points you want to talk about, to keep you focused and unemotional.

Also, write down for yourself what you want to ACHIEVE through this meeting. Ie an apology? For certain policies to be changed? For the school to consider a new way of doing a particular thing?

Treat it like a business meeting.

Oh yes, I speak from experience, and HTs are wily creatures who may want to make yu out to be hysterical, and who can talk the talk...

Excellent advice from Chandon.

Even in academy schools, the law states that you are allowed to take somebody with you. Lots of good advice here, write down your complaints, take your time, both asking and answering questions, and do take somebody to take notes.
Good Luck.

Cardymow - that sounds similar to ds's old primary. He was sent home as being 'unwell' when Ofsted inspected. Of course we couldn't see what was wrong with him and it wasn't until much later he told us that HT had approached him, told him he looked ill, and was going to call us to collect him. She was an awful woman and lied about loads of things but needless to say the school were rated 'Outstanding'. They have now converted to an academy so are probably doing even worse things now they are effectively answerable only to themselves. I complained to Ofsted but the trouble with sly, lying,devious heads is that they can manage to sweet talk and con others very easily.
Op hope your complaint goes well but if they lie as you say they will just cover things up knowing that you can't do much about it

just tell them, they are only people, do not let them intimidate you. if nervous write yourself a script and read it. good luck.

You can go on to the ofsted site and fill in a form for your school there. i had to report a nursery to ofsted and found them to be really helpful. i would say that to make the most of your meeting you need to write down the points you want to make otherwise it is easy to get side tracked. i have asked for a meeting with our head, chair of governors and form teacher as our once excellent school is really suffering due to an elderly head who should have gone 2 years ago.

Thanks for all advice, I'll definitely make notes before going and at meeting. It's a secondary school, my son's in year seven. Dreading it tbh.

Have you made a complaint and is this meeting for them to respond? Have they given you a copy of their complaints procedure? If not, ask for it (look on their website, it might well be there).
You can take someone with you, and I suggest that you do, and have them make some notes. If you are not happy with the school's response then the complaints procedure will tell you what to do next, which will be to go to the governing body.
Don't give any thought to the fact that the school is Outstanding or an Academy. A school was outstanding on the two days of the inspection, only the next inspection will reveal if they still are. An Academy is just a school that gets their funding direct from government with no top-slice, unlike a maintained school that is funded via the Local Authority. It's just a school.

Stanley, the answer about where they go is in the complaints policy. It is a stautory policy and the school is required to hold it by law, and review and ratify it annually. (If they don't, then personally I'd ring Ofsted). The policy will be sure to say that you complain formally to the Headteacher, then the governing body (unless you are complaining about the Headteacher, in which case miss that stage out). Off the top of my head I think that if you are not happy with the decision of the panel of governors, in the case of an academy school, you complain to a department of the DfE. There's always another layer beyond the governors, whatever the school's status.