To complain about head teacher and if so, how?

[Stfrancescof]

Head teacher is very unkind to the children ie 'oh you again, so lazy as usual' or 'that other child is way better than any of you' these are comments directly to children in year 4 for example.

She is incredibly rude to me personally, and has stormed towards me with a raised voice in a panicky scream on two occasions. On both occasions my DC were in their respective classrooms and I was peacefully looking at a display with my back turned if that's any context, waiting to hand in consent forms.

I would prefer she stopped speaking to me as I find her approach bordering on bullying.

Or can I raise this with anyone as I think she is horrible to the children and vile to parents.

Write to the Chair of Govenors. Keep it factual, with examples. What would you like to happen?

Don't write to the chair of governors until you've followed the school complaints policy- otherwise you'll just get directed through that in first instance

Is her name Miss Trunchbull ?

Joking apart - making comparisons amongst children - derogatory comments- and shouting at you ?
Definitely an issue for School Governors .
Don't mention the matter to any other parents - just write to the Governors.

The Chair of Governors is your first port of call when it's a complaint about the Head, no other avenues to go down first unless you would like to speak to her face to face before it gets to complaining?

Chair of Governors is the correct route for Safeguarding concerns. Not sure yours is a safeguarding concern. Otherwise, local authority/LEA but if the school is an academy, Chair of Governors it is.

Speak to your union first so they can support you if she turns nasty. I would then write to HR asking what the formal complaints policy is in cases where the complaint is against the Head. Ask HR to keep this private until the complaint is made and remind them that you are entitled to have this kept private. They must do this. Good luck.

That’s completely unacceptable. I had to make an official complaint many years ago about my daughters head teacher when she was in primary School, the head teacher was a very haughty (bully actually) & forced her religious beliefs onto everyone (to the point she ruled the school in fear - no one dared question her) when she started making the children spend 3 full months solely focusing on Her religious nativity plays (& forcing my child & another parents children to take part - when we had given verbal & written consent for our children to be excluded from religious activities - in a non denomination school BTW) I said enough was enough & after complaining to her & other staff directly took my complaint straight to the Education board who were excellent, they arranged meetings for myself & the other parent to discuss our issues around the table with the said H/T...they saw her ‘true self’ & took action she ‘retired’ a few months later & that was that!!! Don’t put up with badly behaved teachers - have them put in their rightful place! They are paid to look after our children- not to bully the or the parents! I wish you every success x

This isn't a safeguarding concern. Download the school complaints procedure from their website and it will tell you how to make a complaint about the headteacher. I'm assuming you are a parent and not a member of staff.

Big big, I think OP is a parent not a teacher (happy to be corrected OP)

Years ago you could complain to an "Education Board" - I was that person in the local authority. Now you can't. So follow the school complaints procedure.

Bigvig - I don’t think OP works at the school!

Was the child a lazy so and so though?

Was your child the one who was told they weren't as good as another?

If the Head was being truthful I don't see the problem? Too often these days children are protected from the truth/reality of their abilities - ie everyone getting a medal on sportsday and not being allowed to have winners lest the little snowflakes be upset

The school enjoyed many a good non religious winter play after that - jack in the beanstalk, The wizzard of oz etc.. plays that can be inclusive of all regardless on ones religious beliefs

Look at the schools complaints procedure and follow it.

By the way Op, don't bother putting in a complaint unless you can state what you want the outcome to be. And if it's sack the HT it's unlikely to happen... Complaints are most likely to be successful if they can be substantiated and if the complainant has a clear and reasonable solution to propose. Guess what? I still deal with them, but this time as a National Leader of Governance.

Governors usually back the headteacher unless there is something exceptional. I suggest thinking carefully about pursuing a complaint in case it backfires and affects your DC.

I would like her to be respectful towards children and parents would be my solution.

I've read this a couple of times about things backfiring on DC when complaining about unacceptable behaviour from teachers. Does this actually happen?

For a start - it's bollocks to say that governors usually support the headteacher. I've lost count of the number of complaints panel meetings that I've attended. There have been a significant amount of miffed headteachers at the end of them. Nor have I encountered staff making children suffer after a complaint. If anything they might be more careful around the child. Teachers are human beings, contrary to MN wisdom they don't generally bully children.
However, having said that, if the governors can't find anything to substantiate the complaint, they can't possibly uphold it. So think about your evidence. And if you want her to be more respectful etc... that's a bit of a woolly target for the governors to aim at... if they feel that there is enough evidence to uphold your complaint. You can't really ask that the head stops speaking to you - they might need to.

I'm assuming you've got the complaints procedure by now and at least know what you need to do if you decide to go ahead.

Tell her to her face that she can stop with the attitude or you will take it further .
I did just that many years ago to my sons head teacher she was shocked as no one had ever stud up to her before.
Suffice as to say she didn`t do it again.

She is incredibly rude to me personally, and has stormed towards me with a raised voice in a panicky scream on two occasions.

I have to say, with this little context, this could mean anything. A “panicky scream”? Really? What was she panicking about? And why would her panicking make you feel bullied?

I am sorry but as a Chair of Governors, I would expect a little more content in a complaint. Unfortunately there is nothing substantial in what you have posted.

If you have a complaint that is clear and substantiated then it would go to the governors.

Heads, like teachers, are human and some are good and some are not. Where there are grounds for complaint it should be followed.

I'm not sure what you've posted warrants it as it seems to centre a lot on hear say and not liking how she talks to you.

Chair of Governors and the LEA/Academy chain.

I am no expert but she just sounds un professional..some heads and teachers are almost cult like and feel the world owes them.

They have forgotten we and the children are their clients. You would not talk to anyone in a business that way.. They would leave your shop and not go back.

But as others have said not much evidence.

Re governers it depends what relationship they have with the head. Unfortunately I know of a few who are close socially with the head.