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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School governors child involved in bullying

35 replies

Ohbehaveyoutoerag · 17/05/2023 21:06

Just that, aibu to make a complaint, parent is aware of the situation and being on the school board as a safeguarding officer I’m really surprised this parent has done sweet eff all.

School took minimal action until I made it clear I want their zero tolerance policy enforced, so we will see but the friendship group is finished after this. Sad as they started in reception together except for the instigator who started afterwards but I don’t want my DC anywhere these children after what I’ve heard.

I have been advised not to pull DC out just yet but not sure what to do in the meantime.

OP posts:
Shelkie · 18/05/2023 07:59

Premiumchange · 17/05/2023 23:54

This isn’t true. I am a governance professional and leading clerk to governors. The only governors who cannot be involved in the head’s performance management process are staff governors. This is something a lot of boards get wrong. Bearing in mind that the Chair and Vice Chair should not both be on that committee, and staff governors can’t either, a lot of small boards would run out of governors if that were the case.
Anyway op - you should not write to the safeguarding governor to raise a complaint. If you read and follow the complaints procedure you will see what to do. This parent governor cannot be involved in any part of this complaint because they are considered “tainted” due to their involvement. The Headteacher responds to the complaint, and would prepare a response for panel.
If you get to the stage where a panel of governors is set up, this will be organised by the Clerk. If they cannot get enough governors together who have no prior knowledge they are legally allowed to approach other governing boards to ask if they have a governor who will step in.

Show quote history

Ok - you can have the full letter of law governing standards view, or what happens in the real-world which in my experience is most parent governors are not involved in that process for obvious reasons of confidentiality/ objectivity and whilst there are small Boards only 2 people need to be on it.

All of that is aside to the point being made which is HTs are not in bed with all governors and particularly such that the remainder of the Board wouldn’t be objective in dealing with this, should it come to them.

Premiumchange · 18/05/2023 23:52

Shelkie · 18/05/2023 07:59

Ok - you can have the full letter of law governing standards view, or what happens in the real-world which in my experience is most parent governors are not involved in that process for obvious reasons of confidentiality/ objectivity and whilst there are small Boards only 2 people need to be on it.

All of that is aside to the point being made which is HTs are not in bed with all governors and particularly such that the remainder of the Board wouldn’t be objective in dealing with this, should it come to them.

Show quote history

I’ve clerked in about 100 schools and am an NGA accredited clerk and trainer. Parent governors are routinely involved in these committees. It would be hoped that as a governor you would know that all governors are expected to understand the need for confidentiality. When breaches of confidentiality happen, as they do, the culprits are from all categories. It would be an insult to parent governors to decide that parents were not able to deal with issues relating to staff performance.

ExtraOnions · 19/05/2023 00:16

I am a parent Governor, and sit on all sorts of committees and meetings, including student disciplinary, PEX appeals etc.

Before you complain, think about what outcome you want.

CurlewKate · 19/05/2023 16:37

If parent governors can't be trusted with HT appointments or appraisal "for obvious reasons" what can they be trusted with?

CurlewKate · 19/05/2023 16:38

For clarity, I do know they can be trusted in those matters, I've done both.

Ontopofthesunset · 19/05/2023 17:02

There is always so much misinformation on these threads. Parent governors can be trusted in all matters. And governing bodies and heads do not in my experience gang together to protect their own. It's not some kind of Mean Girls club.

If there is a genuine case of bullying going on, and you are not satisfied it has been resolved after informal discussions (speaking to the class teacher, having interventions put in place as appropriate), then you need to follow the formal complaints procedure. As others have said, the head teacher will review the issue and may suggest action that needs to be taken.

In my long experience, most genuine problems in school are resolved after informal discussions, or at least parents are reassured that genuine efforts are being made to resolve the problems and are happy to work with the school on an ongoing positive basis.

stopbullies · 06/05/2025 23:57

hi, just want some advice please
my son is being bullied by the son of the vice chair of governing board. she is not doing anything about it who do i talk to be heard

Morningsleepin · 07/05/2025 00:05

My granddaughter was being bullied and the school did nothing as the mother of her bully also worked there and refused to acknowledge the problem. So we pulled her out and she totally thrived in her next school

stopbullies · 07/05/2025 00:51

i think that is my only option

Premiumchange · 11/05/2025 20:31

The headteacher. Make an appointment. If not happy after that make a formal complaint using the complaints procedure from the website. The fact that the parent is a governor is truly irrelevant. That just means that they cannot be involved in the complaints process as a governor in any way, and if they were you could request that they be removed from proceedings.

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