Academies - if academies belong to a chain group which appoint the local governing body, who do parents complain to if the academy doesn't perform.

[warwick1]

Given that local governing bodies in academy chains are purely an extension of the Academy chains trust board and appear to have no authority, similarly that headteachers/ principals of academies also appear totally under the control of the trust board, where do parents go to voice their concerns when their local academy doesn't improve its performance.

The governors have authority and control. You complain to them if a complaint to the head teacher doesn't work. You can also complain to Ofsted, the academy trust and the DfE.

www.facebook.com/#!/groups/276114265773841/
They will help you

I doubt complaining about a school not improving it's performance has ever helped - whether it's a free school, academy, faith school, maintained or independent.

antiacademies.org.uk/
www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/

If you get no joy from the academy chain, then Michael Gove is your next step.

It's a good system, isn't it?

I would suggest Ofsted is your next step before you go to the DfE.

Check the school's 'who to complain to' procedures. Both Ofsted and the DfE are enormous, centralised bureaucracies, so make sure that you're as clear as possible about exactly who and which department is accountable.