is it worth a formal complaint - unfair change in school policy..

[deemee]

My son is currently at a primary school with two form entry. The school committed to shuffling the classes after foundation stage (by email and at a parent meeting).
As my son was being bullied in his current class we only stayed in the school on the basis that the classes would be mixed.
The school is now backtracking on their commitment. Is there anything we can do about this? We feel this cannot be a fair way for a school to act

Have you tried just talking to the Head? Even if they have decided not to do a full shuffle they may agree to swapping your son. I'm not sure who on earth you would make a formal complaint to about an issue like this.

head and governors are no help.. yeah it just seems very unfair for the school to be able to backtrack but wasn't sure if there was anything I could do...

Why unfair? I mean, I can see how you feel the decision negatively impacts your son, but the school has to act in the interests of the majority, and that presumably means that a shuffle is not good for most.

Things do change, so there may be a good reason why the school has decided not to mix up the classes after foundation stage. What is obviously lacking is good communication from the school to the parent body.
First step has got to be ask the head teacher but if you are not getting an acceptable answer you could make a formal written complaint to the head teacher about the fact this has not happened and ask for an explanation. If the school follows its complaints policy then it should give you a written answer, which may or may not satisfy you.

I don't think I would call that backtracking on their commitment really. I would write a letter to the head saying why you feel your child (and possibly the year) would benefit being mixed up.

But I would imagine that they have done it for a good reason. My dc's infant school usually mixes the classes up after reception to get a (more) even mix (boy/girl; older/younger; abilities; special needs; behavioual issues etc.). However sometimes the classes are mixed up again after year 1 if the dynamics of the class has changed again. And if the classes are evenly mixed from the off, they may not mix them at all.
Atcually they didn't mix one of the year groups up a couple of years ago for various reasons including there was one child in the class whose dm was dying over the summer holiday and they felt she really needed the comfort of being with the same people when she got back to school.

But, to be honest, the OP has no idea whether the whole year group would benefit from a shuffle. That sort of holistic overview is only really available to the staff at the school who have to balance everyone's interests. With the best will in the world, individual parents are only ever concerned with their own child's situation. You can't run a school like that.

thanks DeWe - reassuring to hear other schools also have a subjective approach - I felt we were being screwed around by the school.. but I guess they have the right to do it :-( just awful as don't know what to do... hope they move the classes or move schools now...

There should be flexibility. Talk to the Head about it again if you feel able to.
Also what are the school doing re the bullying of your son? That seems to be the biggest issue here.

EmeraldJeanie - nothing they deny its happening - say he is happy -but we are not imagining it... so frustrating... to be honest I think school don't even know what goes on in playground and just cover their backs by saying everything's fine.

Clam the Op doesn't know whether the year group would benefit, I agree the teachers will have a better call on that, but she can comment on from her prospective.
However, for example, if there is a group who is bullying her ds then that group would benefit from being split up, almost certainly. At least the others in the form would benefit from it, as they will probably move onto find another victim if Op's ds leaves.

I don't actually think it will make much difference, however, if several are expressing wish for them to be mixed up, they may reconsider. Also if they say "no" then you can go in with "what are you going to do then to help ds".

The best line of action here is to get the bullying sorted. Forget whether the school did or did not say they would shuffle the classes. Find another solution, as mixing the children would not necessarily solve the issue anyway.