can you make an appointment to see your head?

[Spidertracker]

I have never had a problem with my DC at school but I have seen on here people be told to make an appointment with the head or go and see the head for whatever reason.
I remember my mum doing the same seeing the head if we had a serious problem warranting the heads attention.
I was surprised to receive a newsletter from school stating they had a chain for contact and that you MUST see the class teacher first, then if it is not resolved you may see an assistant head then only if the issue is still not resolved would you be allowed to see the head.
Speaking to parents with older children at the school I have been told that even when the heads name is signed to a letter stating to make an appointment with her to discuss its contents (regarding whole school policies for example) that when they have asked they have been told 'Mrs X doesn't see parents, any issues must go through their communication chain of class teacher and then assistant head'.
I am a bit concerned that should I have a serious problem I would not be allowed to speak with her. Particularly because part of the reason I liked this school was that at the open evening the head pushed the 'fact' they have an open door policy and that she would always be willing to discuss any issue however minor.
Is this chain of command type of communication the normal definition of open door policy? Or can you make appointments to see your head?
I am feeling a bit conned by the open evening at the moment.

It's not a problem assuming that the class teacher/assist head are good at their jobs.

If they aren't you can still see the head, it'll just be a waste of two meetings first!

Is it a big school?

It is a two and a half form entry infant school.
No I suppose not a problem and actually my DCs teacher is the assistant head. It just seemed a bit at odds with what we we were told at the open evening and I can't help but wonder what else isn't quite as it seems.
I suppose as long as the children are happy that is the main thing.

Our school will encourage you to speak to the class teacher in the first instance, but the head is always available to speak to parents.

The head at my dds school is always available as well. A couple of weeks ago I turned up in reception and asked if it would be possible to speak to the head and she was there in a couple of minutes. I didn't ask to speak to the class teacher as it was something that was not related to my daughters education but more of a wider concern I had. The head was pleased to see me.

I think a head should always be available, even if it's just over the phone or by email

HT is usually on the playground at least a couple of mornings a week so easy to chat to her then. This is at a small village school. I would say normally though it is polite to speak to the class teacher first.

Ours is a small village school and the HT is also the teacher of the older children. She is always available to talk to if needed but I would also say it's usual to speak to the class teacher first - unless the issue is with him/her of course.

Fairly normal. All concerns about your child should go to the class teacher who knows them best. Then of course if things aren't resolved then take it further. It's to stop parents making an appointment to see the head about minor issues that can be easily dealt with by the teacher.

1 form entry here and both last head and new head always willing to see parents.

Also on the playground before/after school.

If it was something deadly serious (at prosecuting level) I think the head would have to agree to see you!

Complaints should follow procedure but there will be a rapid escalation if need be.

It normally makes more sense to start with the class teacher, they know the child a lot better than the head and I also think it is polite not to jump ahead.

We contacted the school several times, nothing major but nothing you just say at drop off or pick up with hordes of other children and parents around. Sometimes the class teacher came back, but we also got phonecalls from the head.

As long as it is not the class teacher who is the problem there should be no immediate need to see only the head.

At the current Infant school the head is normally available for a short chat in the playground before the bell rings and always happy to talk though.

My head would be more than happy to see any parent. She's really approachable.

I see the class teacher for specific stuff, in a " have you got a moment" at drop off. If she doesn't I arrange a time to suit.
I see the head at drop off, pick up, she emails and is available on the phone and for meetings to suit.
But it's a very small school, and tbh I wouod always talk to the lovely teachers first and possibly tell the head after if I felt I needed to. There is no formal chain of comms, that I know of.

I have arranged to see the head on occasion where it was a bigger issue and there was no problem at all- she welcomes parents and their foibles:)

The problem with going to the Head is that they probably have no idea about day to day incidents in the class/playground. However hands on they might be ( and ours is brilliant!) they can't be expected to know about the ins and outs of every disagreement. All they can do is listen and then ask the class teacher ( Indeed the first thing our Head does is ask if a parent with a problem has raised it with the class teacher first, if not they will be asked to do so.) So, unless the problem actually IS the class teacher, it is best to try to sort things out before it gets to the Head!

Our official complaints procedure is as you say - most day to day enquiries should be via class teacher, as they have the best knowledge of your child.

BUT, our Head is the most wonderfully approachable woman, knows every child and parent, is very hands on etc. There are times I have spoken to her first (and other times, when helping at school) that she has made me a coffee and we've just had a good chat.

To OP I would say look on the school website. ON there will be a complaints procedure for the school and see what that says. Normally it will say class teacher first to try and resolve and if that fails escalate to the head teacher. It will be interesting to see if your school complaints procedure is the same or includes this assistant headteacher as an intermediary step.

In your current scenario I would worry that the head is building a "wall" between themselves and parents. No matter how much they say they have an open door policy, it is not if there is a big door stop, in the form of the assistant head, stopping the door opening.

I think generally the head would be seen after the class teacher, and there's nothing wrong with the head asking that you talk to the class teacher first. I wonder how many "complaints" they get from parents that would have been sorted straight away speaking to the class teacher.

But mine, even the one at the large (10 form enty) comprehensive, you can make an appointment to see the head. Generally at the comprehensive it wouldn't be appropriate and the head of year would be better, but they do guarentee seeing you, and there are ways of getting an appointment.

AT both the infant (2 form entry) and the juniors (5 form entry) it is easy to make an appointment to see the head, plus if you turn up and they're free (which does happen) you can call round to see them then and there. I have done both.

Issues about the children it would seem in most circs you'd want to talk to the class teacher first.
But could well imagine circumstances where it was more appropriate to speak to the head if it concerns whole school policies or issues.

HT takes pupils out to the bus each evening so you just intercept him on the way back.

I have made appointment to see head about DS safety. But day to day issues the teachers are in a far better position to resolve in my opinion.

I think it depends. Parents at my school are encouraged to go through the class teacher/senior team routes first, culminating with the Head for more serious issues. It's a large school and the Head is manically busy (just as in small schools too I guess), although visible and accessible on the playground first thing. However, there have been increasing numbers of parents insisting on the "go straight to the top" route, and making appointments for really trivial issues about booking after-school clubs or lunch menu choices and so forth. She's now making the office staff vet reasons for appointments, just like at the doctor's surgery.

This sounds unusual in a primary school and makes me a bit sad!! Our head is lovely and available always via email/phone. In the playground often and I think she would probably like to be aware if any issues.

I would imagine, given the letter being sent out, that there has been a succession of occasions on which parents have, as another poster says 'gone straight to the top' about trivial issues that could easily have been sorted out with the class teacher. It will be a 'reminder of the usual protocol' to return things to normality.

If most parents go straight to the head for trivial things, then the head has to go and speak to the CT about it, then get back to the parent, while a single conversation between CT and parent would have sorted it and taken 1/3 of the time.

It won't mean that if a significant problem occurs, you can't go straight to the head - so if, for example, you have a problem with the class teacher, asking to speak to the head about it is entirely appropriate. Equally, as a CT, I always relay any significant conversations with parents to the HT or DHT.

Thanks everyone, I don't envisage having to see her. I hope my children pass through without incident as we all do. And I am sure should my DC have a problem the class teacher will be more than capable of dealing with it.
The letter just seemed so at odds with what she said at the open evening that I wanted to check. It makes sense that maybe she had people asking to see her over trivial matters that a vetting system may be necessary.

Our head stands at the gate every morning and greets each child (by name including the pre schoolers) she also gave us her direct email address. Again a small village school.

Spiotty, so does ours (400+ pupil school), and their direct e-mail address is on every document the school ever sends out.

However, that is completely compatible with a 'normal protocol' that has minor issues arising in and around the classroom, related to a specific pupil, being raised with the class teacher of that pupil first.

I wasn't saying it wasn't I was just answering the op's original question of being able to make an appt to see the head.