Do schools normally respond to parent emails?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

I've sent 3 emails so far, DD in yr 7.

Two to the info@ address, as recommended when I phoned to check the email address. One of those was a question about possible disciplinary action against the class, I was asking for clarification on the process. (It turned out it wasn't a class issue but that was something DD managed to resolve herself much later) One was a complaint to the chair of governors where a number of parents have voiced the same concern. No response on either matter. Not even a "we've got your email, thanks, we're looking at the issue".

The third was to a specific teacher, following up on something really positive we chatted about at parents' evening, where he had said "yes email me about it". I don't think I got the wrong address, because it didn't bounce back.

Do schools normally respond to parent emails?

Our school always responds, whether it is to say that they have passed the message on to the relevant person or an actual response from the addressee themselves.

I have sent several messages to teachers and most have answered on the same day.

They should as basic manners. I would print those emails off, visit the school and ask why you have not had the courtesy of a reply

My DD has had a nightmare year (I won't bore you).

Her form tutor and I are like pen pals (except, in email form).

Yes, they should be either responding via email or following up any emails you send with a call.

our school has a rule to respond within 2 days, ime they always seem to manage the same day

We have email addresses for teachers and generally they respond quite quickly for trivial matters. For more serious matters such as bullying, mess up of a public exam and incorrect recording of unauthorised absence, I have been forced to instigate the complaints procedure when I haven't received a response within a reasonable time (and sent several emails and phone calls which weren't returned). It really really pisses me off.

In my experience e mails are met with silence when school is in the wrong otherwise replies are usually same day.

DS1's school is brilliant for responding. A 'we have recieved your email and forwarded to....' almost immediately followed by a response very quickly.
I was very impressed.

They should be dealing with their emails and responding Mary.

I have children in two different secondaries and they are both very good at responding.

I have my school email address attached to my iPhone.
I reply to emails at the earliest opportunity. Even if it's just to say I'll investigate and get back to the parent/student/colleague later. I appreciate emails as sometimes I've found out things about students that I think the form tutor should have passed on and hadn't.
It is disgraceful you haven't heard back.

Yes, disgraceful you haven't had a reply. Either the info@ emails aren't being sent on or you are being ignored. Both need to be put right. All teachers I know will answer parent emails (although I only answer mine in work time). Herd to get through on the phone as the job tends to keep you out of your office these days (if you have one).

yes ime.

Thanks all. I was beginning to wonder if I was being unreasonable. High school not like primary, busy teachers can't pander to parents etc etc.

I think I'll send a letter about it.

Yes, always and often very quickly.

Depends if they get through, never rely on electronic communication. My in box is choosy and the ICT tech just says 'it's never done that before' a lot.

It may also be that incident are being dealt with higher up than the classroom teacher, in which case they wouldn't respond as someone else is dealing with the issue. Or if the teacher is teaching all day and then has meetings they may not be able to reply that day.

I don't reply to the crazy parents, the one who email's me 8 times in half an hour because she's drunk/stoned/stupid.

Not in my experience.
It seems to be a culture. Letters don't work any better either. Phone is the best.

ds's school - yes. Excellent means of communication. Some staff even respond at evenings / weekend / holiday (not that I would expect them to)

dd's school - nightmare. 'enquiry@' doesn't get a response and they won't let you know teacher's e-mail addresses and staff names aren't listed on the website. The HoY gave me his e-mail address and is excellent, so it does seem to be a 'blockage' at the office, rather than the individual staff.
Mind, you don't get a lot better on the phone either. Real communication issues.

I don't mind them not responding the same day, or passing the email on to someone else, higher up.

I do mind no response whatsoever. Not even a "I've passed this on" email. The first one was sent in February. And I've double checked the email address by phoning.

My letter would be along the lines of "Dear Chair of Governors. I've tried to contact the school three times on three different matters and had no response from them. Are they always this rude?"

Or something like that...

We actually have DS's form tutor's school email address so can contact him directly if need be.... Have found all the staff respond quickly (usually within the parameters of the same school day unless they're not in school for some reason). No complaints here...

Do you have an email address that might trigger a spam filter in any way?

Our school has a policy that all emails are responded to within 2 school days.

I normally reply straight away though, e,g, a parent emailed me on Friday night at 8.30pm, I replied at 9pm (mainly as it took 20min to write a decent reply!)

I try to respond on the same day, even if it is to say, I'm not at school until Thursday but will look into it and get back to you, or I'll forward to mr so and so as he is better placed to deal with it.

At Dds school, all my communication was done by email in reception, but in year 2, the teacher told me they were not allowed to reply, had to talk, hence poor teacher trying to catch me I nthe evenings by phone.