Fiducia TogetherReporting a concern about a school
Which body to go to when the school's own process has not worked.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Beyond the school and its governors, the escalation route depends on the type of school and the type of concern.
Where it applies
Anyone with an unresolved concern.
How it works
For maintained schools, the council's school complaints team. For academies, the trust and then the ESFA. Ofsted takes concerns about a school as a whole as inspection intelligence but does not investigate individual cases. Safeguarding allegations about staff go to the local authority designated officer, and the police where a crime may have been committed.\n\nSEND provision under an EHCP is the council's, not the school's — see provision not being delivered.
What you can ask for
Identify the right body BEFORE writing. The commonest cause of delay is complaining to somebody with no power to act.
Exhaust the school's own procedure first unless it is a safeguarding matter, which goes straight to the designated officer.
Keep everything in writing and keep a timeline.
Where to get help
SENDIASS for free local advice, IPSEA and Contact nationally, and your school's own policy.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.