Complaints about schools colleges and universities

Want to make a complaint about a school, college or university?

Making a complaint about a school

The first thing you need to do is take up your complaint locally. The school will tell you how to do this. Most complaints can be resolved quickly in this way. If you are not satisfied with the outcome you can ask the governing body to look into your complaint.

If you still have concerns you can complain to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills at:

Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3BT
Telephone: 0207 925 000, email: info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

If you would like further information on how to make a complaint about something that has happened at a school you can contact the Customer Service Centre. The Department for Education and Skills has a fact sheet for parents which gives clear advice on what to do if things go wrong at school which can be found at www.parentcentre.gov.uk (there is a link on this page).

If you are a young person wishing to make a complaint we have a special page for you - please follow the link.

What to do if you are unhappy about a school refusing to offer your child a place

If your child has been refused a place at the school you have chosen, you have the right to appeal against the decision. You can ask at the school for an appeal form. For further advice on the appeal procedure in community schools and for information about school vacancies in Shropshire follow the school admissions link.

Making a complaint about a college or university

The first thing you need to do is take up your complaint locally. The college or university will tell you how to do this. Most complaints can be resolved quickly in this way. If you are not satisfied with the outcome you can ask the college or university to allow someone outside the organisation to look into your complaint. The college or university will give you details on how to do this.

If your complaint is about misleading information in a prospectus, you can appeal to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education at:

Southgate House, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1UB
Telephone: 01452 557000
email: comms@qaa.ac.uk