Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to act against a school. This is because the law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happens in schools.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council has failed to act against a school in relation to a safeguarding concern raised. Mr X says the Council failed to act after the school provided misleading information about its decision not to exclude a child, allowed unsuitable school governors to remain in place and has failed to act against misconduct by school teachers and staff.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate most complaints about what happens in schools. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, paragraph 5(2), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint as it is about what has happened in a school. This places the complaint outside of our jurisdiction because of the exception outlined in paragraph 3.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is about what has happened in a school.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman