Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint against the Council about matters relating to the running of schools. This is because it falls outside our jurisdiction as we cannot investigate complaints about what happens in schools.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I refer to as Mr B, complains about the Council’s handling of matters relating to the running of schools.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints about what happens in schools. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, paragraph 5(b), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. In considering the complaint I spoke to Mr B and reviewed the information he and the Council provided.

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What I found

4. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
5. Mr B’s complaint concerns matters which relate to the internal management of schools but it falls outside our jurisdiction as we cannot investigate complaints about what happens in schools. We have no discretion on this point.

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Final decision

6. The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint because it falls outside our jurisdiction as we cannot investigate complaints about what happens in schools

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman