Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint regarding safeguarding concerns that the Council reported to Ofsted about the school that the complainant worked at. This is because it is made on behalf of a public body.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I shall call Mr C, complains that the Council reported safeguarding concerns about the school he worked at to Ofsted. Mr C says this negatively impacted the school’s grade and led to his early retirement.

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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 complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)
4. We can only accept complaint from members of the public or their authorised representatives. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26A, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered Mr C’s complaint and the Council’s response. I sent a draft version of this decision to Mr C and invited his comments.

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What I found

6. Mr C previously worked in a senior position at a school. Mr C says the Council reported safeguarding concerns about the school to Ofsted, which negatively impacted Ofsted’s grading of the school. Mr C says this subsequently led to his early retirement.

Assessment

7. I cannot investigate Mr C’s complaint. Whilst I note that he describes how the events that he complains about impacted him personally, these events happened when he was an employee of the school. The school’s governing body constitutes a public body. By law, the Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints made on behalf of a public body.

Final decision

8. We cannot investigate this complaint. This is because it is made on behalf of a public body.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman