Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that a child was unlawfully excluded from school. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happens in schools.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about a decision by a school to exclude her daughter. Ms X says the exclusion was unlawful and that the Council has failed to act.

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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 Ms X’s complaint because it concerns a matter which relates to the management of a school. The internal management of schools fall outside of our jurisdiction.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is about something that happened in a school.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman