Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about a school’s decision to restrict his contact. We cannot investigate complaints about the internal management of schools.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about a school’s decision to restrict his contact. He says the restriction breaches his right to have discussions with his child’s class teacher about their progress.

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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. We cannot investigate this complaint. The decision to restrict Mr X’s contact was made by his child’s school. We have no power to investigate decisions connected to the internal management of schools.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because we have no power to do so.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman