Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a data breach at the complainant’s child’s school. The law prevents us from investigating what happens in schools and about how councils investigate these matters.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains that the Council failed to investigate a data breach at her child’s school.

Back to top

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)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

6. We cannot investigate this complaint because it concerns the actions of a school. Schools’ actions fall outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, and the law prevents us from investigating the actions of the school or how the Council investigated them.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the law prevents us from investigating what happens in schools and about how councils investigate these matters.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman