Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a head teacher and Chair of Governors for a school. This is because the law prevents us from investigating most complaints about what happens in schools.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about the actions of a head teacher and Chair of Governors at a local school.

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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)
4. The courts have confirmed we cannot investigate the actions of a council dealing with a complaint about matters we cannot investigate. (R (on the application of ER) v CLAE and London Borough of Hillingdon [2014] EWCA Civ 1407)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. We have no power to investigate the actions of a head teacher and Chair of Governors. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaints of bullying and failures to follow procedures.
8. In line with case law we cannot investigate the way the Council responded to her complaint about the above.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because we have no power to do so.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman