London Borough of Tower Hamlets (25 012 674)
Category : Education > School exclusions
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 02 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the actions of a Headteacher of a school because we have no power to do so.
The complaint
- Mrs X complains about the actions of a Headteacher at a school her child was attending. She says her child suffered emotional harm, loss of education, he is socially isolated and at risk of harm by the school due to defamation by the Headteacher.
- Mrs X requests an apology from the Headteacher and financial compensation.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- We cannot investigate most complaints about what happens in schools. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, paragraph 5(2), as amended)
- We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal or a government minister or started court action about the matter. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6), as amended)
- The courts have said that where someone has sought a remedy by way of proceedings in any court of law, we cannot investigate. This is the case even if the appeal did not or could not provide a complete remedy for all the injustice claimed. (R v The Commissioner for Local Administration ex parte PH (1999) EHCA Civ 916)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- We have no power to investigate the school’s actions nor the actions of the Headteacher.
- We also cannot investigate this complaint and any matters related to it because Mrs X has initiated legal proceedings.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it relates to the actions of a school and Mrs X has started legal proceedings.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman