Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s role in a school exclusion. This is because the law prevents us from investigating complaints from public bodies.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains on behalf of a school within the public sector about the Council’s role in a school exclusion. Ms X says the process the Council followed was flawed and undermined the exercise of headteachers’ and school governors’ statutory duties.

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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 complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the law prevents us from investigating complaints from public bodies.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman