Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on reform of the parental complaints process to include mandatory mediation.

It is important that parents and carers have the right to raise complaints with schools and feel they are able to do this and have their concerns heard and addressed by schools. Schools are required to have a complaints policy in place and to act in compliance with this where complaints are raised.

There are routes of escalation for complaints where parents and carers believe complaints have not been handled compliantly, or a school has not adhered to education law. Mediation is an option schools can offer where they deem it appropriate and necessary to support bringing a resolution to complaints.

The department is working and engaging with the sector and parents to understand how the system can be made clearer and simpler, reduce duplication, improve the relationship between schools and families and how this may reduce the number of complaints whilst upholding and maintaining parent and carers rights.