Active Schools

Active Schools


Photos

Photos


Podcasts

Podcasts


StarSite

Grievance Policy for Parents

Scoil Maelruain Senior

Grievance ( Complaints) Procedure for Parents

All staff do their utmost to resolve any complaints informally, fairly and quickly. However, there Is an agreed complaints procedure to be followed in primary schools if necessary. This is a procedure reached through national agreement between the INTO and the CPSMA .

Stage 1- informal stage

  1. A parent/guardian who wishes to make a complaint should make an appointment with the class teacher, through the school office, with a view to resolving the complaint.
  2. Where the parent/guardian is unable to resolve the complaint with the class teacher, he/she should approach the principal with a view to resolving it.
  3. If the complaint is still unresolved the parent/guardian should raise the matter with the chairperson of the board of management with a view to resolving it.

Stage 2 – formal stage

  1. If the complaint is still unresolved and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter further, he/she should lodge the complaint in writing with the chairperson of the board of management.
  2. The chairperson should bring the precise nature of the written complaint to the notice of the teacher and seek to resolve the matter between the parties.

Stage 3

  1. If the complaint is not resolved informally, the chairperson should, subject to the general authorization of the board:
  1. Supply the teacher with a copy of the written complaint and
  2. Arrange a meeting with the teacher, and where applicable, the principal with a view to resolving the complaint.

Stage 4

  1. If the complaint is still not resolved the chairperson should make a formal report to the board of management.
  2. If the board considers that the complaint is not substantiated the teacher and the complainant should be so informed within three days of the board meeting.
  3. If the board considers that the complaint is substantiated or that it warrants further investigation, the following steps should be followed:
  1. The teacher should be informed that the investigation is proceeding to the next stage;
  2. The teacher should be supplied with a copy of any written evidence in support of the claim;
  3. The teacher should be requested to supply a written statement to the board in response to the complaint;
  4. The teacher should be afforded an opportunity to make a presentation to the board. The teacher would be entitled to be accompanied and assisted by a friend at any such meeting;
  5. The board may arrange a meeting with the complainant if it considers such to be required. The complainant would be entitled to be accompanied and assisted by a friend at any such meeting.

Stage 5

When the board has completed its investigation, the chairperson should convey the decision of the board in writing to the teacher and the complainant as soon as possible. The decision of the board shall be final.

This policy was distributed to teachers in November 2017 and was ratified by the Board of Management in December 2017. A copy was then distributed to the Parents’ Association.