This policy has been formulated by Rochestown Educate Together National School (ETNS) to outline the procedures to be followed regarding parental complaints (as per Section 28 Education Act). It is based on the CPSMA/INTO Agreed Parental Complaints Procedure.
Contents
School Details:...... 2
General Information:...... 2
Parental Complaints Procedure:...... 2
Ratification and Review:...... 5
School Details:
Name:Rochestown Educate Together National School
Address:Rochestown, Co. Cork
Telephone:021 489 0122/085 2428753
Email:
Roll Number: 20413N
Principal:Alan Sheehan
The school gates are located at the school fencing surrounding the classrooms and yard. Please note that the school gates are not the gates accessing Douglas Hall AFC from the main Ballyorban Road or Garryduff Sports Centre from the main Moneygourney Road. The school premises consists of the area within the school boundaries/fence in both locations i.e. Douglas Hall AFC and Garryduff Sports Centre. School start/end times are as follows:
Start Time: / End Time:Douglas Hall AFC / 8.40 am / 1.20 pm/2.20 pm
Garryduff Sports Centre / 8.30 am / 1.10 pm/2.10 pm
The school gates open at 8.30am in Douglas Hall AFC and at 8.20am in Garryduff Sports Centre. The school provides supervision of pupils within the school fencing only from 8.30am – 1.30pm for Junior Infants and from 8.30am – 2.30pm for First Class in Douglas Hall AFC and from 8.20am – 1.20pm for Senior Infants and from 8.20am – 2.20 pm for Second and Third Class in Garryduff. Please note that no responsibility is accepted for anyone in the areas outside the school fencing. Please also note that no responsibility is accepted for pupils arriving before 8.30am to Douglas Hall AFC or 8.20am to Garryduff Sports Centre or for supervising pupils after 1.30pm/2.30pm in Douglas Hall or 1.20pm/2.20pm in Garryduff Sports Centre.
School Office: For the purposes of this policy, the school office may refer to the office at Douglas Hall AFC or Garryduff Sports Centre.
General Information:
Rochestown ETNS is under the patronage of Educate Together. It is based on four key principles: Child-centered, Co-educational, Democratic and Equality-based.
Rochestown ETNSfollows the curricular programmes prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998).
Parental Complaints Procedure
Introduction
Only those complaints about teachers which are written and signed by parents/guardians of pupils may be investigated formally by the Board of Management, except where those complaints are deemed by the Board to be:
- On matters on professional competence and which are to be referred to the Department of Education;
- Frivolous and vexatious complaints and complaints which do not impinge on the work of a teacher in a school;
- Complaints in which either party has recourse to law or to another existing procedure (e.g. Child Protection)
Unwritten complaints not in the above category may be processed informally as set out in Stage 1 of this procedure.
Stage 1
1.1A parent/guardian who wishes to make a complaint should, unless there are local arrangements to the contrary, approach the class teacher with a view to resolving the complaint. This should take the form of an arranged meeting at a time that is suitable to both parties.
1.2Where the parent/guardian is unable to resolve the complaint with the class teacher she/he should approach the principal teacher with a view to resolving it. This should take the form of an arranged meeting at a time that is suitable to both parties. Outside of that required in this policy, no phone, written or e-mail correspondence between the complainant and the school will be entered into in relation to the complaint. Correspondence will receive a standard response as follows:
“We acknowledge your phone call/email. Please arrange a meeting with the teacher/principal so that we can discuss this issue further”
1.3If 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
2.1If the complaint is still unresolved and the parent/guardian wishes to pursue the matter further she/he should lodge the complaint in writing with the chairperson of the Board of Management
2.2The 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 within 5 days of receipt of the written complaint.
Stage 3
3.1If the complaint is not resolved informally, the chairperson should, subject to the general authorisation of the Board and except in those cases where the chairperson deems the particular authorisation of the Board to be required:
(a)supply the teacher with a copy of the written complaint; and
(b)arrange a meeting with the teacher and, where applicable, the principal teacher with a view to resolving the complaint. Such a meeting should take place within 10 days of receipt of the written complaint.
Stage 4
4.1If the complaint is still not resolved the chairperson should make a formal report to the Board with 10 days of the meeting referred to in 3.1 (b).
4.2If the Board considers that the complaint is not substantiated the teacher and the complainant should be so informed within 3 days of the Board meeting.
4.3If the Board considers that the complaint is substantiated or that it warrants further investigation it proceeds as follows:
(a)The teacher should be informed that the investigation is proceeding to the next stage;
(b)The teacher should be supplied with a copy of any written evidenceinsupport of the complaint;
(c)The teacher should be requested to supply a written statement to the Board in response to the complaint;
(d)The teacher should be afforded an opportunity to make a presentation of case to the Board. The teacher would be entitled to be accompanied and assisted by a friend at any such meeting;
(e)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 in any such meeting;
(f)The meeting of the Board of Management referred to in (d) and (e) will take place within 10 days of the meeting referred to in 3.1 (b).
Stage 5
5.1When the Board has completed its investigation, the chairperson should convey the decision of the Board in writing to the teacher and the complainant within 5 days of the meeting of the Board.
5.2The decision of the Board shall be final.
Ratification and Review
The policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 14th October 2015.
The policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 7th June 2016.
The policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 20th September 2017.
Communication:
The policy has been made available to school personnel via the school website ( A copy of this policy will be made available to the Department of Education and Skills and the patron (Educate Together) if requested.
Signed:
Barra Casey
Chairperson of the Board of Management
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