Concerns and Complaints
Concerns and Complaints
It is in everyone’s interest that concerns and complaints are resolved at the earliest possible stage. West Exe School values its relationship with parents, carers, and our local community and is committed to listening and finding fair and timely resolutions.
We kindly remind you that the Ted Wragg Trust complaints process is not a legal procedure. It is not about proving fault or transferring blame but about working together to resolve issues positively and as early as possible. Our approach is based on fairness, understanding and reconciliation and is guided by administrative law rather than legal process. Whilst we understand that some complaints may be detailed and are being supported by external tools, such as AI, we encourage complaints to remain focused on resolution.
We kindly ask that concerns are shared in a way that supports open and respectful discussion. Many issues can be resolved informally, without the need to use the formal stages of the complaint's procedure. We also welcome suggestions and comments outside the formal process as they help us make improvements.
The Government has published some guidance for parents on making complaints which we hope you will find useful Parents Guide to School Complaints.
The difference between a concern and a complaint
| CONCERN | COMPLAINT |
|---|---|
|
An expression of worry or doubt over an issue considered to be important for which reassurances are sought and a resolution is found at school level |
An expression of serious dissatisfaction of previous concerns not resolved at school level and initially raised with the head teacher |
Thank you for helping us keep the process positive and solution focused.
If you have a Pastoral, teaching, learning or progress concern
Please contact the school and Speak to the Tutor you can find there emails here:
If you have a safeguarding concern
Please contact the schools safeguarding lead via this email [email protected].
If you have a Whistle blowing concern you would like to report
Please contact the Trust on our Whistle blowing email [email protected] to report a concern.
If you have used the above approaches and wish to take the matter further please now contact the Head of year or Subject to escalate the concern.
Head of Year
Y7 – Richard Claydon - [email protected]
Y8 - Kelsey Flynn - [email protected]
Y9 - Chris Mayes - [email protected]
Y10 - Laura Peacock - [email protected]
Y11 - Imogen O'Callaghan - [email protected]
Head of Faculty
English - Claire Palmer [email protected]
Maths - Laura Jacobs - [email protected]
Science - Roger Bicheno - [email protected]
Creative Technologies - Gary King - [email protected]
Art and Design - Lizzy Barnes - [email protected]
Drama - Dave Salter - [email protected]
Languages - Sam Presley - [email protected]
Sports, Health and Nutrition - Chris Davies - [email protected]
West Exe Baccalaureate (WEB) - Ben Lias - [email protected]
Geography - Libby Smith - [email protected]
History - Damian Bartholomew - [email protected]
If you have still not had an appropriate response please contact the Head.
Please note that you are likely to reach a resolution faster by using the above stage first. The Head may only respond if the above stages have been fulfilled.
Submit a Complaint
After you have completed these stages and you still wish to submit a formal complaint, please use the form below by clicking on the submit a complaint link.
Please see below extracts from the policy in relation to timelines.
Complaint Process Timeline
There is an expectation that complaints would be resolved at school level and that mediation would take place to build trust in any breakdown in relationships between the complainant and the school. If the complaint escalates through the formal complaint stages set out in the Complaints Policy, the time span would range between 10 school days through to 80 school days.
