Making Complaints to Schools


What sort of things can I complain about?
If I feel I am unsafe or have been unfairly treated, what can I do?
What if the problem hasn't been sorted out at school?
What if the principal is the person I am complaining about?
What will happen to our letter complaint to the Board of Trustees?
What is likely to happen after I have made a complaint to my school?
Will I have to see the person I complained at school while my complaint is being looked into?
Other Information and further help


This information sheet answers questions about what you and your caregivers can do if you are worried about something that has happened at school. It may be something that has happened to you or to someone else.

The information below refers to Kura Kaupapa Maori, state and integrated schools (an integrated school is a private school that has joined the state school system and gets extra funding from the government), as well as private schools. However, sometimes the law is different for private schools. Where this is the case, the information sheet with say so.

Remember:

If you don't want to make a complaint or decide you don't want to take it further, you should say so immediately. It's okay for you to make this call, as you're the one who has to walk in the school gates every day.

If you do want to, get as much support as you can, and remember, you haven't done anything wrong by complaining. In fact you may have helped lots of other people who were too afraid.

Don't make a complaint that you know is untrue (for example, to get you out of trouble, because you don't like someone or because you're afraid). This is wrong and if you do, you may get into trouble.