LEAs and library board maintained schools

Independent schools

As in a state school, your first points of contact should be the class teacher, house tutor and head of year. If you are not happy with the way the bullying has been dealt with, then you should write to the head teacher and ask for a meeting on ways to solve the situation.

If you are still not happy after that, you can write to the chair of the board of governors. Enclose copies of past letters you have written to the head teacher as well as a copy of your bullying diary, if you kept one. If you are still not happy, you could contact one or more of the following organisations. These organisations together make up the Independent Schools Council.

The Governing Bodies Association (GBA), The Governing Bodies of Girls' Schools Association (GBGSA)
The Ancient Foresters, Bush End, Takeley, Bishops Stortford CM22 6NN.
Tel: 01279 871865
Email: frank.morgan@dial.pipex.com

The Girls' Schools Association (GSA)
130 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7PG.
Tel: 0116 2541619
Email: office@gsa.uk.com
Website: www.gsa.uk.com

The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC)
12 The Point,
Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7QU.
Tel: 01858 469 059
Email: hmc@hmc.org.uk
Website: www.hmc.org.uk

The Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS)
11 Waterloo Place, Leamington Spa CV32 5LA.
Tel: 01926 887833
Email: iaps@iaps.org.uk
Website:  http://iaps.org.uk

Independent Schools Association (ISA)
1 Boys' British School, East Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1LS.
Tel: 01799 523619
Email: isa@isaschools.org.uk
Website: www.isaschools.org.uk

The Society of Heads of Independent Schools (SHMIS)
12 The Point,
Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7QU.
Tel: 01858 433760
Website: www.shmis.org.uk

In common with state schools, independent schools have a duty to safeguard the welfare of their pupils. The Education (Independent Schools Standards) (England) Regulations 2003, paragraph 3 requires independent schools to write and enforce a policy to safeguard and promote the welfare of children at that school (Children's Legal Centre, 2004). The regulations state that the policy should take into account the Department for Children, Schools and Families' guidance, Bullying: don't suffer in silence.

All independent schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council are inspected every six years. These are similar to the inspections carried out by Ofsted, and Ofsted check a proportion of the inspections every year. You are able to ask for a copy of one of these reports. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has stated that 'Independent schools are expected to have a policy designed to combat bullying and evidence of this is sought during inspections of independent schools'. If you are still not happy with the way the issue has been handled, having tried all of the above suggestions, you could write to the Department for Children, Schools and Families at:

The Independent Schools Registration Team
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Mowden Hall
Straindrop Road
Darlington DL3 9BG

Tel: 01325 392159
Website: www.dscf.gov.uk/reg-independent-schools

If the bullying has been very serious, you could also consult a solicitor to see if you can take legal action against the school.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, independent schools are members of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS).

In Northern Ireland these schools are members of the Independent Schools Council Ireland (ISCI).

If you are not happy with the way bullying is being tackled in your child's independent school in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may wish to get in touch with organisations in the Further information and contact details section or get legal advice.