Complain about a state school to Ofsted

Use this service to complain to Ofsted about a state school, including academies and free schools.

You can use this service if:

  • you’ve complained to the school and the problem has not been resolved
  • your complaint is about things that affect the whole school, not individuals

Contact the Department for Education instead if you’re a whistleblower.

This service will take about 20 minutes to complete.

Start now

Before you start

You’ll need:

  • the name and address of the school
  • your contact details
  • details of your complaint
  • details of how the school has handled your complaint, including any replies

After you complain

Ofsted will review your complaint. You should get a response from them within 30 working days.

They may:

  • discuss the complaint with the school at their next inspection
  • refer your complaint to another organisation that can act on it

Ofsted must refer your complaint to the police or social services if it raises concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child.

If you need help using this service

Telephone: 0300 123 4666 - select option 2 for accessibility support
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Phone support is not available on Wednesdays or weekends
Find out about call charges