School Complaints & Reviews
Students, parents and carers can raise concerns about school decisions, services, staff conduct, policies or processes. The right pathway depends on what happened and the outcome you are seeking.
A student under 18 can make a complaint to the Department for Education and can ask an adult support person or advocate to help.
Government school complaints
Start with the school
Raise the concern with the relevant staff member, principal or school leader. Keep a written record of the issue and the outcome you are seeking.
Contact Customer Feedback
If the matter is not resolved, contact the Department for Education Customer Feedback Team for information, review and help exploring options.
Seek independent review
If the departmental process does not resolve the matter, Ombudsman SA may be able to provide independent advice or review.
Read the full Department for Education complaints process.
Complaints and appeals are different
A complaint asks for a concern, action or process to be addressed. An appeal asks for a particular decision to be reviewed under a formal process.
- A suspension cannot be appealed, but a complaint can be made.
- An exclusion or extension can generally be appealed within 5 school days.
- An expulsion can generally be appealed within 10 school days.
- Barring notices have separate change, withdrawal and review options.
Education Standards Board
The Education Standards Board regulates registered schools and their compliance with registration law and standards. It is not the next step for every unresolved school disagreement and will generally expect the school’s complaint process to be attempted first.
If you are unsure whether the Board can consider your concern, contact it before submitting a complaint.
Education Standards Board school complaintsBefore making a complaint
- Write a clear timeline of what happened.
- Keep notices, emails and meeting notes.
- Identify the decision or conduct you are concerned about.
- State what outcome you are seeking.
- Note any relevant policies, plans or adjustments.
- Decide whether you want a support person involved.
PAAN can help you prepare
We can help organise information, prepare questions and identify possible pathways. PAAN provides advocacy support and general information, not legal advice.