The Panel will consist of two Governors and one other person, typically appointed by the Multi Academy Company in line with approved protocols, who is independent of the management and running of the school. The independent member of the Panel typically will act as its Chair unless otherwise agreed by the Panel. No Governor may sit on the panel if they have had any prior involvement in the complaint or in the circumstances surrounding it. Neither the Head Teacher or the Chair of Governors should be a member of this Panel. Where it is not possible for the Governors to convene a Panel due to there being insufficient Governors who have no prior involvement in the complaint, then another Catholic school may be approached via the Multi Academy Company’s Catholic Senior Executive Leader (CSEL)/Accounting Officer (AO) to request that Governors from that school make up the Panel.

The Stage 3 Complaint Form will be acknowledged within 5 school days and the Governors Complaints Panel will normally be convened within 20 school days of the receipt of the form. The complainant will be invited to attend the panel hearing and may be accompanied if they wish.

Both parties should normally be present whilst the complaint is being described and responded to. However, there may be situations where the Chair of Governors considers that the relationship between the complainant and the school has broken down to such an extent that any further meeting that they jointly attend would not be beneficial. If this situation arises then the Chair of Governors may decide that the Stage 3 hearing should be held in two parts with each party, and their witnesses, meeting with the Governors Complaints Panel on their own. Should this decision be taken then the Chair of Governors will advise both parties, the Clerk to the Complaints Panel and the Chair of the Complaints Panel accordingly.

The panel will consider the following:

- • appropriate action to be taken to resolve the complaint. • appropriate action to be taken to resolve the complaint.
- • to dismiss the complaint in whole or in part. • to dismiss the complaint in whole or in part.
- • to uphold the complain in whole or in part. • to uphold the complain in whole or in part.
- • changes to the school procedures or systems in the future may be necessary • changes to the school procedures or systems in the future may be necessary to ensure that situations of a similar nature do not recur.

The panel will take into account whether the complaint has been handled properly and reasonably in accordance with this policy and whether the outcome at Stage 2 was reasonable and appropriate.

As part of the Governors Complaints Panel hearing the following will be undertaken:

- • Clerk to the panel will be appointed. This would usually be the Clerk to the • Clerk to the panel will be appointed. This would usually be the Clerk to the Governors or another clerk assigned by the Multi Academy Company.
- • Clerk will ensure that all parties have received a copy of this Complaints Policy. • Clerk will ensure that all parties have received a copy of this Complaints Policy.
- • Clerk will set a date, time and venue for the hearing within 20 school days of the • Clerk will set a date, time and venue for the hearing within 20 school days of the receipt of the Stage 3 Complaint Form. The venue will be accessible for all parties.
- • least 10 school days prior to the hearing all parties will submit to the Clerk to the • least 10 school days prior to the hearing all parties will submit to the Clerk to the Complaints Panel any written evidence or other documentation to be presented at the hearing, together with the names of any witnesses either party wishes to call.
- • written evidence or other documentation submitted will be sent to all parties and • written evidence or other documentation submitted will be sent to all parties and the panel members to arrive at least 5 school days prior to the hearing.
- • Clerk to the Complaints Panel will record the proceedings and notify, in writing, all • Clerk to the Complaints Panel will record the proceedings and notify, in writing, all parties of the panel’s decision within 5 school days of the hearing.
- • issues raised in the complaint are addressed. • issues raised in the complaint are addressed.

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