I intend to find out how my daughter is doing at school and request report cards etc I see that I am entitled to this information however I'm not sure which school she attends in the area. Would the school confirm if she was a pupil should I phone up or would I be better to contact the local authority's education dept and request the information that way?
Ok phoned up local education board today they cant tell me which school she attends due to the data protection act unless I can prove I'm the father I've emailed them proof now here's the best bit.
They will get in touch with the head of the school to explain the situation the head must then approach the ex and ask if I have any court orders etc against me from seeing my daughter onw depending what the ex tells them depends if I get told what school she attends. Then I will be able to approach the school directly and ask for her report cards and to be down as NoK etc
You can understand their caution as if they get it wrong, they'd be in a world of trouble, but sounds like they're doing what they should. Might be worth chasing them up every few days though.
Oh dont worry I will the Ex will start to get twitchy now as well......Good things come to those that wait
Phined the local authority up again on Wedensday the person I have been dealing with has been busy but has confirmed the proof of who I am is suffice and she will contact the headteacher of the school to inform them that once it's been cleared I don't have any court orders etc issued against me they will have to by law provide me the information I request. She's hoping to get back to me next week with the details of the school.
You can understand their caution as if they get it wrong, they'd be in a world of trouble, but sounds like they're doing what they should. Might be worth chasing them up every few days though.
Chased them up the school has spoken to the ex and the ex has stated she has serious concerns about disclosing the details of the school to me which does narrow it down a bit as to where she is attending I suspect she's been sent to a faith school which would be against my wishes. The LA can't disclose the school as it's against the EX's wishes and have agreed it's a strange request as she informed me of her change of address. So because of her refusing to allow the school to be disclosed I can't get access to her report cards.
General principles for schools
Everyone who is a parent, (whether they are a resident or non-resident parent) has a right to participate in decisions about a child's education and receive information about the child (even though, for day-to-day purposes, the school's main contact is likely to be a parent with whom the child lives on school days).
School and LA staff must treat all parents equally, unless there is a court order limiting an individual's exercise of parental responsibility. Individuals who have parental responsibility for, or care of, a child have the same rights as natural parents, for example
•to receive information, e.g. pupil reports
•to participate in activities, e.g. vote in elections for parent governors
•to be asked to give consent, e.g. to the child taking part in school trips
•to be informed about meetings involving the child, e.g. a governors' meeting on the child's exclusion.
Where a parent's action, or proposed action, conflicts with the school's ability to act in the child's best interests, the school should try to resolve the problem with that parent but avoid becoming involved in conflict.Definition of parent
Section 576 of the Education Act 1996 defines 'parent' as
•all natural parents, whether they are married or not
•any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility for a child or young person
•any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person (having care of a child or young person means that a person with whom the child lives and who looks after the child, irrespective of what their relationship is with the child, is considered to be a parent in education law).
Ive sent another email requesting I be added as a NOK onto my childs files I've also highlighed that section you've posted explaining I have a right and will start a complaint against the LA/school if they do not respond.
UPDATE,
The highlighting of the education act and my responsibilites certainly worked! LA phoned today the girl in the data protection team has informed me that they will be formally writing to the EX requesting a copy of the court order preventing me from dealing with my child and will have a short time to submit it....There is none! If they fail to respond with the court order by a set date they will give me the school detials. The school will also be getting told that they are in the wrong by witholding the information I have requested and that when I write to them tey will have to comply and provide the relevent information I have requested.
Both the data protection girl and her boss (council lawyer) are surprised that the school sided with my ex based purely on her stating she has serious concerns about me knowing what school they attend.
I'm still considering submitting a formal complaint regarding the teacher though.
Hi Glad my post helped
Well finally got informed today of the school my child attends. The girl who has been dealing with it was off sick but one of her colleagues informed me by email that my EX told the school she was more than happy for the school to be disclosed to myself just before the christmas hols. Funny that as the week prior she had "serious" concerns about me knowing where they were schooled funny no mention of the council getting in touch telling her to provide the court order or they would disclose it.
great result