Staff grievances: guidance

Read our step-by-step guide to understand the grievance process from start to finish, including what can happen during the informal stage. Download our model agenda for the grievance panel meeting and a template decision letter.

Last reviewed on 15 November 2022
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 4318
Contents
  1. Read your grievance policy
  2. Informal stage
  3. Formal stage
  4. Grievance panel meeting: use our model agenda
  5. Outcome: download our template decision letter

Read your grievance policy

Your school is required to have disciplinary and grievance procedures in place. 

This article is based on our model policy, so read your policy first in case the processes in your school differ from what's outlined in this article.

You can find information about the statutory grievance policy on page 22 of the Department for Education's staffing and employment advice for schools, and pages 98 and 99 of the Governance Handbook.

Informal stage

You're unlikely to be involved in this stage, but it's a good idea to understand what could happen before a grievance reaches the formal stage, which you might be involved in (see the section below). 

Line manager Line manager's manager, if the concern is about their