All year groupsEngland

Who is who at school: who to ask about what

Written by A Dagdelen · Reviewed

A secondary school can feel like a maze of job titles. This guide says who does what, so you know who to email first and who to ask next if that does not solve it.

Photo: Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

  • Form tutoryour first contact for everyday questions
  • Head of yearlooks after a whole year group: behaviour, attendance and wellbeing
  • SENCoorganises support for special educational needs
  • DSLthe designated safeguarding lead, a senior member of staff

What you need to know

  1. The headteacher and senior leaders. They set the school's direction and policies. You rarely need them first: start with the person closest to your child and move up if needed.
  2. The form tutor sees your child every day. They take the register, pass on messages and notice changes in mood or behaviour. For most everyday questions, this is the best first contact.
  3. The head of year looks after the whole year group. They deal with behaviour, attendance, wellbeing and friendships across the year. The title varies: year lead, pastoral lead or head of house all mean something similar.
  4. Subject teachers and heads of department. For worries about one subject, start with the subject teacher. If that does not help, the head of department is next.
  5. The SENCo and the EAL lead. The special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo) arranges extra support and talks to families about it. Many schools also have a member of staff for pupils who are learning English as an additional language, which is worth asking about.
  6. The DSL and the school office. Every school has a designated safeguarding lead (DSL). If you are worried about your child's safety, or another child's, tell the DSL, or the office will point you to them. The office also deals with absence, contact details, payments and lost property.

Who to contact for what

Late, ill or an appointment

Contact the school office or attendance line on the day. Our attendance guide explains authorised and unauthorised absence.

Friendships, mood or bullying

Start with the form tutor, then the head of year. Say what you have noticed and when.

Homework or progress in one subject

Email the subject teacher. If you are not getting anywhere, ask for the head of department.

Support needs or safety concerns

Ask for the SENCo about learning support, and the DSL if you are worried about anyone's safety.

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Questions parents ask

I do not know who to email.

Use the school office or the general email address. They will pass your message to the right person. The school website often has a staff list as well.

How quickly should the school reply?

Schools set their own response times, often in a communication policy on the website. If you have not heard back in that time, follow up politely.

What if I am unhappy with the answer?

Schools publish a complaints procedure. Start informally with the person involved, then follow the procedure. GOV.UK explains how to complain about a school.

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