Parents of children in English state schools hold significant legal rights: to see their child's education records, receive progress reports, be involved in SEN decisions, and challenge decisions they believe are unfair. Knowing these rights helps you engage with the school as an informed partner and escalate appropriately when something goes wrong.
What is "parental responsibility" and does it affect school rights?
"Parental responsibility" is the legal term for the rights, duties and authority that a person has in relation to a child and their upbringing. In England:
- Both parents are automatically granted parental responsibility if they were married when the child was born
- An unmarried father has parental responsibility if named on the birth certificate (from December 2003 onwards) or if he has obtained it through a parental responsibility agreement or court order
- Adoptive parents, certain guardians and some others can also hold parental responsibility
Multiple people can hold parental responsibility simultaneously. All of them have the same rights at school — unless a court order limits any individual's rights — and schools must share information with all who hold parental responsibility, not only the "resident" parent.
What right do parents have to see their child's school records?
You have a statutory right to access your child's educational record. This includes:
| Record type | Your right |
|---|---|
| Pupil educational record | Full access on request; school must supply copies within 15 school days |
| SEN records and EHCP | Full access; you are a named party to any EHCP |
| School's data about your child | Access under UK GDPR — submit a Subject Access Request to the school's Data Protection Officer |
| CAF or multi-agency records | Access via the relevant local authority or lead professional |
Schools can withhold specific information if providing it could harm your child (for example, information provided in confidence by your child themselves) but must inform you that certain information has been withheld.
Do parents have the right to receive reports and attend meetings?
Yes. Schools are legally required to:
- Provide at least one written annual report per pupil to parents, covering achievements, progress and attendance
- Offer parents the opportunity to discuss the report with teachers
- Hold parents' meetings (parents' evenings) at least once per year for KS3 and KS4 pupils — in practice, most schools hold two
For pupils with SEND, the rights go further: parents must be invited to EHCP reviews, SEN support plan meetings, and any transition planning meetings. You must also receive advance notice of any significant changes proposed to your child's SEN provision.
Can parents withdraw their child from any lessons?
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from certain lessons:
- Religious Education (RE) — parents can withdraw a child from all or part of RE lessons at any time, without needing to give a reason. This right is absolute.
- Collective worship — parents can withdraw a child from acts of collective worship (assemblies with a religious element). The school cannot pressure parents not to withdraw, and the child must be supervised elsewhere during that time.
- Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) — parents can withdraw a child from the sex education elements of RSE (not the relationships elements, which are compulsory). The right applies until the child is 15; after that, the child themselves can choose to attend.
You cannot withdraw a child from the National Curriculum subjects (including science, which covers human reproduction), from statutory subjects, or from any lesson simply because you disagree with the content being taught.
What rights do parents have around school exclusions?
If your child is excluded:
- Fixed-period exclusions: you must be told immediately why, how long, and what your child must do to return. For exclusions of more than five days, you have the right to make representations to the governing body.
- Permanent exclusions: you must be told in writing, and you have the right to make representations to the governing body and, if they uphold the exclusion, to an independent review panel. You may bring a SEN expert to this panel if your child has SEND.
The school cannot lawfully send a child home informally ("off-roll" or as an unofficial exclusion). If your child is sent home for reasons other than a formal exclusion, challenge this in writing immediately.
What rights do parents have when a school makes a decision they disagree with?
| Decision type | Your right |
|---|---|
| Admissions refusal | Right of appeal to an independent admissions appeal panel |
| Permanent exclusion | Right of representations to governing body, then independent review panel |
| EHCP content or decision | Right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal (First-tier Tribunal) |
| School's use of pupil data | Right to complain under UK GDPR or to the Information Commissioner's Office |
| General school complaints | School must have a written complaints procedure; escalate to the Regional Director if unresolved |
Note that parents do not have a general right to determine curriculum content, how teachers are deployed, or the school's operational policies — these are decisions for the school and its governing body.
Can parents inspect the school's curriculum or policies?
Schools are required by law to publish a range of information on their website, including:
- The school's behaviour and exclusions policy
- The SEND policy and SEND information report
- The curriculum for each year group and each subject
- The school's complaints procedure
- Pupil Premium spending and impact
- Safeguarding and child protection policy
If a document is not on the school website, write to the headteacher requesting a copy. Schools are generally required to make these documents available and cannot unreasonably refuse.
Frequently asked questions
Can both separated parents receive school reports and attend parents' evenings?
Yes, if both hold parental responsibility. Schools should provide reports and meeting opportunities to all holders of parental responsibility, including those who are not the resident parent, unless a court order specifies otherwise. It is worth informing the school of the situation in writing at the start of the year so that arrangements can be made clearly.
Can a school share information about my child with my ex-partner?
If your ex-partner holds parental responsibility, the school has a general duty to share relevant information with them — including reports, letters, and notifications about significant events. The school is not required to be a go-between in parental disputes. If a court order restricts your ex-partner's information rights, provide a copy to the school in writing.
Do parents have the right to choose their child's teacher?
No. Parents do not have the right to request a specific teacher, and schools are not required to accommodate such requests. Staffing decisions, including which teacher is assigned to which class, are entirely within the school's discretion.
What do I do if a school refuses to follow the law?
First, use the school's complaints procedure — most issues can be resolved at this stage. If the governing body does not resolve your complaint satisfactorily, you can escalate to the Regional Director for Schools (via GOV.UK), to the local authority (for matters within their remit), or to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. For EHCP disputes, the SEND Tribunal is the statutory route.
Understanding your rights is the first step — AI Tutors helps your child thrive academically, whatever the school situation.