Making a complaint

You may turn to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate and the Child and School Student Representative if you think that a school has done something wrong. It may be, for example, that your son is not receiving the help and support he needs to get to grips with his school work. Or maybe your daughter is teased without the staff doing anything about it. Here is what happens if you make a complaint to us, as well as some things you should bear in mind before you do so.

Speak with the school first 
Things you can make a complaint about 
To bear in mind before you make a complaint 
Would you like to remain anonymous? 
Making a complaint
When you have made a complaint 
What a complaint may lead to 

Speak with the school first

If your child is having difficulties at school, the quickest route to a solution is to contact the school or pre-school directly. If you do not receive help from the teacher, you should speak with the head teacher, who has overall responsibility for the school. It is, for example, the head teacher who should ensure that students are given the support they need and who makes decisions about different measures. Most often, this is the simplest and quickest way to resolve any problems.

If, having spoken with the head teacher, you do not consider the problem at school to be resolved, you should take the matter to the municipality or, in the case of an independent school, to the particular principal organizer which has responsibility for the activities. All those who run a school are obligated to have procedures for receiving and investigating complaints made about their education services. The school should be able to provide you with information about how this works and where to submit your complaint.

May I not go straight to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate?
You may indeed do so. Anyone is entitled to make a complaint to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate and the Child and School Student Representative.

Things you can make a complaint about

If you suspect that a school or other activity in the education system is not following the laws and regulations governing the activity, you may make a complaint to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate and the Child and School Student Representative. We investigate complaints relating, for example, to the activities of pre-school, pre-school classes, leisure-time centres, compulsory school, compulsory education for students with learning disabilities, special school primarily for students with impaired hearing, vision and physical disabilities, Sami Schools, upper secondary school, upper secondary education for students with learning disabilities, municipal adult education, education for adults with learning disabilities, and Swedish tuition for immigrants.

To bear in mind before you make a complaint

• The quickest route to overcoming the problem is usually to speak with the head teacher.
• An investigation normally takes up to five or six months.
• We only investigate things that have already taken place.
• We cannot participate in resolving problems at the school itself.
• The Swedish Schools Inspectorate and the Child and School Student Representative remain objective throughout the investigation, representing neither the student nor the school.
• We may never alter the decision of a head teacher.
• Complaints as well as other documentation submitted to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate will be placed in the public domain. This may well mean that anyone will have the right to read this documentation. We do, however, have some powers under the provisions of the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act to allow certain sensitive information to remain confidential.
• Please state clearly in your complaint if you have protected personal data so that we may allow these to remain confidential.

Would you like to remain anonymous?

You may remain anonymous, but bear in mind that doing so might make it more difficult for us to help you:

• If you choose to remain anonymous then we will not be able to keep you informed about the investigation and you will not receive a decision in the matter.
• We will only investigate a complaint made anonymously if it is possible to identify the child/student or if the complaint relates to a serious event.
• You cannot remain anonymous if you want us to investigate the possibility of damages on account of the degrading treatment your child has been subjected to.

Making a complaint

Your complaint should be made in writing. It would be very helpful if you used the online form found here:
Online form for making a complaint to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate (external link, new window)

You may also make your complaint in the form of an ordinary letter which you send to us in the post. You will find the address here:
Contact us

When you have made a complaint

When your complaint has been received by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate and the Child and School Student Representative, it is registered as a case and is allocated a reference number. After this, the case is assigned to an administrator for processing. If the administrator requires more information, he or she will contact you.

When you have made your complaint, you will receive confirmation that we have received it. On it, you will find your reference number. If you wish to contact the administrator, it will be easier if you are able to state the reference number of your complaint.

But the Swedish Schools Inspectorate does not investigate all complaints. If, for example, you have not raised the problem with those who have responsibility for the school, that is the municipality or, in the case of an independent school, its particular principal organizer, we may instead refer your complaint to those who have responsibility. We also refrain from investigating complaints for other reasons, but you will always receive a decision stating what it is we have decided.

We contact the school

If the Swedish Schools Inspectorate investigates the case, we will contact those who have responsibility for the activities and ask a number of questions. The information the Swedish Schools Inspectorate receives from the school will be made available to you, so that you have the chance to give your opinion. Sometimes the administrator will need to contact both you, the school and those who have responsibility for the activities, that is the municipality or, in the case of an independent school, its particular principal organizer.

When the investigation is completed, you and the school receive a decision

When the investigation is completed, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate or the Child and School Student Representative will make a decision. Copies of the decision are sent at the same time to you and to those who have responsibility for the school, the principal organizer. In most cases, this will be a municipality, but it might also be a company which runs an independent school. In certain cases, the decision is also sent to the school's head teacher.

What a complaint may lead to

If the Swedish Schools Inspectorate concludes that the school has not followed the regulations, we will call for the school to make changes in its work so that it follows the laws and regulations which govern it. If the shortcomings are of a serious nature, we may issue the principal organizer, who has responsibility for the school, with an injunction calling for remedial action.

In very serious cases, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate may decide to close a school temporarily, revoke an independent school's licence to operate or, in the case of a municipal school, to intervene and take whatever action is deemed necessary. These actions are rare, however.

Shortcomings of a less serious nature may lead to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate issuing a school with official criticism or to our refraining from intervention. If a school is issued with official criticism, it may mean that the school will be compelled to rectify certain shortcomings indicated in our decision.

The Child and School Student Representative may also call for damages on behalf of a student who has been subjected to degrading treatment. However, the opportunity to call for damages only applies in the case of degrading treatment, and then only in certain cases. If calling for damages becomes relevant in your case, the Child and School Student Representative will always contact you.