With numbers of parental complaints trending upwards, this is an opportune time to reflect on the parent-school relationship.
We are delighted to have Maria Strauss, Partner and Scott McGrory Associate from Farrer & Co joining us for a webinar which will focus on the handling of complaints and the role Governors play throughout and particularly when they are asked to be a panel member at the Stage 3 part of the Complaints Process.
Maria and Scott will explore a number of topics including: managing parental expectations, strategies to de-escalate potential complaints and, where complaints cannot be avoided despite all efforts, best practice in the handling of formal complaints.



Associate, Farrer & Co
Scott is an employment lawyer who advises on both contentious and non-contentious issues. He works for clients including universities, schools and not-for-profits, as well as businesses and senior employees.
Scott has a broad range of experience and his work includes employment litigation, investigations (including into whistleblowing allegations), disciplinary and grievance matters, settlement agreements and policy reviews. He has also worked on matters advising schools on issues relating to staff, pupils and safeguarding.
He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and volunteers as a pro bono legal adviser at the Mary Ward Legal Centre along with working with Aspiring Solicitors as a professional ambassador for the firm.
Scott qualified as a solicitor in September 2024 after completing his training contract at Farrer & Co. Prior to joining the firm, Scott worked in the education and charity sectors, in both a University and a school.

Partner, Farrer & Co
Maria advises a broad spectrum of clients including private companies, not-for-profit organisations, independent schools, banks, sports clubs, Churches and faith-based organisations on employment law and safeguarding matters.
Maria also acts for senior executives, particularly in the context of investigations or inquiries that they are involved in.
Maria qualified as a solicitor in 2008.
Maria advises independent schools on: parental complaints, SEN and disability cases, safeguarding, staff issues, pupil disciplinaries, serious incident reports to the Charity Commission, allegations of non-recent abuse and Tribunal claims. Maria acted for a number of residential schools in the context of independent case reviews and disclosure exercises to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). Maria has this year developed a dedicated Investigations Guide for schools.
Please accept {{cookieConsents}} cookies to view this content