Last updated: December 2023
FIS is committed to developing a culture where it is safe and acceptable for all community members to raise concerns about any unacceptable practice, behavior or wrongdoing. This includes but is not limited to harassment, discrimination and misconduct, as defined in 1.51R Discrimination and Harassment.
Misconduct may refer to unethical practice, financial wrongdoing, a criminal offense, a breach of legal obligation, a miscarriage of justice, a danger to the health and safety of any individual, environmental damage or a deliberate attempt to conceal any of the above.
FIS recognizes three categories of concern:
Complaints: Complaints are a less formal avenue for raising a concern. Complaints can be made verbally or in writing.
Grievances: Grievances must be made in writing. Grievances typically involve a concern about harm or risk to self.
Whistleblowing: Whistleblowing is when an individual raises a concern about risk or wrongdoing to others that often has wider implications to the school community or is in the public interest.
All complaints and grievances should be raised with an appropriate administrator. The designation of ‘appropriate administrator’ will depend on the nature of the claim. The administrator should be a person who is in no way implicated in the concern and who is in a position of sufficient authority. In the case of a concern involving the Head of School, the report should be made to the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Whistleblowing concerns should be submitted to the HR Manager: Whistleblowing Form.
In cases where the concern involves an allegation that a student or students may have been harmed or are at risk of harm, action under the child protection reporting procedure, as outlined in the FIS Child Safeguarding Handbook, must be taken without delay.
An inquiry will be carried out into all concerns raised that fall within the school's definition of harassment, discrimination or misconduct. The school will make every effort to protect the confidentiality of all parties involved and will protect the rights of the person raising the concern. Inquiries will be carried out in accordance with 1.53R Inquiry Procedures.