The government is drawing up new guidance for schools and parents over complaints to 鈥渞educe the burden on leaders鈥�. Ministers have said the advice will be published 鈥渟hortly鈥�, amid concerns over the 鈥渋ncreasing number of complaints鈥� and the toll on heads. 聽 The will also conduct research, involving teachers and parents with 鈥渆xperience鈥� of the process. In a letter about rising parent complaints, seen by Schools Week, schools minister Catherine McKinnell told Tory leader Kemi Badenoch: 鈥淲e are engaging with schools and organisations representing both the education sector and parents to consider what more we can do. Catherine McKinnell 鈥淸This includes] exploring options to improve the complaints process and reduce the burden on schools and leaders whilst also maintaining parents’ rights to raise concerns. 鈥淲e take the wellbeing of staff very seriously. We will shortly be publishing updated guidance for schools on managing complaints, as well as updating guidance for parents and carers.鈥� Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has also 鈥渁cknowledged the concerns being raised about parental complaints鈥�, including the increasing number 鈥渞eceived by schools and the impact it is having鈥� on leaders. Complaints research project to launch A seven-day research project, beginning on Monday, will be led by Policy Lab, a team within the Department for Education. Its aim 鈥渋s to better understand the school complaints landscape and generate ideas for how to reduce them鈥�. As well as schools, parents who have experience with the 鈥渃omplaints process, whether they have initiated a complaint or been involved in resolving one鈥�, will be involved. The research will take the form of a 鈥渄ebate鈥�, during which parents and teacher will be able to support or disagree with statements and anonymously submit their own views for others to vote on. Headteacher support service Headrest鈥檚 latest wellbeing report showed 56 per cent of leaders and 40 per cent of teachers witnessed an increase in vexatious complaints from parents and guardians. Leaders鈥� union the NAHT has called on ministers to review 鈥渃omplaints procedures to deter vexatious use of the existing system by parents鈥�, involving referrals to the misconduct agency and Ofsted before school processes have been followed. The Confederation of School Trusts last year urged the government to create a 鈥渟ingle front door鈥� to 鈥渢riage鈥� complaints and ensure they are not investigated multiple times. The DfE did not respond to a request for comment.