Searching for a school's name on Google automatically brings up a panel with a link to Google Maps and to reviews and star ratings left by Google users - meaning the reviews can often be one of the first thing parents see when researching a school.
In 2019, Google said it would not allow new reviews and ratings of schools, but headteachers say the ban has been patchy, with reviews still being left for some schools, while reviews posted before the ban are still online after six years or more.
A spokesperson for Google said: "We will turn off reviews on Google Maps for general education schools in the UK and Ireland due to consistent off- topic and harmful reviews on those places."
Teacher's 'small win' in showdown with Google Maps over its use of online data A defiant teacher has hailed his "small win" over Google - after the tech company removed all of its school reviews.
Mr Cowley, deputy headteacher at Mendell primary school in Bromborough, Merseyside, said: Google's decision was "a small win" which will help parents get more reliable information about nearby schools.
