AFTER what might best be described as some months of indifference, Thurrock Council has thrown its weight behind a campaign by impassioned parents to ensure they get a voice in the running of three borough schools that have been taken over by a controversial education trust.

Around 150 people attended a meeting at the Homesteads village Hall in Stanford-le-Hope last night (Thursday, 2 January) where many parents told of the distress, anguish and damage to their children's mental health by recent events at Gable Hall and Hassenbrook secondary schools and Corringham primary school.

Their outpourings, plus a message of support from a leading campaigner in East London where the Mossbourne Academy has been running schools, prompted a commitment of support from Thurrock Council leader Cllr John Kent, children's services portfolio holder Cllr Vicki Hartstean and the authority's lead education officer Michele Lucas.

East Thurrock MP James McMurdock also threw his weight behind the campaign, while local councillors - who have been at the forefront of trying to spark the council into action - also spoke.

The meeting was chaired by local resident Roy Nineham, who has children at Hassenbrook, and for two and a half hours the residents asked questions and detailed their personal experiences at all three schools - previously run by the now disbanded Ortu Federation.

Mr Nineman said: "I have been speaking to many different parents. At the end of the day Mossbourne are in, it's not as if they are going to be overthrown, that's not an option.

"Our goal is to work with Mossbourne Federation."

And he immediately recognised the successes Mossbourne have had in terms of academic achievement at its schools in Hackney.

However, he pointed out that not everything in Hackney was perfect, indeed that two independent investigations are now about to launch into practices within the school regimes - with more than 250 evidenced and documented complaints about how children there have suffered in terms of their mental health.

Mr Nineman introduced Penny Wrout, a Hackney Independent Socialist councillor who has taken a lead in local campaigns questioning the Mossbourne methodology.

Ms Wrout started her presentation to the meeting by acknowledging the success that Mossbourne has enjoyed, but went on to question the cost at which it was achieved.

Her presentation (and Mr Nineman's introduction to the meeting), can be viewed here:

Ms Wrout was followed by East Thurrock MP James McMurdock who called on parents to let him know their problems, admitting he wasn't fully briefed on the detail of what has happened over recent months and years in the transition from Ortu to Mossbourne, which has been lengthy and has seen one noted Trust, Harris, being offered management of the schools by the Department for Education (DfE).

They withdrew after carrying out due diligence, while overtures from the Thurrock-based Gateway Learning Community to take over were rejected by the DfE.

Mr McMurdock said he believed what has happened in Stanford and Corringham is unacceptable and he said he would be working with the education minister to try and effect change.

James McMurdock (left) with meeting chair Roy Nineman.

He said: "I will see what we can do in terms of changing the legislation. We have already seen examples of safeguarding issues with Mossbourne.

"I am not sure how much authority I have here but I will pursue it anyway. I will see what I can do to help you. I would not be happy if I were a parent here."

Mr McMurdock's presentation can be viewed here:

Both Mr McMurdock and Ms Wrout were critical of Mossbourne's failure to attend the meeting, a view shared from the floor with many parents openly angry and critical of its CEO Peter Hughes - who was described by some as 'a coward'.

A spokesperson from Hassenbrook spoke briefly, saying Mr Hughes did not think it was an appropriate place for him to attend. That drew laughter from the audience and Mossbourne were further severely criticised for not allowing communication with parents and for repeatedly ignoring complaints.

Thurrock Council's senior education officer, Michele Lucas, was next to speak and she immediately appeared to rile parents by suggesting that the council's position could only be to advise and that she urged parents to follow the official complaints system put in place by Mossbourne.

Michele Lucas stepped up to face parents' questions.

That met with much derision and, in the end, Ms Lucas conceded that it appeared Mossbourne were not practicing what they preached and she said she, and the head of children's services, would be following up with Mossbourne and trying to reopen channels for dialogue.

Ms Lucas came in for criticism from Stanford East and Corringham Town councillor Roy Jones who said that she and the council had ignored pleas from local councillors for it to act and that the council were made aware of all the problems at a meeting in November which included five local independent councillors and the portfolio holder, as well as Ms Lucas.

He said officers, portfolio holder and the council as a body representing safeguarding, had not acted strongly enough or effectively.

Stanford West ward councillor Neil Speight told Ms Lucas and the meeting that in his opinion the council had long since decided to abdicate its responsibilities over the management of Ortu, going back to the appointment of Dr Sophina Asong several years ago.

Before being finally axed as Gable Hall plunged into an 'inadequate' Ofsted rating, Dr Asong rose to become the Ortu CEO and, according to Cllr Speight, was the instigator of the downfall of the Ortu group of schools by her 'madcap' management and controversial policies which undermined discipline and shattered what had previously been good academic standards.

Ms Lucas can be seen talking to parents here:

She was followed on stage by Cllr Hartstean, who spoke of her own long-time association with education.

She said she was shocked by what she had heard from parents and that she would be seeking immediately to reopen dialogue with Mossbourne and Mr Hughes.

Cllr Hartstean spoke to the parents and took questions.

After the meeting Cllr Hartstean said: "I will be following up with Peter Hughes, specifically about having parents complaints listened to.

"That will be one of the main things on my agenda. I will pick it up with Peter in terms of parents' frustrations."

Cllr Hartstean's comments (in two clips), can be viewed here:

The final speaker to address the meeting after almost two and half hours of discussion and debate was council leader, Cllr Kent.

He also spoke of being pleased to have attended and to have learned first-hand about the emotion and passion of parents, and he acknowledged there were genuine grievances.

Cllr Kent delivered a pledge to parents at the meeting, acknowledging that the council had not been as engaged as it could have been over recent years, but promising change.

Afterwards he said: "It's really quite moving seeing the amount of parents, friends of young people, grandparents and whoever else, coming out to show support for their children because they want the best start in life their children could possibly have.

"We have to be honest and say that the children have been failed by the two senior schools for too long.

"There has to be a fresh start. There are lots and lots of concerns about Mossbourne, concerns that I share.

"However, the DfE have now brokered the deal, Mossbourne are the people running the school.

"We have to build a constructive relationship with them. We have to put our concerns to them fairly and squarely and we have to make sure that they respond, not to me, but that they respond to the parents and the people who care for those young people.

"As I say, the only thing that matters are those young people and their wellbeing and their education. Making sure they get the best possible start in life.

"There is a problem with the academy system. Academy schools are accountable to the DfE in Westminster, not to people locally.

"In my view, there should be much more direct accountability locally, be that to the local authority, or to groups of parents, whatever that mechanism is, that accountability should be downward, not upward but the council does have the ability to influence what happens in those schools.

"We have really successful relationships with other academy trusts in the borough, for instance with Harris, and we are determined to build a constructive relationship with Mossbourne to get the best for those young people.

"Not only about educational best, but emotional well-being best as well." 

The meeting's outcome and high attendance was welcomed by many of those attended, with several parents saying they now realised they 'are not alone' and that there is a real community effort to improve things.

Two parents, who spoke to BBC Essex, typified the feeling. Listen to their views here: https://jumpshare.com/s/nO5Qmqhs5j4ucVuF8yFv

And Mr Nineman said he felt there was a positive outcome, but many issues remain to be resolved.

He told Thurrock Nub news: "It was very intense when parents were finally given a platform to speak. Strong, caring and passionate parents were united as a collective and were given a chance to voice their opinions and doubts as they have not been heard through a lack of communication from the Mossbourne federation. 

"There's been a lot of doubts around the new stringent rules brought in and serious safeguarding allegations that are being investigated. The cutting of GCSEs and options available to children is very concerning.

"Currently, consultation is due to start on 13 January on possibly 50 redundancies at Gable Hall and another 30 at Hassenbrook which could result in only one SEN teacher at Gable Hall and one learning support assistant for SEN and no Pastoral staff at all. That is alarming.

Roy Nineman.

"It means no support for children with other emotional needs which are not covered by SEN - we need to put whatever pressure we can to make Council and the DfE to stop Mossbourne making these redundancies or there will be serious safeguarding and care issues for current and future students in area as nowhere else for them to go locally. The time to act is now but this meeting has an element of positivity in that we are being listened to at last."

Cllr Speight, who chairs Thurrock Council's People overview and scrutiny committee which has oversight on children and education said afterwards: "I am grateful for the strong words from Cllr Kent and, having discussed the matter with Ms Lucas, intend to create a task and finish group within the council structure later this month.

"It will be empowered to support parents and children, as well as work 'collegiately' with Mossbourne – a word used several times tonight, though I am dubious about that meeting. I will try and ensure that the council and the trust speak directly, with records and accountability, not buzzwords.

"Essentially the working group's task will be to compile an evidenced understanding of parents' concerns, to enter into discussion with Mossbourne and to come up with a roadmap for liaison between the council, parents and the Federation – to be in place by the end of the summer term 2025.

"It is my intention to invite external participants in the working group, including Roy Nineham, and other parents. There will also be at least one local councillor from the Stanford area. And Mossbourne will be invited to engage with the group.

"On a personal level I will continue to press my concerns about the projected Mossbourne budget, which to my mind indicates at least 150 places could be lost at the two secondary schools. I hope my interpretation is wrong because if that is the case, there will be significant fall-out among other schools in the area whose capacities will be further stretched."

Thursday's meeting was facilitated by Homesteads councillor Gary Byrne, who said afterwards: "I felt that was a really constructive evening and progress was made and views aired. It was well worth doing. I am grateful so many people attended and that the positive work that is going on has been identified as well as all the very valid concerns."

It is planned to hold another similar meeting to update parents in around a month's time.