AN educational trust that runs controversial schools in Thurrock spent more than £400,000 on legal fees in an attempt to challenge a damning safeguarding review, newly-released documents have revealed.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by pressure group 'Education Uncovered' has revealed the expense the Mossbourne Federation, which operates three schools in East Thurrock, has gone to to try and defend its position. It has committed more than £400,000 to counter public scrutiny.

The trust has been under intense pressure over its management of schools in East London.

It paid £191,267 to conduct a counter investigation into a Hackney Council independent safeguarding review into its Victoria Park Academy.

A further £209,220 was spent on additional legal services, bringing the total to just over £400,000.

Thurrock councillor Gary Byrne, who has repeatedly raised concerns about Mossbourne's practices since the trust took over three former Ortu Federation schools in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham schools in January last year, says the revelations show a misuse of public money.

An independent councillor for the Homestead ward, Cllr Byrne said he first became aware of complaints from parents about what the federation described as a "tough love" culture.

"What I saw went far beyond discipline," he said. "Parents and pupils spoke of bullying, public humiliation and serious safeguarding concerns. These were not isolated complaints – they were consistent, detailed and deeply troubling."

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He took those concerns to the BBC, where several parents later spoke publicly about their children's experiences.

Hackney Council subsequently commissioned an independent statutory review led by former social care chief Sir Alan Wood, which concluded there was a "climate of fear" within the federation and upheld many of the concerns raised by families.

At Thurrock's Mossbourne Fobbing Academy alone, more than 90 children have been withdrawn, with another 108 on waiting lists to move schools – around 20 per cent of the pupil population - says Cllr Byrne.

He criticised the federation for spending the equivalent of "£500 per pupil" on legal fees instead of investing in support.

"This is taxpayers' money. This is education-funding," he said.

"It could have been spent on safeguarding improvements, SEND support or pastoral care. Instead, it was spent trying to discredit an independent review. If there is nothing to hide, why spend such vast sums fighting it?"

The Mossbourne Federation confirmed the spending figures in its FOI response.

The federation has been approached for further comment.