THURROCK Council's leader and the portfolio holder for education have finally come out with hefty criticism of the Mossbourne Federation, but it has taken pressure from the BBC and a damning report from another council to get them to change tack.

For the past year and beyond, parents in East Thurrock and local councillors have damned the changing and strict disciplinary policies as the Federation moved in to take over the running of former gable hall and Hassenbrook secondary schools.

A prelude to today's public criticism by leader Cllr Lynn Worrall and Cllr Vikki Hartstean did come at last a recent full council meeting when independent councillor Neil Speight quizzed Cllr Hartstean about the education trust's 'Draconian' disciplinary policies.

She responded by saying: "I share the concerns expressed by parents, professionals, and councillors. It is not good enough", but in general the council has not taken a challenging public stance against Mossbourne.

However, pressure has continued to ramp up against Mossbourne.

The BBC, which has been on the front foot with criticism of Mossbourne, highlighted concerns with its policies at schools it runs in Hackney, last year.  The broadcaster said Mossbourne operated policies that were part of a 'toxic and humiliating culture'.

And earlier today (Tuesday, 9 December) the BBC produced an extensive and critical report on Mossbourne and its running of the two secondaries schools in Stanford and Corringham – now rebranded as Mossbourne Port Side Academy (Hassenbrook) and Mossbourne Fobbing Academy (Gable Hall).

It reported parents of pupils saying  their children have been left 'anxious, unsupported and in some cases unsafe'.

About 150 pupils have been withdrawn by their parents since the takeover. Others have kept them enrolled but said they were struggling to get their concerns addressed.

Louise Butcher withdrew her two children from Port Side last month

One mum, Louise Butcher said she withdrew her son and daughter from Mossbourne Port Side Academy last month over what she viewed as a heavy-handed approach to discipline.

She said on one occasion she was unable to attend a parents' evening due to a shift at work, after which her daughter was given a detention.

"To punish my child, it kind of makes you as a parent then think, 'I can't actually say anything because if I try and stand up for my child, it's my child that suffers.'"

Also featured in the report is Stanford independent councillor Gary Byrne, a long-time critic of Mossbourne.

Homesteads ward councillor Gary Byrne outside Mossbourne Fobbing Academy.

He has consistantly demanded Thurrock Council do more about safeguarding at the local Mossbourne schools, saying he has raised repeated concerns with Mossbourne and the regional education director, but responses have been "minimal".

"Even mentioning Mossbourne at scrutiny meetings draws raised eyebrows," he said. "I have to keep banging the drum and hoping somebody's going to listen."

You can read the BBC's full report via this link.                       

The report coincided with the release today of a damning review of Mossbourne in Hackney by an independent safeguarding body.

The review, commissioned by the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership, found that shouting, public humiliation and a lack of support for pupils with special needs took place within its Victoria Park Academy.

It examined 73 accounts relating to MVPA, alongside testimony from parents, pupils, teachers and external professionals.

The full report can be read here.

In the wake of the review and the BBC's latest report from Thurrock, this afternoon Thurrock Council issued the following statement:

"Thurrock Council's Leader and Cabinet Member for Education have this week written to the Secretary of State for Education to state their support for the recommendations of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership report into a school run by the Mossbourne Federation in Hackney.

"The report, published today, finds systemic problems with harmful practices, cultural problems and governance shortcomings at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy in Hackney.

"It makes a number of recommendations including a revision of the Federation's Code of Conduct to explicitly prohibit shouting at individual pupils; the strengthening of the Federation's complaints process; and engagement with pupils, parents, staff, multi-agency partners and external experts on the Federation's behaviour policy.

"The Federation, which was established in Hackney in 2004, recently took over the running of three schools in Thurrock. In the time they have been operating here, some Thurrock parents have raised similar issues to those detailed in the report, most related to the Federation's approach to discipline.

"The council has encouraged parents to report their concerns direct to the school and to Ofsted, and met regularly with the Chief Executive of Mossbourne and escalated local concerns to the Regional Director. Despite this, some parents still feel that their concerns are not being taken seriously by the schools.

Cllrs Vikki Hartsean and Lynn Worrall have challenged the Secretary of State for Education to look into the Mossbourne Federation.

"Cllr Lynn Worrall, leader of Thurrock Council, and Cllr Vikki Hartstean, cabinet member, wrote to Bridget Phillipson MP to ask that she also supports the review and uses her position as Secretary of State to ensure that the Federation acts on the recommendations of the report.

"In the letter they say: "It is our role as a local authority to protect and support the most vulnerable in our community. The wellbeing of children with special educational needs in Thurrock is a priority for us, but the report makes it clear that these are the children who are suffering most due to the schools' "climate of fear".

"Our schools must be inclusive and support and encourage all Thurrock children to achieve the very best they can. The report makes it clear that in a Mossbourne school in Hackney this is not the case, and based on some parental feedback, we fear that it is not true of their approach in Thurrock either.

"We know that Mossbourne divides opinion, and ideally the parental preference that plays a key role in school admissions should ensure parents and pupils find the right fit for them. We've seen an increase in parents choosing to take their children out of Mossbourne-run schools, and home educating their children.

"There are issues here that need addressing, and therefore we will be supporting the report and its recommendations."

"The letter also confirms that Thurrock Council will action the recommendation made to Hackney Council to carry out an audit of Education, Health and Care Plans at Mossbourne schools in Thurrock, and continue to help ensure parents' concerns are heard and acted on."

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Tall daughter in Mossbourne short skirt conundrum: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/mossbourne-controversies-continue-with-mums-anguish-over-skirt-ruling-that-kept-her-tall-daughter-out-of-school-petition-has-been-launched-calling-for-change-271599

CEO reponds to criticism: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/ceo-responds-to-parents-concerns-after-more-meetings-and-says-he-is-looking-forward-to-continued-progress-at-schools-260492

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