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.
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.