Opposition councillors slam ‘lack of transparency’ over ‘harrowing’ Mossbourne safeguarding review

CllrPenny Wrout (left) of the Independent Socialist Group Collective (HISC) and the Cllr Zoë Garbett AM of the Green party (right)

Opposition councillors in Hackney are calling for more accountability following the “shocking” findings of a safeguarding review into a local school.

It has been three months since Sir Alan Wood’s investigation into Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy found that pupils were publicly humiliated by teachers as part of a ‘punishment no matter what’ regime.

Two students said their mistreatment had led them to self-harm, with one made to feel like they “didn’t deserve to live” because of their grades.

However, Independent Socialist and Green party councillors claim there has been no meaningful response from any of the three bodies charged with ensuring changes are made: Mossbourne Federation, the council, and the Department for Education (DfE).

Cllr Penny Wrout, who helped parents push for the review, said: “The council has done nothing to provide reassurance for families whose children currently attend Mossbourne schools, nor for the former students and staff who came forward with sometimes harrowing testimonies to prompt the review in the first place.

“It was a lack of transparency about what was happening at Mossbourne and the inability to get clear answers which led to the review in the first place, so I’d really have expected more to be shared with the public by now.

“It’s distressing to learn that Mossbourne needlessly spent £400,000 of public money on legal fees for the safeguarding review.

“And I would like to understand more about the unusual financial relationship the Hackney Citizen highlighted between Mossbourne’s charitable arm and a company founded by Mossbourne’s CEO”.

The Citizen revealed last month how a firm set up by Mossbourne Federation’s chief, Peter Hughes, had acquired the rights to a piece of software from one of the trust’s charities and turned it into a money-spinner.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, deputy mayor and cabinet member for children’s services and young people, said: “Sir Alan Wood’s findings about Mossbourne Victoria Park have raised concerns amongst our communities and our staff, and we have been working with our partners to ensure that we all use the lessons learned from this review to bring more equity and inclusion into our schools.

“As a local authority, our ability to influence and oversee the actions and policies of academy schools is limited, as they report directly to the Department for Education, and not the council.

“The council cannot provide updates on behalf of the Mossbourne Federation regarding how they plan to respond to the recommendations of the review.

“However, we agree that the community rightfully would expect an update, and we have reached out to the federation to advise them as such”.

The council said it is actively shaping its new Alternative Learning Service (HEALS), which focuses on reducing exclusions, promoting inclusive practice, and ensuring pupils receive the appropriate support they need.

The Town Hall also helped share the findings of Sir Alan Wood’s review by writing to all local schools, organising briefings with members and staff, and meeting with the DfE to discuss concerns.

The review was discussed in detail at the council’s children and young people scrutiny commission in January, but both Mossbourne and the DfE declined to attend.

The Citizen reported earlier this week that Mossbourne’s chair of trustees, Henry Colthurst, resigned at the beginning of March – the first major governance change at the trust since the safeguarding review was published.

It is also understood that Sir Michael Wilshaw, ex-headteacher of Mossbourne Community Academy and former boss of Ofsted, has been appointed as a member of Mossbourne Federation’s governing body.

Neither development has been announced publicly by the Federation.

And it was only in response to a question from a member of the public at a Town Hall meeting last week that it emerged Hackney’s director of education, Jason Marantz, had joined a board overseeing the implementation of the review’s recommendations.

But Cllr Zoë Garbett pointed out that no information has been shared about this new board, which is thought to include representatives from the DfE and Mossbourne.

“We know nothing about its terms of reference, nor of its timetable for change or how the wider school community will learn of any action”, she said.

“The Mossbourne review could be a tool to overhaul how behaviour policies are implemented more broadly in Hackney and other areas.

“Thurrock has three Mossbourne schools and [the council] has been vocal about the need to ensure change, while Hackney remains strangely silent.

“The Mossbourne findings were a real shock to many parents in our borough, and we owe them the respect of regular progress updates.”

Deputy Mayor Bramble said: “As explained at our last full council meeting, our director of education has agreed to take part in a Mossbourne Federation board which is overseeing the implementation and the impact of Sir Alan Wood’s recommendations.

“This will allow us to have a direct role in supporting the school in implementing the lasting changes that will benefit our children, families, and community”.

It is understood that Mossbourne Federation formed the board last month, and that Thurrock Council’s assistant director of education, Michele Lucas, has also been invited to join.

The Citizen asked the Federation for details of the board, including the terms of reference and a timetable, but did not receive a response.