Mossbourne’s chair of trustees quits in first major shake-up at beleaguered academy chain

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy. Photograph: Google

Mossbourne Federation’s long-standing chair of trustees has stepped down in the first big change at the trust since a high-profile safeguarding review raised concerns over one of its Hackney academies.

Henry Colthurst, who was appointed to the board of trustees in 2014, resigned on 2 March, according to documents on Companies House.

It follows the publication in December last year of a hard-hitting review that substantiated claims of pupils being shouted at and publicly humiliated by staff at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy.

The report, authored by Sir Alan Wood, found that a “climate of fear” and “no excuses” had resulted in a “punishment no matter what” approach.

“Academic excellence that traumatises some pupils is not true excellence”, Sir Alan wrote. “Discipline through fear is not preparing young people for life as confident, independent adults”.

In January, Jim Gamble, Hackney’s independent child safeguarding commissioner who oversaw the investigation, piled pressure on Mossbourne Federation’s leaders, singling out Colthurst.

“If I were the chair of the governing body that was dealing with this, I would have already resigned”, he said.

“I would have already stepped down to let fresh eyes take over with regard to the job that needs to be done to drive forward the actions and through the recommendations that Sir Alan has identified”.

Colthurst has now gone, three months after the safeguarding review was published, with a ‘Termination of a Director Appointment’ form filed by Mossbourne Federation on 5 March confirming that he had left his position just three days earlier.

In his review, Sir Alan was highly critical of Mossbourne’s response to complaints, saying: “A defensive and dismissive leadership culture has refuted these concerns, branding them as ‘vexatious’, and has prioritised academic reputation over engaging with criticism.

“Leadership has come to believe harsh discipline is not just a means but the defining characteristic of success – the method has become the mission”.

The Federation’s reaction to the safeguarding investigation was previously described by Gamble as “adversarial”, with the trust engaging with Sir Alan solely through lawyers.

Last week, it was revealed that Mossbourne had spent £400,000 of public money on launching its own barrister-led inquiry and other legal fees.

The Citizen also reported last month that a firm set up by the Mossbourne Federation CEO acquired the rights to a piece of software from one of the trust’s own charities and turned it into a money-spinner.