Parents Defend Mossbourne Federation Amidst “Toxic Culture” Allegations

A multi-academy trust located in east London has received support from over 300 parents of students, both past and present, after facing claims of a “toxic culture”. These parents, in correspondence sent to the Observer newspaper—the publication that initially covered these accusations in November—asserted that the two Mossbourne Federation secondary schools situated in Hackney positively alter the “trajectory of young people’s lives for the better”. The federation operates both the Mossbourne Community Academy (MCA) and the Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA); the latter institution is currently subject to an independent review concerning the aforementioned allegations. Previously, the trust informed BBC News that it considered the allegations to be part of a “vexatious campaign” and maintained that it provided a secure educational setting. Earlier in the current month, former students, guardians, and employees depicted a setting characterized by the use of fear and intimidation to implement a rigorous “no-excuses” disciplinary method aimed at attaining high academic outcomes. Among other assertions, former pupils communicated to BBC News that educators would yell at and publicly embarrass students for small rule violations. These individuals claimed that this conduct negatively affected mental wellbeing and had a disproportionate impact on students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A group advocating for change, named Educating Hackney, comprising parents and local councillors, gathered over 150 testimonies from current and former students, parents, and ex-staff members, outlining adverse experiences at the institutions. The federation had previously stated to BBC News: “We are confident that the extensive external scrutiny, strong academic outcomes, and high attendance rates demonstrate the reality of our thriving and inclusive schools.” In their letter to the Observer, the parents expressed that although “there is room for improvement in some areas, the vast majority of the children are well adjusted, happy and well cared for”. They further stated that the narratives being circulated in the media “do not represent the spectrum of experiences and opinions of parents, students and teachers”. Their letter included: “To give just one example, the Department for Education (DfE) has (we understand from the school) already investigated a series of allegations and found no evidence to support the concerns about safeguarding practices,”. The correspondence additionally noted that both MCA and MVPA achieve high rankings in academic performance for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that SEND students perform “exceptionally well”. The letter proceeded: “They are successful schools with brilliant and committed teachers,” and added, “Their ethos of providing a level playing field for all children from all backgrounds is commendable.” It concluded this section by stating: “While the rules can be strict and firm, and there is room for improvement in some areas, the vast majority of the children are well adjusted, happy and well cared for.” The investigation, commissioned by the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership, intends to “determine if the concerns can be substantiated” regarding the allegations made against MVPA. The individuals who signed the letter acknowledged that “no school is perfect” and expressed approval for the chance offered by the review to propose and endorse certain modifications. The Mossbourne Federation was approached for a statement. Audiences can access the top programs from BBC Radio London on Sounds and connect with BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.