An independent safeguarding review has revealed that a secondary school in East London, known for its impressive academic performance, has nurtured a “particularly harmful” disciplinary environment for its most vulnerable students.
Commissioned by the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership, the review focused on Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA) and uncovered incidents of shouting, public shaming, and insufficient assistance for students with special needs.
The investigation assessed 73 individual accounts regarding MVPA, supplemented by statements from parents, students, educators, and external professionals.
The Mossbourne Federation expressed its dedication to doing everything possible to secure positive outcomes for every student attending its institutions.
As a top-performing comprehensive school within Hackney’s Mossbourne Federation, MVPA has garnered a reputation for excellence. However, the report authored by Sir Alan Wood indicated that this success may have come “at too high a cost for some students,” particularly those who found it difficult to navigate the stringent and unyielding behavior management system.
The review highlighted a tendency to prioritize compliance and control over the well-being of students, often dismissing concerns raised by parents or staff as “vexatious.”
Governors were critiqued for their lack of oversight regarding behavioral practices and failure to analyze disciplinary data.
Several troubling practices were identified in the review, including feedback from mental health professionals who noted that the school’s environment could exacerbate anxiety and other mental health issues.
Some students reported experiencing long-lasting consequences, such as diminished self-esteem and emotional turmoil stemming from their school interactions.
Sir Alan, who previously served as director of children and young people’s services at Hackney Council, described the findings as revealing a “paradox” of “success, but not for all.” He pointed out that while many students excelled at MVPA, others endured considerable distress.
He urged for significant reforms in governance, leadership culture, behavioral practices, support for special educational needs (SEN), and the handling of complaints.
“Academic excellence that causes trauma to certain students cannot be deemed true excellence,” Sir Alan stated. “Using fear as a disciplinary method does not equip young people to become confident, independent adults.”
Parents reported difficulty in getting their concerns acknowledged, with some expressing frustration over unanswered emails and calls. They described the complaints procedure as more of a “defensive mechanism” designed to protect the school rather than the children.
Staff members recounted an “atmosphere of fear,” where they felt pressured to publicly reprimand students and where empathy was often undervalued.
One teacher, speaking anonymously in the review, noted that the term “healthy fear” was explicitly used during staff training sessions aimed at ensuring students were kept intimidated.
A former student shared with the review’s author: “In Year 9, I began to self-harm because my teachers made me feel that I didn’t deserve to live because of my grades.”
In a statement, the Mossbourne Federation acknowledged receipt of the review and expressed its intention to consider it “carefully and in detail” in collaboration with its Members Trust, board, and senior leadership team.
They highlighted that the report recognized “the strong outcomes that schools achieve for students, as well as the high levels of support from parents and staff.”
“In the interim, we express our gratitude to our dedicated staff, students, and parents for their unwavering commitment, focus, and support, and we reaffirm our pledge to ensure that students from all backgrounds can flourish and realize their full potential,” the federation added.
The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review was initiated after reports by the BBC and other media outlets regarding a “toxic culture” at both MVPA and the Mossbourne Community Academy.
Last month, an independent review conducted by Anne Whyte KC found that while Mossbourne’s safeguarding policies generally met compliance standards, it identified deficiencies in culture, communication, and parental involvement. It pointed out that some families felt their concerns went unheard and suggested enhancements in the federation’s responsiveness to them.
The Mossbourne Federation commented, “We have already acknowledged the importance of effective engagement with parents and are actively working to implement all the recommendations made by Anne Whyte KC.”
Tuesday’s report was released shortly after a BBC News investigation into Mossbourne’s recent takeover of two secondary schools in Essex, which documented around 150 student withdrawals amid a series of parental concerns.
Hackney Council remarked that the publication of the review marked a “critical moment” in addressing worries about students’ experiences at the academy and acknowledged that the report might cause distress among students, families, and staff.
The council stated that it was reviewing the findings and considering how to further enhance support for schools to ensure that Hackney’s educational offerings “unequivocally prioritize the well-being of our children and young people.”
While noting its limited influence over academy policies, the council emphasized that statutory freedoms concerning curriculum and behavior still must align with Department for Education guidelines.
Jim Gamble, the independent safeguarding children commissioner for Hackney, remarked, “MVPA is undoubtedly a school that achieves outstanding academic results, paving meaningful pathways for young people to access the opportunities that quality education provides. However, it is essential that every pupil feels supported and empowered to thrive, which requires a balanced approach between high academic expectations and the care duty owed to all students.”
