Numerous parents from two secondary schools in Essex have reported that their children have been feeling anxious, unsupported, and, in some instances, unsafe since the Hackney-based Mossbourne Federation took over the institutions earlier this year.

Families who communicated with the BBC expressed concerns about what they described as an increasingly punitive atmosphere at Mossbourne Port Side Academy and Mossbourne Fobbing Academy in Thurrock. They alleged that students faced frequent detentions for trivial matters, insufficient consideration of pupils with special needs, and inadequate communication from school staff.

According to the BBC, approximately 150 students have been withdrawn by their families since the transition. Others have maintained their children’s enrollment but reported difficulties in voicing their concerns effectively.

The Mossbourne Federation, which assumed control of the previously underperforming schools hosting around 2,000 pupils in January, stated that only a small fraction of the departures were linked to official complaints made to the academies.

They dismissed any claims of safeguarding failures, asserting that both institutions are currently oversubscribed and showing academic improvement, while also acknowledging that “it does not always get it right.”

The federation emphasized that its structured approach is rooted in “research, decades of experience, and independent evaluations,” asserting that predictable expectations lead to a safer environment for students, better teaching, and enhanced learning.

Louise Butcher reported that she pulled her son and daughter from Mossbourne Port Side Academy in Stanford-le-Hope last month due to what she deemed an excessively strict disciplinary stance. She recounted an incident when, unable to attend a parents’ evening due to work commitments, her daughter received a detention as a consequence.

“To penalize my child kind of makes you as a parent think, ‘I can’t voice my concerns because my child will be the one to suffer,'” she said.

In another situation, Ms. Butcher mentioned her daughter’s difficulties in accessing locked restrooms during her menstrual cycle.

“She was in distress and received no assistance. There needs to be a protocol for providing access to facilities like that for young girls,” she remarked.

Ms. Butcher noted that students faced penalties for minor infractions such as stopping at a shop while in uniform, carrying mobile phones, or wearing the incorrect sock color.

“These are trivial matters that should be addressed verbally rather than isolating the students,” she stated. “The focus seems to have shifted away from child welfare and toward control.”

A representative from the Mossbourne Federation informed the BBC that they were unable to comment on specific individual cases but expressed that “concerns are taken seriously.”

Another mother, who wished to remain anonymous and will be referred to as Becky, indicated that her daughter, who has special educational needs including dyslexia, had been “thriving” in Year 7 at the Fobbing Academy prior to the federation’s takeover. The institution, formerly known as Ortu Gable Hall School, had been labeled “inadequate” by Ofsted in May 2022.

“It was the best school year she’s ever had,” Becky shared. “She received significant support both in pastoral care and managing her anxiety.”

Her daughter had benefitted from the use of colored paper to aid her dyslexia and was allowed to step out of class when feeling overwhelmed. However, when classes resumed in September, Becky reported a decrease in pastoral care and the removal of her daughter’s resources, all without prior notice.

Becky described her daughter’s experience upon returning to school, stating that on her first day back, she was told her skirt was too short despite it falling below the knee.

“They called me saying: ‘She’s in isolation due to her uniform, and she will remain there until you address it,'” Becky said.

Later that same day, her daughter received a detention for failing to recite the school’s mantra accurately. Becky believed the issues leading to her daughter’s sanctions were primarily connected to her educational needs, and that isolation only exacerbated her anxiety.

“By isolating her, they weren’t helping her,” she commented.

She added that she often found herself waiting days or even weeks for email responses from the school, sometimes only discovering her daughter had been held back after school via GPS tracking on her phone.

Her daughter is now receiving home-schooling. “She seems much happier and no longer looks miserable.”

A representative from the federation stated:

Luanne Miles, whose 14-year-old son continues to attend Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, raised concerns regarding how the school was addressing his severe allergies, which had emerged recently.

She explained that he occasionally required days off due to allergic reactions and carries an EpiPen, but received what she described as detentions for his absences — sessions labeled by the school as catch-up classes for missed work.

“As a result, he gets punished with a two-hour detention for every day he misses school,” she revealed.

In a recent incident, her son was kept behind after school without her knowledge, leading to her concern that he might have experienced an allergic reaction due to his late return home.

“Me and my neighbors were frantically searching the streets; the school phone lines were down,” she recounted. “It’s completely unacceptable.”

Ms. Miles also expressed worry that a second EpiPen kept at the school would be inaccessible after hours, posing a risk in case of an emergency.

“If he had an attack, no one would be able to access the second EpiPen because everything would be closed,” she warned.

She criticized the school for not providing appropriate food options that accommodate her son’s allergies. “Recently, if he didn’t have enough funds in his account, they made him go to the office for assistance. I topped up his account, but by the time he returned, the only options were pesto pasta and pizza, which he cannot eat. He went all day without food, and they didn’t see a problem with that.”

An academy spokesperson remarked:

All three mothers, along with a father who preferred to remain unidentified, voiced concerns regarding the prohibition on carrying mobile phones for safety reasons. The father indicated that his daughter had her phone taken away for ten days for briefly using it to inform her mother about being late.

“They’ve indicated that they believe it is safer for children to walk to and from school without phones, which I entirely disagree with. As a concerned parent, I want to be able to contact my daughter,” he stated.

The federation maintained that its 10-day confiscation policy is in accordance with government guidelines. They noted that they have not yet enforced their usual ban on phones in schools to facilitate a gradual transition.

During an October meeting of Thurrock Council, it was reported that 93 students had been withdrawn from Mossbourne Fobbing Academy since the takeover. Independent councillor Gary Byrne, who has been collaborating with parents, indicated that the figure has since increased and estimated that more than 50 students have left Port Side Academy since January.

“I must keep advocating for change, hoping someone will listen,” he told the BBC.

Vikki Hartstean, the cabinet member for children’s services, acknowledged the concerning nature of these withdrawals and communicated that the council has begun to review the situation in cooperation with Mossbourne.

“These withdrawals are not just statistics; they represent disrupted lives and families in distress,” she remarked during the meeting.

The BBC has requested updated statistics from the federation concerning the number of students who have been withdrawn. The federation’s spokesperson responded that it was “incorrect” to assert that the 93 students left due to “parental safeguarding concerns.”

Many of the issues raised in Thurrock resonate with concerns highlighted by barrister Anne Whyte KC in a review of Mossbourne’s schools in Hackney, east London. It indicated that while the policies were generally compliant with statutory guidelines and supported strong overall student performance, communication had sometimes been slow, parents felt ignored when raising issues, and the strict enforcement of behavior policies occasionally offered little flexibility for students with additional needs.

The Mossbourne Federation claimed that its structured educational approach has kept its Hackney secondary schools among the top 1% nationally for the past two decades. They added that the behavior policy has improved student outcomes and emphasized that many families support its methods.

Since assuming control in January, the federation stated that it has “sought to listen and ensure its schools are appropriately tailored for the communities they serve.”

“This sentiment is echoed by many parents — the silent majority who may not make headlines, but who benefit from the positive impact daily,” the spokesperson concluded.

They also highlighted visible academic improvements in Essex, including an increase in Attainment 8 scores by 0.4 grades, noting that the schools are now oversubscribed.

The federation recognized that the Whyte Review found parent communication was sometimes insufficient. They acknowledged these findings, committing to “continuous improvement,” and confirmed that recommendations from the review have already commenced implementation.