Strict school rated 'outstanding' refuses to back down after socialists win landmark safeguarding inquiry

A strict school rated "outstanding" has refused to back down after socialists won a landmark safeguarding inquiry.

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy in Hackney has become the first school in England to be slapped down for implementing a series of strict disciplinary measures on its students.

By December 2024, more than 100 complaints had been compiled, alleging cruelty and emotional harm, with allegations spanning from children being shouted at to pupils soiling themselves due to stringent toilet policies.

A group of activists claimed they were investigating whether "a pattern of harm existed that warranted investigation" amid what they described as "growing, invisible, institutional harm" at the school.

Despite the review's latest ruling, the east London academy received strong backing from families, with 95 per cent of parents said their children felt safe, while 90 per cent would recommend the school.

Back in December, Executive Principal Matthew Toothe wrote to parents: "I personally do not believe that you will agree with the review's conclusions because if you did you would not entrust your children to us on a daily basis."

The school has not apologised nor has accepted allegations as valid.

The campaign against the academy was spearheaded by Andy Leary-May, a father who had withdrawn his son from the school, working alongside two independent socialist councillors.

Together, they launched a website initially called "No Need to Exclude", later renamed "Educating Hackney", which encouraged parents to report concerns.

Local properties were leafleted and staff contacted via social media, while allegations against the school increased.

Their dossier was submitted to Hackney Council, the Department for Education and Ofsted, which triggered the landmark review.

The safeguarding review, led by Sir Alan Wood, concluded that the academy's achievements came at "too great a cost" for a significant minority of students.

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It found teachers employed tactics "designed to humiliate pupils" including performative shouting and isolating disruptive students at corridor desks.

The review said: "Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibits degrading treatment. For some pupils, MVPA has failed to meet these standards."

Data revealed the 840-pupil school issued nearly 8,000 detentions per term.

However, the DfE's behaviour adviser Tom Bennett dismissed the review as a "hit job" with "methodology that would shame a fortune teller", pointing out that Sir Alan had never visited the school or interviewed current students.

Federation chief executive Peter Hughes defended the approach: "This is a way of doing education which we know has transformed outcomes for kids."

The school has adopted most of Sir Alan's recommendations, including strengthening governance and monitoring the emotional impact of its behaviour policies on students.

A new mental health programme targeting pupils requiring additional support has been announced under new chair of trustees Toby Campbell-Gray.

Yet the academy has stayed cautious about fundamentally altering an approach it believes has served thousands of children well.

Mr Toothe rejected claims that entire groups of students are failed by the system, saying: "Are there individual children? Yes. Groups? No."

Mr Leary-May, feeling vindicated by the review's findings, is now campaigning for a national inquiry into behaviour policies at other academies.

He said: "Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that behaviour policies support children without causing avoidable harm, particularly to those who are already vulnerable."

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