The Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission met to discuss the Child Safeguarding Practice Review of Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA). The meeting heard updates on the implementation of recommendations from the review, with representatives from the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership, Mossbourne Federation, and Hackney Education providing their perspectives. The Commission engaged in a lengthy discussion and Q&A session regarding the review's findings and the ongoing efforts to address concerns about the school's behaviour policy and its impact on pupils.

Child Safeguarding Practice Review of Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy

The Commission received updates on the Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR) of Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA), focusing on the implementation of its recommendations and the wider impact on the local school system. The review, commissioned following concerns raised by parents about the school's behaviour policy, highlighted issues including shouting, desking (placing pupils in corridors as a sanction), a lack of reasonable adjustments for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and a perceived culture of fear.

Jim Gamble, Independent Safeguarding Children Commissioner for City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP), expressed disappointment that MVPA had not explicitly acknowledged the review's findings or recommendations. He noted that while there had been activity, it was difficult to identify tangible evidence of actual change. Gamble stressed the importance of testing the veracity of the implementation of recommendations and looked forward to further engagement on July 14th. He also highlighted the Department for Education's (DfE) absence from the meeting, despite their role as the regulator of academies, which he felt hindered effective scrutiny.

Toby Campbell-Gray, Chair of the Mossbourne Federation Board, stated that the Federation had made enormous progress in implementing the recommendations and expressed confidence in the executive team to deliver on them. He acknowledged that the full impact of the recommendations might take around a year to be evident, a timeframe agreed with the report's author, Sir Alan Wood. Campbell-Gray also noted that the Federation's regulator is the Department for Education, to whom they report.

Tyrone Silcott, representing the Members of the Mossbourne Federation, apologised for not sending representation to a previous meeting, acknowledging it sent the wrong message. He emphasised the Federation's commitment to the well-being of Mossbourne children and stated that the Members had instructed the trustees to implement the recommendations.

Peter Hughes, CEO of the Mossbourne Federation, outlined the Federation's approach, focusing on listening, understanding, and assurance. He highlighted improvements to the complaints process, including a digital tracking system and an independent email address for concerns. He also mentioned the development of a why booklet to explain the rationale behind school policies and ongoing governance reviews. Matthew Tooth, Principal of MVPA, provided an example of the TP project, an anonymous survey for students to communicate their feelings about school safety, behaviour, and inclusion, which had been completed by Years 7-10 across two academies.

Jason Marantz, Director of Education and Inclusion for Hackney Education, explained the local authority's role with academies, noting they are independent of local council control and funded directly by the central government. He confirmed Hackney Education's involvement in the implementation committee and highlighted a recommendation for the local authority to audit Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), specifically Section F, which has led to a pilot programme with Thurrock Council.

Councillor Daniel Rea raised concerns about the disproportionality of sanctions, particularly for Black boys and pupils with SEND, and questioned the £400,000 spent on legal representation and a competing review by the Mossbourne Federation. Councillor Cathy Troupp, a child psychotherapist, expressed concern about the report's findings of a culture of fear and questioned whether shouting constitutes abuse. Councillor Janet Lee raised the issue of pupil retention, noting MVPA's higher-than-national average loss rate.

In response to questions about the behaviour policy, Toby Campbell-Gray stated that the policy itself was considered fit for purpose, but its implementation needed work. He detailed plans for staff training, de-escalation policies, and a revised code of conduct. He also addressed the issue of desking, stating he disagreed with the characterisation of it as solely humiliating and described it as restorative. He confirmed that students are always allowed to use the toilet when needed, but they are asked to make up missed learning time. He also stated that children needing reasonable adjustments do receive them.

Councillor Pascale Frazer-Carroll, Chair of the Commission, expressed frustration at the perceived deflection of questions and the lack of direct answers. She highlighted the accountability gap for academies when regulators like the DfE are not present. She also raised concerns about the no excuses approach being used at other Mossbourne schools and academies nationally, and appealed for ways to ensure behavioural approaches are comfortable for the council.

Jim Gamble reiterated concerns about the lack of reassurance regarding actual change and the need for the DfE to be held accountable. He questioned the school's response to children's experiences and the lack of an apology. He also highlighted the adversarial nature of MVPA's initial response to the review.

The Commission discussed the issue of shouting, with conflicting accounts from leadership and staff. The lack of data on desking and its potential disproportionality was also a significant point of discussion. The Commission noted that the DfE's guidance on behaviour management and the Equality Act 2010 were key considerations.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the Mossbourne Federation to provide a written submission detailing their actions and outcomes. The Commission agreed that the issue of behaviour management in schools and inclusion would be a focus for their future work programme, and that they would need to revisit the topic to assess the implementation of recommendations and any cultural shift. The Chair also expressed a desire to write to the Secretary of State regarding the accountability gap for academies.

The Commission also briefly noted the CHSCP Annual Report 2024/25 and the Hackney Education Strategy 2025-2028. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 June 2026 were also agreed.