Former Mossbourne Community Academy students call for government inquiry into nationwide school practices (January 2026, Hackney Citizen)
MCA former students speak out (January 2026)
“The testimonies below describe, for the first time, the longer-term mental health impact of experiences consistent with those identified in the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review of Mossbourne… The voices of these adult former students are of national importance, as they point to the need to understand the potential mental health impact of similar practices at further schools, and to act to ensure all children are protected.“
‘I would have already resigned’ – Mossbourne senior leadership and chair of governors should ‘reflect’ on positions says safeguarding commissioner (January 2026, Hackney Citizen)
Safeguarding review on ‘zero tolerance’ sparks national row (December 2025, TES)
Questions for Ofsted over Mossbourne behaviour review (December 2025, Schools Week)
The Cost of “No Excuses”: Why Safeguarding Must Trump Ideology (December 2025, statement by Jim Gamble QPM)
Response to child safeguarding review at London secondary school (December 2025, National Children’s Bureau)
Fear should have no place in a classroom or staffroom (December 2025, Guardian Letters)
Success of top academy achieved ‘at too high a cost for some pupils’ (December 2025, Schools Week)
‘Rigid’ behaviour policies under fire in safeguarding review (December 2025, TES)
London academy staff instilled ‘climate of fear’ among pupils (December 2025, The Guardian)
How an ‘outstanding’ school humiliated pupils with harsh and harmful discipline (December 2025, Sky News)
Mossbourne’s draconian ‘punishment no matter what’ regime linked to pupils’ self-harm and disproportionately targeted Black boys with harsh sanctions, damning report reveals (December 2025, Hackney Citizen)
Top London school’s success came at too high a cost for some pupils – safeguarding review (December 2025, London Evening Standard)
Strict school ‘harmful’ to some pupils, review says (December 2025, BBC)
Staff at outstanding-rated London school ‘humiliated and intimidated’ children to achieve success ‘at too high a cost to pupils’, damning report reveals (December 2025, Daily Mail)
Publication of Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review – Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (December 2025, CHSCP website)
Council to probe number of withdrawals from local schools (November 2025, Thurrock Nub News)
‘Pupils are in fear every day’: parents raise concerns about new schools run by top UK academy (March 2025, The Observer)
Mossbourne Federation hit by complaints since taking over Thurrock schools (Feb 2025, Your Thurrock)
13th Feb 2025: Educating Hackney has sent information from over 340 individuals to CHSCP. 186 accounts relate to Mossbourne Community Academy, and 133 relate to Mossbourne Victoria Park, including 90 ex-students and 30 professionals. Most of the remaining accounts relate to Mossbourne schools in Essex. Consent has been gained from 250 of these individuals so far for direct contact from CHSCP, and Educating Hackney will pass on new information that is continuing to come in.
Ex-Mossbourne teacher blasts ‘silent subjugation’ of pupils (Feb 2025, Hackney Citizen)
Council insider on Mossbourne: ‘Leadership and culture are the problem’ (Feb 2025, Hackney Citizen)
‘Until 16 months ago, I would’ve been among the parents surprised by the extent of adverse experiences’ (Feb 2025, Hackney Citizen)
5th Feb 2025: Educating Hackney always aims to be responsible in its communication, and stickers have appeared around Hackney that we have no connection with. While they include a link to this website, the stickers also:
- Target current students – our form is explicit that submissions are only accepted from those over 18.
- Invite anonymous reporting – this is not an option on our website.
- Use language and imagery that we would not use and do not think are appropriate.
Mossbourne Federation under fire over way children treated (Jan 2025, Southend Echo)
20th Dec 2024: Second statement from the Independent Safeguarding Children Commissioner
School in leading Mossbourne academy trust faces safeguarding review (Dec 2024,The Observer)
13th Dec 2024: Statement by Jim Gamble re Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy
What kind of society would willingly traumatise its children in the name of education? (Dec 2024, The Guardian)
Top London academies face mass claims of emotional harm as Whitehall acts on crisis (Dec 2024, The Observer)
Teachers at top academy in Hackney ‘screamed at’ and humiliated pupils, say angry parents (Nov 2024, The Observer)
Immediate concerns? If you have information that represents, or possibly represents, a current risk to a child/children please report this to Hackney Council immediately. If you have specific complaints about any school/academy please ensure that you use the formal complaints process at the school.
Educating Hackney 