Top London academies face mass claims of emotional harm as Whitehall acts on crisis
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Government says allegations ‘deeply distressing’ as dossier of allegations grows in wake of Observer investigation into Mossbourne schools. The government has expressed alarm at “deeply distressing” allegations of emotional harm at one of the country’s leading academy trusts after an Observer investigation.
![[Anne Longfield: ‘Shocked to read so many upsetting accounts going back many years’.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d0fe7c7691a1aef3d02d4160a83d80b7693a9747/0_154_6720_4032/master/6720.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Almost 140 parents, students and teachers have now spoken out about “systemic” and “lasting” emotional harm to children stretching back two decades at two schools in Hackney run by the Mossbourne Federation. In response to the Observer story a fortnight ago into the treatment of children at Mossbourne Victoria Park academy (MVPA) in Hackney – based on testimonials from 30 parents – a further 70 parents, more than 30 former students and eight former teachers have now come forward with new evidence.
The testimonials centre on MVPA and the acclaimed Mossbourne community academy (MCA), also in Hackney, originally run by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former chief inspector of schools for England who led Ofsted from 2012 to 2016. Both academies have been rated outstanding by Ofsted and are known for high examination grades and rigid discipline.
A dossier of allegations, shared with the Observer and sent to the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, included Mossbourne teachers being trained in “healthy fear” and “screaming” sometimes “centimetres apart” from children’s faces, several reports of children fainting in line-ups while being shouted at, and children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) being punished unfairly and “pushed out” to other schools. Many former students said they had suffered mental health issues due to being afraid in school which had lasted long after they left.
