Commissioner warns against ‘reckless public discourse’ ahead of Mossbourne investigation

Independent safeguarding commissioner Jim Gamble. Photograph: Julia Gregory. Free to use by partners of the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service news wire

City and Hackney’s Independent ‘Safeguarding Children’ Commissioner has urged caution around “reckless discourse” and “adversarial behaviour” in light of a looming investigation into a high-performing Hackney academy.

Last week, commissioner Jim Gamble announced a safeguarding practice review into the Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA) in south Hackney, after concerns were raised by parents about the impact of the school’s behaviour policy on their children’s wellbeing.

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy belongs to the multi-academy trust Mossbourne Federation and is renowned for its strong academic results and strict discipline.

As the investigation gets underway, Gamble has called for calm in a bid to protect the integrity of the review from being “undermined by deliberate or reckless public discourse”.

In his statement released today by City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP), he raised concerns around people making assertions about the review which are “simply wrong”.

These include statements that the decision to trigger the investigation was “ideologically influenced by a debate about academies”, and that the CHSCP had ignored or bypassed statutory processes.

Gamble said that the body had responded “thoughtfully and proportionally” and was acting in line with statutory guidance.

“There is a coherent rationale for the review, and I doubt anyone who puts children first would suggest that the culmination of concerns could, or should, be ignored.

“Now that a process is in place, I would ask that people step back from unhelpful and, at times, adversarial and partisan behaviours.

“We know this is a difficult time for those involved at home and in school and we will do all we can to ensure a swift and fair review.”

The safeguarding investigation, normally reserved for individual cases of serious harm to children, will be led independently by Sir Alan Wood, former director of children’s services in Hackney.

The CHSCP is a key statutory body tasked with overseeing arrangements for safeguarding children and young people.

It is comprised of figures from various authorities such as the NHS, the Metropolitan Police and Hackney Council, including the borough’s education chief Cllr Anntoinette Bramble.

As an academy, the local authority has limited ability to intervene in the school.

Bramble previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the practice review is an “important step”.

Allegations into MVPA were first reported in the Observer last month after the paper received a dossier of concerns from 30 parents.

These included accounts of first-year pupils being “screamed at” by senior leaders, along with five reports of secondary-age children “with no prior incontinence issues” soiling themselves.

Other claims include one parent who was “devastated” that concerns over their child’s suicidal thoughts were not taken seriously, and a pupil with an anxiety disorder, known to the school, being publicly berated by their teacher and sent home to have their fringe cut.

The Citizen understands that, since the allegations were published, the list of reports has grown to approximately 250, and refer not just to Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy but other schools in the Mossbourne Federation.

Cllr Penny Wrout, who represents Victoria ward where the school is based, said:

“A calm and considered review, led by a well-respected education professional who knows Hackney well, doesn’t threaten the school and I hope will help develop practices which are inclusive for all children.

“Good discipline is important to maintain a positive learning environment, and that should extend to schools’ own self-discipline to engage and reflect on what staff, students and parents are telling them.

“I very much hope Mossbourne can develop a more listening culture, and that the 250 testimonies collated by the Educating Hackney campaign so far will be given the consideration they merit.”