Mossbourne Federation have taken over Port Side Academy, previously known as Hassenbrook Academy. This decision has sparked widespread outrage by parents and students alike. The transition, which happened in January, comes after Hassenbrook Academy was given an “inadequate” rating by Ofsted while under its former trust. Mossbourne Federation has long drawn attention for hardline uniform and discipline policies. Many families are concerned about the impact these restrictions have on their children’s health and learning environment.
This move from Hassenbrook to Port Side Academy is more than an innocuous change of scenery. It represents a deeper, fundamental shift in governance that would likely improve academic outcomes. Mossbourne Federation Very early academic results, we should say. They’re seeing a 0.4 grade increase in Attainment 8 scores across schools in Essex. The state’s implementation of its uniform policy has turned heads. This policy goes as far as to even require students to wear only “plain white or black socks.” Students who violate or breach these guidelines will be subject to sanctions. This is the case with those we observe hanging out in front of stores in their uniforms or talking on cell-phones after school.
Parents have been clear about their frustrations with the very strict disciplinary practices. Louise Butcher, whose two children she withdrew from the academy, lambasted the school’s disciplinary tactics. She stated, “To punish my child, it kind of makes you as a parent then think, ‘I can’t actually say anything because if I try and stand up for my child, it’s my child that suffers.’”
More trouble, we heard from Luanne Miles, who told us about her son’s harrowing experience at Mossbourne Fobbing Academy and how the school has neglected his deadly allergies. She recounted a heart-wrenching experience. Her son almost missed breakfast one day because the food options offered wouldn’t suit his needs. By the time he got home, it was all pesto pasta and pizza. He can’t eat either. So the child didn’t eat all day. And they have no sense of that being a problem,” she said.
One such policy from the federation includes a 10-day mobile phone confiscation policy. This rule is consistent with federal policy guidance and serves to strengthen their intent to discipline. Others, including many parents, contend that these parent-oriented solutions fail to focus on the specific needs of students themselves. Becky, a concerned parent, emphasized how her daughter received insufficient support for her anxiety and dyslexia, lamenting, “They took away her resources for her dyslexia. This all happened with absolutely no warning whatsoever.”
Despite the backlash, Mossbourne Federation maintains that addressing individual student concerns can be challenging when parents conflate specific issues with broader claims. A spokesperson for the federation remarked, “I have to keep banging the drum and hoping somebody’s going to listen.” And they too reported intentions to inspect payment histories if families feared their children had been left without nourishment.
Vikki Hartstean, the cabinet member for children’s services, noted that the council is scrutinizing the situation at Mossbourne Academy with the cooperation of the federation due to rising concerns about student departures. “These removals are not just numbers; they represent disrupted lives and families in distress,” she said.
As tensions mount between parents and school administrators, many hope for a resolution that prioritizes student welfare while maintaining academic standards. Meanwhile, the community remains sharply divided over whether Mossbourne Federation’s approach to discipline is effective. People are rightfully worried that its long-term impacts on student mental health and academic achievement will be felt for generations.
