East London school has harmful culture that humiliated pupils, review finds

A secondary school in east London has allowed “particularly harmful” disciplinary practices and fostered a “climate of fear” through institutionalised shouting and practices designed to humiliate pupils.An independent safeguarding review, commissioned by the City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership and led by Sir Alan Wood concluded that Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA) humiliated pupils and failed to meet their needs.

In a detailed report commissioned by the safeguarding partnership, Wood drew on 342 reports from parents, pupils and staff across the Mossbourne Federation, including 73 accounts specific to MVPA. 

He said the findings showed the school’s approach to behaviour and pastoral care had caused distress for some children and had not been subject to effective oversight.

Among the practices highlighted was shouting, described in the review as a routine method used in ways that “humiliate and intimidate” pupils. Wood also identified “desking” – placing pupils at desks in corridors for minor infractions – which he said was isolating, shaming and lacked any monitoring to assess its impact or fairness.

The report found that the strict behaviour policy did not always allow for reasonable adjustments for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Some were punished for behaviours linked to their conditions, according to Wood’s assessment.

Concerns were also raised about MVPA’s Behaviour Support Unit and Alternative Provision Centre, which Wood said appeared to act more as containment than rehabilitation. He noted the absence of specialist staff and a clear therapeutic or educational framework.

Wood said analysis of the school’s sanction data had been limited. Although MVPA held large volumes of information on disciplinary actions, there was no evidence that senior leaders or governors interrogated the figures or considered whether particular groups were disproportionately affected. His own evaluation indicated that some ethnic groups and children with additional needs experienced higher rates of sanction when compared with their overall numbers at the school.

Training for staff on applying the behaviour policy was also found to be insufficient, despite senior leaders setting the overall tone. The review concluded that the emphasis on strictness had overshadowed other priorities and fostered a culture of “punishment no matter what”.

The school’s complaints process was another area of concern. Some parents viewed it as dismissive, with poor communication and what they perceived as a culture of intimidation. Wood said there was no evidence that leaders or governors examined complaints data to inform improvements.

Oversight of allegations against staff and volunteers was also found to be limited. While written safeguarding policies were strong, Wood said internal arrangements needed to ensure impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest.

The report’s core findings said: “While these practices have the potential to impact any pupil, for a significant minority who are more vulnerable, have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), or struggle to conform to an inflexible system, the school’s approach to discipline has been particularly harmful.”

Independent safeguarding children commissioner Jim Gamble said the findings showed MVPA had not achieved the right balance between academic expectations and its duty of care. He said the review demonstrated that the school had not been “welcoming, flexible, or supportive” for some pupils.

Gamble concluded: “It is now critically important that governors and school leaders examine their focus, ensuring there is true accountability and active oversight. They must reflect on the tone they have set, why harmful and humiliating practices have been allowed to persist unchecked and why key indicators relating to sanctions and disproportionality have attracted minimal curiosity.”