'Pupils are in fear every day': parents' concerns over top trust's new schools

Emergency meeting called over discipline at Mossbourne Federation

- Anna Fazackerley

Parents and teachers have voiced alarm about the treatment of children at three Essex schools after they were taken over by a high-profile academy trust which is under investigation.

The Mossbourne Federation, known for strict discipline and high grades, runs four schools and a sixth form in Hackney, and began a takeover of two failing secondary schools and one primary in Essex late last year.

Before the takeover, in December, Hackney council had announced it had launched an independent child safeguarding practice review into Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, in Hackney, after an Observer investigation exposed allegations of emotional abuse of children.