The Pioneer Academy 'sent spies' to Save Moulscoomb Primary School meeting

That is according to MP Lloyd Russell Moyle, who gave a fiery speech to the House of Commons yesterday morning.

He accused The Pioneer Academy (TPA) of using "intimidation" tactics in its prospective takeover of Moulsecoomb Primary School (MPS).

Last week, The Argus reported how TPA CEO Lee Mason-Ellis had his Mercedes Benz blocked in during a school visit.

The Pioneer Academy's CEO was blocked in after visiting the school

Yesterday, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown claimed to have obtained notes taken by a TPA agent at a Save Moulsecoomb Primary School meeting.

In a question to the leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Mr Russell-Moyle said: "A Subject Access Request to Pioneer Academy has revealed that they sent covert participants to planning meetings of the Save Moulsecoomb Primary Campaign taking notes to use against the school community and parents."

The alleged notes, seen by The Argus, are dated to a meeting of campaigners on March 10.

They report on comments made by speakers at the event, who spoke about fighting back against the TPA academy.

The notes report Jackie Taylor from the National Education Union "discussed Tim Rome - worked at TPA during Ofstead [sic] at MPS!!!".

Timothy Rome was Ofsted inspector during the "inadequate" inspection which kick-started the school's academisation process.

Mr Rome is now a director at TPA. The academy told The Argus he was hired months after leaving Ofsted.

The Labour MP's common's speech continued: "Compared to Moulescoomb, Pioneer Academy has more schools with worse results than they do schools with better results.

"And after an alleged incident, where Pioneer Academy boss manhandles a child outside the school, 96 per cent of parents now balloted are against academisation, the local authority, the unions, and the parents are against it - and now even Ofsted are saying the school has made progress in the two years since it was last inspected.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle spoke at the House of Commons yesterday morning

"So can the leader of the house suggest a way I and my community can stop this level of intimidation, take back control of their local school and keep it for the local community?"

Conservative Jacob Rees Mogg responded: "I say two things in response to that.

"One is that the academisation program nationally has been an enormous success and has helped raise standards in education and is giving people better life opportunities.

"It is part of the leveling up agenda before we even embarked on the leveling up agenda and it is fundamental.

Jacob Rees Mogg replied he would facilitate a conversation with the secretary of state for education

"However, I will also add that any organisation must follow the best practice and the law of the land in whatever they do and if the honorable gentleman has specific examples of where the law has been breached or where guidance has not been followed, he would be right to take that up with the secretary of state for education.

"If I can facilitate any conversation between the honorable gentleman and the secretary of state I will, of course, be happy to do so."

In regards to Mr Russell-Moyle’s comments in parliament about an alleged incident a spokesman for the academy said: "Sussex Police have confirmed to Mr Mason-Ellis that, in respect of the allegation made against him resulting from the visit of The Pioneer Academy to Moulsecoomb Primary School on 10 May 2021, an allegation which Mr Mason-Ellis denies, they have reviewed the allegation and they will not be taking any further action."