Save Moulsecoomb Primary School campaigners lock gates

The gates at Moulsecoomb Primary were padlocked to stop people from The Pioneer Academy entering the building.

They were due to visit the school yesterday but when they arrived at the site at about 7.45am they found entrances had been bolted shut by campaigners.

Parents and campaigners block the gates of Moulsecoomb Primary School

All side entrances to the school in The Highway, Brighton, were padlocked with directions to parents and children to enter by the main gate.

The main gate was protected by about 30 campaigners and parents who were refusing to let academy staff in.

The police were called amid the stand-off, which went on for several hours, but there were conflicted reports about who made the call.

Parents and campaigners block the gates of Moulsecoomb Primary School

Academy representatives gave up shortly before 11am and left, pulling their luggage along the road amid shouts of “cheerio” from the campaigners.

The campaigners, furious at the prospect of the academy chain taking over, say they will never let them inside the building.

But the chief executive of The Pioneer Academy told The Argus they will not back down from “partnering” with the school.

This morning, campaigners locked entrances to Moulsecoomb Primary School in #Brighton

It was part of a successful bid to stop academy officials from entering the building

Here’s the moment Pioneer Academy gave up after a three-hour stand-off pic.twitter.com/CIeY9S1rqV

— Jody Doherty-Cove (@JodyyDC) May 10, 2021

Theresa Biggs, parent of a Year 6 pupil, said: “They didn’t announce they would be visiting, but Moulsecoomb is very verbal and we will always find out about any plans.

“We’ve padlocked all the gates and made clear parents, teacher and everyone else who is supposed to be here, will be allowed in."

Campaigners said the side entrances were normally locked throughout the day and opened during drop-offs and pick-up times.

Parents and campaigners block the gates of Moulsecoomb Primary School

“We’ve stopped academies before and we will stop this one as well,” said Ms Biggs.

Moulsecoomb Primary School was given the lowest possible rating by education watchdog inspectors after a visit in April 2019.

The damning report started a process which saw the government intervening to force the school to become an academy.

Parents and campaigners block the gates of Moulsecoomb Primary School

However, Ofsted inspectors recently praised Moulsecoomb Primary for its work to support pupils during the pandemic, commending staff for helping vulnerable pupils.

Ballot results indicated 96 per cent of parents were against an academy takeover.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Kate Knight was standing at the gates with parents as they waved off the “unwanted” visitors yesterday.

Parents and campaigners block the gates of Moulsecoomb Primary School

“I agree with whatever action [the campaigners] feel they need to take,” she said.

“There’s a duty in the local authority and it can’t stand in the way of that process.

“But most importantly, you need to respect the parent vote which was as overwhelming.”

Campaigner Leila Erin-Jenkins said: “We’re local campaigners and parents in the community who are committed to stopping Pioneer Academy from getting in.

“If they’re here tomorrow, we will be there waiting for them.”

Parents and campaigners block the gates of Moulsecoomb Primary School

Lee Mason-Ellis, chief executive of The Pioneer Academy, said: “We had been invited by the headteacher and the Regional Schools Commissioner to undertake due diligence at Moulsecoomb Primary School. This is a routine and usual procedure when a school is being sponsored by an academy.

“When we arrived the gates to the school had been padlocked by campaigners on the outside, which concerned us as a safety risk in the event of an evacuation.

“We observed some stress and anxiety from parents and children trying to access the school site and have now made the decision not to visit the school tomorrow but to complete the due diligence in a different way, to avoid any further anxiety for the children of Moulsecoomb Primary School. 

“We would like to reassure parents, staff and the local community that the protests we observed today will not deter us from partnering with Moulsecoomb Primary School and supporting this school in the future.”