Academy boss's Mercedes Benz blocked in during Brighton school visit

Lee Mason-Ellis, chief executive of The Pioneer Academy, visited Moulsecoomb Primary School in The Highway, Brighton, yesterday.

His planned visit to the school earlier this week was abandoned after a three-hour stand-off with parents and campaigners who had locked the school gates.

He came back and visited the school yesterday, but when he returned to his parked Mercedes-Benz in Selsfield Drive, opposite the school, he found it had been blocked in and covered with anti-academy posters.

The Pioneer Academy's CEO was blocked-in by two cars after visiting Moulsecoomb Primary School yesterday

Former council leader Daniel Yates, who spotted the CEO inside his luxury car, told him to leave.

“Looks like he got an hour's detention after school,” Cllr Yates added on Twitter.

When contacted today, The Pioneer Academy said: “We confirm that Mr Mason-Ellis’s car was targeted and vandalised yesterday afternoon.

The Pioneer Academy's CEO was blocked-in by two cars after visiting Moulsecoomb Primary School yesterday

“The police have been informed of the incident and the damage to the vehicle and we understand they are investigating the matter.”

The Argus asked for further details on the reported damage.

Hands Off Moulsecoomb Primary School made fun of his personalised number plate and said: “We’ve been anonymously informed tonight that The Pioneer Academy sunk into the school tonight.

“Some decided to invite them to the march on Saturday by leaving a few flyers on his Merc with a personalised number plate with the number 666.

“Bad parking is so selfish isn’t it?”

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

The Pioneer Academy was due to visit the school on Monday.

But when they arrived at the site at about 7.45am, they found entrances had been bolted shut by campaigners.

The police were called amid the stand-off, which went on for several hours, and academy officials left without entering the building.

After Monday’s incident, Mr Mason-Ellis told The Argus that campaigning efforts will “not deter us from partnering” with the school.

The 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.

However, campaigners say the school’s fortunes have since turned around, pointing to recent praise from Ofsted.

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

To the anger of many parents and teachers, it was announced in April that The Pioneer Academy would take over the school.

Sussex Police have been contacted for comment.