SCHOOLS under a now-dissolved academy trust in south Essex look set to join a new trust based in Hackney.

The Ortu Federation Trust, which ran two schools in Stanford-le-Hope and one in Corringham, dissolved at the end of the last academic year following a series of failures, setback and protests.

A meeting is set to take place later this month to decide if Gable Hall School, Hassenbrook Academy, and Corringham Primary School should join the Mossborne Federation, based in Hackney.

The Mossborne Federation already runs two primary schools, two secondary schools and a sixth form.

A Department for Education agenda read: “The meeting will discuss the sponsored conversion of Gable Hall and the voluntary transfer of Corringham and Hassenbrook, Thurrock, to the Mossborne Federation.

“Concurrently, it will discuss the proposal to dissolve the Ortu Federation subject to successful transfer of all three academies to the Mossborne Federation.”

The Mossborne Federation was set up 12 years ago by the late Sir Clive Bourne, who believed the children of Hackney were being incorrectly blamed for the failure of schools and wanted to improve the standard of education.

The trust initially managed the Mossbourne Community Academy, before opening the Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy in 2014 and primary schools Mossbourne Riverside Academy and Mossbourne Parkside Academy in 2015.

The Mossbourne Community Academy, Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy and Mossbourne Riverside Academy are all currently rated as outstanding by Oftsed – the highest possible grade.

The Mossbourne Parkside Academy is rated as good – the second highest possible rating.

Gable Hall was initially set for a transfer to the Harris Federation, a huge trust with 53 schools in London.

The school was rated inadequate, the lowest possible rating, after an Ofsted inspection last May.

The report led to furious protests from parents calling for the school to leave the Ortu Federation trust following the resignation of headteacher Ceri Evans.

Following the rating, an investigation into former Ortu Trust CEO Dr Sophina Asong took place last September which saw her leave this February. Hassenbrook Academy was last rated requires improvement with Corringham Primary and Nursery rated good.