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News from the Mulberry Schools Trust

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<strong>Issue</strong> #6 | Autumn 2020<br />

The newsletter of the Mulberry Schools Trust<br />

connect<br />

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL<br />

A message<br />

from the CEO<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> #6 of the<br />

Mulberry Schools<br />

Trust newsletter<br />

brings you an<br />

array of news<br />

stories since we<br />

last connected<br />

with you during<br />

the summer term – and I am<br />

pleased to say that we have much<br />

to share with you!<br />

If you didn’t catch the news at<br />

the time of the announcement in<br />

November, our feature story covers<br />

the first-class learning experiences<br />

our students will receive through<br />

the Mulberry STEM Academy and<br />

our partnership with Mercedes-<br />

Benz Grand Prix Ltd.<br />

As well as this exciting news, it<br />

will be hard to miss the articles<br />

covering the ​very good results<br />

achieved by students from across<br />

our three schools this year in<br />

some of the most challenging<br />

educational circumstances that<br />

we have experienced for some<br />

time. We are all so very proud of<br />

the Class of 2020. I would like to<br />

thank teachers and support staff<br />

for all their hard work during the<br />

lockdown to ensure our students<br />

were not disadvantaged.<br />

Mulberry students used their<br />

voices to advocate for fair<br />

education at a two day virtual<br />

online summit hosted by the Fair<br />

Education Alliance, of which I<br />

am the Chair. Our Food and Care<br />

Service returned to support our<br />

families during the festive season<br />

and we will continue to support<br />

this work for as long as there are<br />

funds available.<br />

Please enjoy the collection of<br />

news stories from across the<br />

Mulberry Schools Trust. I feel<br />

privileged to be able to share​with<br />

you all that​our students are doing.<br />

I hope you have a peaceful and<br />

restful break as we say goodbye<br />

to an unconventional year.<br />

Season’s greetings to you all.<br />

Launch of Mulberry STEM<br />

Academy in partnership with<br />

Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd<br />

On Thursday 5th November we shared exciting news<br />

about our innovative new partnership.<br />

The Mulberry STEM Academy is a<br />

powerful supplementary provision<br />

for STEM (science, technology,<br />

engineering and maths) education,<br />

offering a world-class programme of<br />

vocational training, specialised study<br />

and masterclasses for students aged<br />

7-18 within the Mulberry family of<br />

schools and beyond.<br />

Over 90 students from Mulberry<br />

Academy Shoreditch, Mulberry<br />

School for Girls and Mulberry UTC<br />

gathered for the once-in-a-life time<br />

launch of the programme at their<br />

respective schools. As the suspense<br />

increased and containment was<br />

at an electrifying breaking point,<br />

they each learnt that Mercedes-<br />

Benz Grand Prix had arranged<br />

for two very special icons to join<br />

the celebrations. Loud cheers and<br />

jubilation reverberated across<br />

all locations, as students were<br />

informed that Lewis Hamilton and<br />

Toto Wolff were soon to be beamed<br />

into their schools via a broadcast<br />

from the team’s headquarters in<br />

Brackley, Northamptonshire.<br />

After delivering their opening<br />

address, Lewis and Toto braved<br />

hard-hitting and light-hearted<br />

questions from students, covering<br />

a number of topics including their<br />

successful careers, improving the<br />

representation of people of colour in<br />

Formula 1, right through to the type<br />

of music they listen to in their cars.<br />

Students at Mulberry School<br />

for Girls received an additional<br />

special surprise…a model of Lewis<br />

Hamilton’s racing car was snuck<br />

into the school’s foyer earlier<br />

that morning!<br />

Continued on page 2


Richard Street, Commercial Road, London E1 2JP<br />

A 020 7790 6327 m mstnews@mulberryschoolstrust.org<br />

www.mulberryschoolstrust.org<br />

CEO: Dr Vanessa Ogden<br />

Continued from page 1<br />

In his statement, Toto Wolff,<br />

CEO of Mercedes-Benz Grand<br />

Prix commented: “We are very<br />

proud today to announce our new<br />

partnership with the Mulberry<br />

Schools Trust and to continue<br />

our journey towards making a<br />

positive contribution to the future<br />

engineers and scientists of the<br />

next generation.”<br />

Lewis Hamilton continued:<br />

“I was honoured to join the virtual<br />

event today to launch the new<br />

STEM Academy and to see the<br />

enthusiasm, intelligence and<br />

commitment of the Mulberry<br />

students for myself. It’s so important<br />

that, as a sport, we do all that we<br />

can to ensure we are as inclusive as<br />

possible. Increasing young people’s<br />

access to STEM and, ultimately,<br />

paving the way to careers in our<br />

industry is a brilliant way to do this.<br />

Food and Care<br />

Service returns for<br />

the festive period<br />

From its inception in March 2020,<br />

the Mulberry Schools Trust Food<br />

and Care Service successfully<br />

raised a staggering £92,648.29<br />

in monetary donations from our<br />

kind supporters.<br />

We also received product and<br />

food donations from various<br />

organisations, which totalled<br />

approximately £160,000. The<br />

generosity of so many meant that<br />

we were able to distribute over<br />

10,000 bags to families.<br />

Due to its success, we reinstated<br />

the service in December to<br />

provide continued support to<br />

our community during the<br />

festive period.<br />

The service ran from Thursday<br />

10th December through to<br />

Thursday 17th December. On<br />

the final day, food and essential<br />

items were collated, packed and<br />

distributed to families to last<br />

throughout the Christmas break.<br />

Providing young people from<br />

diverse and often disadvantaged<br />

backgrounds with the confidence<br />

and resources to implement change<br />

in their own lives is one of the<br />

strongest tools that we have to<br />

build a fairer and more equal future.<br />

I’m looking forward to seeing how<br />

the students progress and, judging<br />

by the questions I received today,<br />

Mulberry students participate<br />

in leading ‘Physics in Action’<br />

conference<br />

In November, A-level<br />

Physics students from<br />

Mulberry Academy<br />

Shoreditch and Mulberry<br />

School for Girls joined<br />

the ‘Physics in Action’<br />

conference.<br />

The event involved five sessions<br />

of phenomenal physics facilitated<br />

by the brightest lights in the field.<br />

This year the students did not<br />

get the opportunity to attend in<br />

person, but it was still a fantastic<br />

experience for all involved<br />

as sessions were delivered<br />

conference style, but remotely.<br />

Students were privileged to hear<br />

a range of high profile speakers<br />

who are leaders in their areas<br />

of work, linked to Physics.<br />

These included:<br />

Simon Singh telling the story<br />

behind one of the greatest<br />

questions in the history of<br />

humanity – where did the<br />

universe come from? Is the<br />

universe eternal or was it<br />

created? Is the Big Bang<br />

the answer?<br />

I have every faith we will see<br />

some of them fulfilling their<br />

dreams of working in motorsport<br />

in the future!”<br />

The inspirational event was shared<br />

across all Mercedes-Benz Grand<br />

Prix’s official social media accounts<br />

and, to coincide with the launch, a<br />

vibrant Mulberry STEM Academy<br />

website was created, brimming<br />

with detailed information about<br />

the programme.<br />

Since the launch, students have<br />

submitted high quality applications<br />

and we will be selecting successful<br />

candidates by the end of term.<br />

The opportunity has caught the<br />

imagination of so many students<br />

from our schools and we can’t wait<br />

to see how they make the most<br />

of the life-changing opportunities<br />

ahead of them.<br />

Liz Seward, Senior Space<br />

Strategist at Airbus Defence<br />

and Space illustrated the power<br />

of satellites to forecast the<br />

weather, monitor crops, track<br />

pollution and explore the solar<br />

system as we discover what the<br />

future holds for space science<br />

in the UK.<br />

Tamsin Edwards, a climate<br />

scientist specialising in<br />

quantifying the uncertainties<br />

of climate model predictions,<br />

and a regular expert contributor<br />

on TV and radio, spoke about<br />

where climate predictions come<br />

from and how to make sense<br />

of differing and seemingly<br />

contradictory reports in<br />

the news.<br />

Ceri Brenner, senior Physicist<br />

showed us the power of lasers,<br />

from cancer treatment to jet<br />

engine imaging, nuclear waste<br />

management and more.<br />

There was also a special session on<br />

examination success that provided<br />

students with the tools to excel. We<br />

look forward to participating in the<br />

conference next year.<br />

2


Mulberry stands<br />

in solidarity with<br />

others for fairer<br />

education<br />

On Tuesday 17th and Wednesday<br />

18th November, the Fair Education<br />

Alliance hosted a two day virtual<br />

online summit that gathered<br />

the wider education sector and<br />

members of the Alliance to drive<br />

forward their shared vision for<br />

a fairer and more equitable<br />

education system for all. As Chair<br />

of the organisation, Dr Vanessa<br />

Ogden was invited to give the<br />

opening address.<br />

During the morning, an impactful<br />

video from Mulberry School for<br />

Girls was shared with the delegates.<br />

The video focused on the students’<br />

advocacy for fair education, what<br />

this means to them and how we all<br />

might get there. It drew positive<br />

comments on social media and<br />

gave a platform for Mulberry<br />

students to stand in solidarity with<br />

others fighting for a more equitable<br />

education system for young people.<br />

New global conference<br />

showcases incredible pioneers<br />

In October, Mulberry School<br />

for Girls was proud to work<br />

in association with Women<br />

of the World (WOW) to<br />

develop a new conference:<br />

‘Global Girl Leading’.<br />

Due to the challenges that<br />

COVID-19 presented, we held the<br />

conference remotely, showcasing<br />

some incredible pioneers and<br />

leaders from different sectors<br />

and walks of life.<br />

A morning session on ‘Activism in<br />

an Ever-Changing World’ examined<br />

some contemporary issues and<br />

how we can work together to<br />

overcome them. In the afternoon,<br />

students took part in ‘Women in<br />

the Arts, Media and Sports’, where<br />

some trailblazers led discussions<br />

on their own experiences and<br />

thoughts for the future.<br />

Mulberry School for Girls<br />

broadcasted live webinars<br />

intermixed with pre-recorded<br />

interviews to over 20 different<br />

schools from Somerset to<br />

Singapore, as well as Mulberry<br />

Academy Shoreditch and<br />

Mulberry UTC.<br />

Our CEO, Dr Vanessa Ogden,<br />

finished the day with a keynote<br />

conversation with Tiffany Drake,<br />

Executive Director of the Girls<br />

Opportunity Alliance. Students<br />

from over 15 schools in 4 different<br />

countries took part in this<br />

exciting inaugural event with<br />

many commenting on how they<br />

enjoyed the flexibility remote<br />

access gave them, as well as<br />

the variety of activities on offer.<br />

Dialogue mats (a unique learning<br />

aid that encourages interactive<br />

discussion) on the topic of<br />

intersectionality were completed<br />

and the discussions led to students<br />

examining their own roles as<br />

citizens, activists and leaders in the<br />

globalised world we live in today.<br />

Our schools were able to fly the<br />

flag for Mulberry as they engaged<br />

in the exceptional discussions<br />

and online resources. As with<br />

other Trust-wide conferences, our<br />

resources are made available to<br />

schools, so that they may replicate<br />

elements of the day’s proceedings.<br />

The live streamed and prerecorded<br />

interviews, as well as<br />

links to interactive content can<br />

be found on our Partnership of<br />

Equals website .<br />

Mulberry College of Education update<br />

Mulberry College of Education is<br />

committed to the development<br />

of Trust-wide projects and<br />

quality CPD that encourages<br />

teaching and support staff to<br />

engage in professional dialogue<br />

about learning. The work involves<br />

collaboration, experimentation<br />

and research into how we can<br />

best serve the needs of our<br />

students. Since September we<br />

have hit the ground running!<br />

We have submitted a Teaching<br />

School Hub (TSH) application<br />

to become the lead school for<br />

the Tower Hamlets and Hackney<br />

hub. It’s been great working with<br />

a range of strategic partners<br />

and local schools to compile<br />

the application. If successful, we<br />

would support around 176 schools<br />

to engage with a range of teacher<br />

development programmes. We<br />

are excited about the possibility<br />

to work with a wider range of<br />

schools and colleagues to ensure<br />

every child gets the best possible<br />

education. Staff across the Trust<br />

will play a central role in this<br />

important work.<br />

We also continue to work with<br />

the Challenge Partners network.<br />

This term we have led a ‘sharing<br />

leading practice webinar’ about<br />

our successful Fetch Me a Pen<br />

Academic Literacy teacher<br />

development programme and<br />

continue to lead the East London<br />

Challenge Partners hub.<br />

Lastly, unlike teachers who have a<br />

national set of Teachers Standards,<br />

nothing similar exists for support<br />

staff in education. As a result,<br />

MCoE has created a ‘Gold Charter’<br />

for support staff professional<br />

standards that exemplifies and<br />

celebrates the important expertise<br />

and contribution support staff<br />

make. Our ambition is for this<br />

framework to be shared beyond<br />

the Trust so more schools and<br />

students benefit.<br />

3


NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS<br />

Examination success<br />

for Year 11 and Year 13<br />

Mulberry School for Girls were delighted with fantastic<br />

results for both Year 11 and 13 in the summer.<br />

In Year 11, 90% of students achieved<br />

a strong grade 5 pass or above<br />

in English and in Maths, 83% of<br />

students achieved grades between<br />

9 and 4. We were particularly<br />

delighted to celebrate with four<br />

students who achieved nine grade<br />

9 grades, and many more who<br />

demonstrated excellent progress.<br />

Students and teachers worked hard<br />

together to achieve these excellent<br />

outcomes and the majority of<br />

students progressed to study in<br />

Mulberry School for Girls Sixth Form.<br />

In Year 13, we are thrilled to report<br />

that 83% of students progressed<br />

Microsoft Teams @MulberryTH<br />

We continue to move at an<br />

incredibly fast pace and with<br />

the support of senior colleagues<br />

at Mulberry UTC and the Trust’s<br />

Technical Manager, Chris Stone,<br />

the journey so far has been<br />

transformational.<br />

We now use MS Teams throughout<br />

the school community – from<br />

making video calls to holding<br />

meetings, staff training and<br />

whole school briefings. However,<br />

the biggest benefit to Mulberry<br />

School for Girls has been its use in<br />

teaching and learning, particularly<br />

when staff or students have been in<br />

isolation due to COVID-19.<br />

Every student is a member of<br />

their class Team in every subject.<br />

Homework, assignments, videos,<br />

worksheets and assessments are all<br />

uploaded to the platform. Students<br />

can post messages or ask for help.<br />

Many students, particularly at key<br />

stage 4 and key stage 5, have had<br />

their work marked over Teams.<br />

on to university and 50% of these<br />

secured places at Russell Group<br />

universities like Oxford, Cambridge,<br />

Kings College London and UCL.<br />

Two students achieved four A*<br />

grades and we celebrated the<br />

results day together with delicious<br />

ice cream from our very own ice<br />

cream van!<br />

We wish all our students the best of<br />

luck in their next steps and we are<br />

incredibly proud of them.<br />

For further details about<br />

Sixth Form destinations<br />

across the Trust, please read<br />

our Going Places brochure.<br />

Mulberry Learn is the name of the virtual learning<br />

environment (VLE) used across the Mulberry Schools<br />

Trust. It is powered by Microsoft Teams and Mulberry<br />

School for Girls has quickly adapted to the new<br />

technology since the transition to the VLE in May 2020.<br />

Since September,<br />

we have trained<br />

staff in the<br />

delivery of live<br />

lessons, which<br />

adhere to strict<br />

safeguarding<br />

procedures. As a result, students<br />

isolating can join their peers in the<br />

lesson, interact with them and ask<br />

and answer questions.<br />

Our next stage is to develop<br />

processes for electronic remote<br />

communication with parents/<br />

carers.<br />

We know that the changes we have<br />

made to teaching and learning<br />

will remain with us and, going<br />

forward, will be enormously helpful<br />

if students are absent or staff are<br />

offsite training.<br />

If you would like to give us<br />

feedback on how well Microsoft<br />

Teams is working for your<br />

daughter please email admin@<br />

mulberryschoolforgirls.org .<br />

Richard Street, Commercial Road, London E1 2JP<br />

A 020 7790 6327 m info@mulberryschoolforgirls.org<br />

www.mulberryschoolforgirls.org @MulberryTH<br />

Headteacher: Dr Vanessa Ogden<br />

Leading<br />

the way in<br />

Computing<br />

across Tower<br />

Hamlets<br />

We are delighted to<br />

announce that Mulberry<br />

Schools for Girls is<br />

now the lead school in<br />

Tower Hamlets for both<br />

primary and secondary<br />

education in Computing.<br />

The Computing at School<br />

(CAS) community aims to bring<br />

together teachers, academics<br />

and industry professionals<br />

in order to provide access<br />

to a range of resources and<br />

deliver local events supporting<br />

continuing professional<br />

development in Computing.<br />

We hope that by taking a<br />

leading role in CAS in Tower<br />

hamlets, we are able to support<br />

our colleagues across the<br />

borough in delivering a creative<br />

and engaging Computing<br />

curriculum to students across<br />

the all key stages to develop<br />

a strong support network<br />

between us all.<br />

4


Black people have lived<br />

The The Beachy Beachy Head Head Lady Lady was was<br />

the first the first Black Black Briton Briton known known<br />

to have to have lived lived in a in Roman a Roman<br />

area area in the in south-east the of of<br />

England. England. The The skeleton skeleton of of<br />

the sub-Saharan the African African<br />

woman woman whose whose name name is is<br />

unknown unknown was was discovered<br />

in the in East the East Sussex Sussex beauty beauty<br />

spot spot of Beachy of Beachy Head. Head. She She<br />

is believed is believed to have to have died died in in<br />

her early her early twenties. twenties.<br />

The The Ivory Ivory Bangle Bangle<br />

Lady Lady was was a highstatusstatus,<br />

mixed-race<br />

woman woman who who lived lived in in<br />

a high-<br />

Roman Roman York. York. Buried Buried<br />

in a in stone a stone coffin coffin her her<br />

remains remains were were found found<br />

with with ivory ivory bracelets, bracelets,<br />

earrings, earrings, pendants pendants<br />

and and other other expensive expensive<br />

possessions indicating indicating<br />

that that she she held held a high a high<br />

ranking ranking position position within within<br />

Roman Roman York. York.<br />

Black Black Tudors Tudors - John - John<br />

Blanke Blanke was was a court a court<br />

trumpeter trumpeter who who<br />

was was present present in the in the<br />

entourage entourage of Henry of Henry<br />

VII from VII from at least at least<br />

1507. 1507. He performed He performed<br />

at both at both Henry Henry VII’s VII’s<br />

funeral funeral and and Henry Henry<br />

VIII’s VIII’s coronation in in<br />

1509. 1509.<br />

125 125 AD - AD 16th - 16th Century Century 18th 18th Century Century 19th 19th Century Century 20th 20th Century Century 21st 21st Century Century<br />

Captain Captain John John Hawkins Hawkins<br />

made made the first the first known known<br />

English English slaving slaving voyage voyage<br />

to Africa, to Africa, in 1562, in 1562, in the in the<br />

reign reign of Elizabeth of Elizabeth 1. 1.<br />

Hawkins Hawkins made made three three such such<br />

journeys journeys over over a period a period of of<br />

six years. six years. He captured He captured<br />

over over 1200 1200 Africans Africans and and<br />

sold sold them them as goods as goods in the in the<br />

Spanish Spanish colonies colonies in the in the<br />

Americas. Americas.<br />

The The earliest earliest known known<br />

record record of a of Black a Black<br />

person person living living in London in London<br />

is of is “Cornelius of “Cornelius a a<br />

Blackamoor” whose whose<br />

burial burial on 2nd on 2nd March March<br />

1593 1593 was was recorded recorded in in<br />

the parish the parish register register at St at St<br />

Margaret’s Church Church in in<br />

Lee. Lee.<br />

Ignatius Sancho was the<br />

first African prose writer<br />

published in England.<br />

Sancho became a<br />

financially independent<br />

male householder and<br />

the first known black<br />

British voter.<br />

Black Londoners<br />

account for 10,000-<br />

15,000 of the nation’s<br />

20,000 black people.<br />

Mary Seacole a nurse who<br />

independently set up the<br />

British Hotel to care for the<br />

wounded during the Crimean<br />

War. Became a much-loved<br />

figure.<br />

The Slave Trade Act<br />

of 1807 was passed,<br />

prohibiting the slave<br />

trade in the British<br />

Empire.<br />

The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 abolished<br />

slavery throughout the British Empire. This<br />

Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom<br />

expanded the jurisdiction of the Slave Trade<br />

Act 1807 which made the purchase or<br />

ownership of slaves illegal within the British<br />

Empire.<br />

John Archer, a British politician<br />

and political activist, was<br />

elected Mayor of Battersea,<br />

becoming the first Black mayor<br />

in London.<br />

During World War I Black soldiers could be found<br />

in all branches of the British armed forces. Walter<br />

Tull was one of the most celebrated Black British<br />

soldiers of the First World War.<br />

Racism After the War<br />

At the end of the First World War, many African and<br />

West Indian soldiers who had fought for their ‘Mother<br />

Country’ decided to make Britain their home, but<br />

in some cities, including the seaports Cardiff and<br />

Liverpool, they came under attack. Between January<br />

and August 1919, there were anti-black ‘race riots’<br />

in seven towns and cities in Britain. Cardiff’s Black<br />

population had increased during the war from 700 in<br />

1914 to 3,000 by April.<br />

During World War II, around<br />

10,000 Caribbean men and<br />

women joined the British<br />

armed forces, working<br />

behind the scenes and on<br />

the front-lines to defeat the<br />

Nazis.<br />

The Empire Windrush<br />

arrived at Tilbury<br />

Docks, Essex, on 21<br />

June 1948. It brought<br />

one of the first large<br />

groups of post-war<br />

West Indian immigrants<br />

to the UK. British<br />

Caribbean people who<br />

came to the UK in<br />

the period after World<br />

War II are sometimes<br />

referred to as the<br />

Windrush generation.<br />

Mass migration meant<br />

that workers from all<br />

over the Caribbean,<br />

particularly Jamaica<br />

were “invited” to fill<br />

labour requirements<br />

within hospitals,<br />

transportation and<br />

overall contribute to<br />

rebuilding the post-war<br />

urban economy.<br />

The Race Relations Act of 1965<br />

was passed and protections<br />

against discrimination were<br />

extended in the Act of 1968, and<br />

further in the Act of 1976. This<br />

legislation resulted in the right to<br />

take discrimination complaints to<br />

civil courts or industrial tribunals<br />

and set up the Commission for<br />

Racial Equality.<br />

The Caribbean Artists Movement (CAM), founded in<br />

London in 1966, was the first organised collaboration<br />

of artists from the Caribbean with the aim of celebrating<br />

a new sense of shared Caribbean ‘nationhood’,<br />

exchanging ideas and attempting to forge a new<br />

Caribbean aesthetic in the arts.<br />

Notting Hill Carnival (inspired by the<br />

London Caribbean Carnival organised<br />

by Claudia Jones) was launched by<br />

a community activist and one of the<br />

founders of the London Free School,<br />

Rhaune Laslett, who aimed to highlight<br />

the cultural richness of the area and<br />

remedy racial tensions after the 1958<br />

Notting Hill race riots.<br />

A branch of the Black<br />

Panther Party was<br />

formed in the UK.<br />

The Immigration Act<br />

of 1971 was passed,<br />

stripping Commonwealth<br />

citizens’ right to remain<br />

in the UK and further<br />

restricting immigration.<br />

Trevor McDonald<br />

joins ITN and<br />

becomes the first<br />

Black news reporter.<br />

He goes on to receive<br />

an OBE in 1992 and<br />

a knighthood in 1999.<br />

Viv Anderson<br />

becomes the<br />

first Black British<br />

footballer to play<br />

for England in<br />

an international<br />

tournament.<br />

The Brixton Riot or Brixton<br />

Uprising occurs as tensions<br />

between the Black British<br />

community and the police in the<br />

area, culminated in three days<br />

of rioting against police brutality<br />

and discriminatory policies. The<br />

uprisings spread across the UK.<br />

The Voice is founded,<br />

becoming the first<br />

British national Black<br />

weekly newspaper; it’s<br />

based in London.<br />

Tessa Sanderson becomes<br />

the first Black British woman<br />

to win an Olympic gold<br />

medal; she is awarded an<br />

OBE in 1998.<br />

The UK elects four Black<br />

members of parliament:<br />

Diane Abbott (the first<br />

black woman), Bernie<br />

Grant and Paul Boateng,<br />

all of whom were Labour<br />

MPs.<br />

Naomi Campbell becomes<br />

the first Black model to grace<br />

the cover of French Vogue.<br />

Stephen Lawrence is stabbed<br />

to death in an unprovoked<br />

attack by a gang of white<br />

youths as he waits for a bus in<br />

south-east London. In 1999,<br />

the police response to the<br />

teenager’s killing is labelled<br />

“institutionally racist” by Sir<br />

W. Macpherson who led the<br />

public inquiry into Stephen’s<br />

murder.<br />

The The Race Race Relations<br />

(Amendment) Act Act 2000 2000 comes<br />

into into force force as as an an extension of of<br />

the the Race Race Relations Act Act 1976, 1976,<br />

requiring the the police police and and other other<br />

public public authorities such such as as<br />

colleges and and universities to to take take<br />

action to to promote race race equality.<br />

“The “The law law imposes a duty a duty on on<br />

institutions to:Eliminate unlawful<br />

discrimination, Promote equality<br />

of of opportunity and and Promote good good<br />

race race relations between persons<br />

of of different racial racial groups.<br />

British rapper, singer, songwriter<br />

and and record producer Ms. Ms.<br />

Dynamite,won the the prestigious<br />

Mercury Prize Prize for for her her debut debut solo solo<br />

album A Little A Little Deeper, followed<br />

by by two two Brit Brit awards the the following<br />

year. year.<br />

Doreen Lawrence, mother<br />

of of Stephen Lawrence,<br />

is is awarded an an OBE OBE for for<br />

services to to community<br />

relations in in 2003. 2003. She She is is<br />

made made Baroness Lawrence of of<br />

Clarendon in in 2013. 2013.<br />

The The first first Black Black<br />

Lives Lives Matter<br />

protest takes takes<br />

place place in in the the UK. UK.<br />

Stormzy’s album<br />

Signs Signs & & Prayer w<br />

first first grime grime albumto<br />

#1 #1 on on the the UK UK Album<br />

and and won won British Al<br />

the the Year Year at at the the 20<br />

Awards. 2019: 2019: StoS<br />

headline appearanc<br />

Glastonbury Festiv<br />

widely praised. HeH<br />

featured on on the the cov c<br />

US US Time Time magazine<br />

the the list list of of “next “next gen g<br />

leaders”.<br />

Celebrating Black British identity<br />

This year’s Black History<br />

Month celebrations<br />

focused on the theme of<br />

‘Black British Identity’.<br />

Kat Francois, an award winning<br />

spoken word performance artist, ran<br />

a series of remote workshops for<br />

students inspired by her solo play<br />

‘Raising Lazarus’ which charts the<br />

true story of Kat Francois’ relative,<br />

Private Lazarus Francois, from<br />

the Caribbean island of Grenada,<br />

who joined the British West Indies<br />

Regiment in 1915 to fight for Britain<br />

during the First World War.<br />

The play is critically acclaimed<br />

and was originally directed by our<br />

very own Head of Year 9, Dawn<br />

Reid. The first three workshops<br />

acted as stimuli for the students<br />

to gain ideas for their own work<br />

and the last two gave students<br />

opportunities to explore writing<br />

their own poems culminating in a<br />

spoken word / poetry competition.<br />

The Heads of Year led assembles<br />

on the theme of Black British<br />

identity throughout the month and<br />

students took part in additional<br />

PSHE lessons, arts workshops and<br />

curriculum activities.<br />

An incredible timeline has been<br />

created by members of staff,<br />

Dorothy Asare and Samia Hadjadji,<br />

which will be developed and<br />

displayed in each year group hub<br />

to depict a chronology of Black<br />

British History alongside some<br />

questions for students to research<br />

and think about.<br />

A commemorative pack including<br />

the timeline will be given to each<br />

student this term. The celebration<br />

of Black History Month is not a<br />

standalone event; moreover, it<br />

supports the school’s continued<br />

commitment to working towards<br />

anti-racism and equality and will<br />

be followed by our anti-racism<br />

conference in January 2021.<br />

Apply to<br />

@MulberryTH<br />

Sixth Form<br />

Our incredibly hard working<br />

students have gone to some<br />

of the UK’s top universities<br />

this year: @UniofOxford,<br />

@LSEnews, @GoldsmithsUoL,<br />

@UCL, @SOAS, @QMUL<br />

& @KingsCollegeLon.<br />

Our unparalleled pastoral<br />

care, tailored intervention<br />

and in-depth Oxbridge and<br />

UCAS provision ensure<br />

students achieve the best<br />

possible outcomes.<br />

Secure your place<br />

Apply today<br />

NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS<br />

Black History Month Timeline – – C.125 AD AD to to 2020<br />

Black people have lived<br />

in Britain in Britain for for centuries<br />

and and their their presence dates dates<br />

back back to at to least at least the the Roman Roman<br />

period period when when African African soldiers soldiers<br />

serving serving the in the Roman Roman army army<br />

were were stationed at Hadrian’s at Wall Wall during during the the 2nd 2nd century century<br />

AD. AD. The The experiences of of<br />

Black Black Britons Britons have have varied varied<br />

significantly over over time. time. Many Many<br />

endured hardships, were were<br />

enslaved and and exploited.<br />

The The expansion of the of the<br />

British British Empire, Empire, caused caused the the<br />

numbers of African of African and and<br />

Afro-Caribbean’s to grow to grow<br />

exceedingly in the in the 17th 17th and and<br />

18th 18th centuries. This This time time<br />

line line is an is attempt an attempt to mark to mark<br />

significant periods periods within within<br />

Black Black British British History History and and<br />

show show that that Black Black Britons Britons have have<br />

called called the the UK UK home home from from as as<br />

early early as the as the 2nd 2nd century. century.<br />

C.350 AD AD<br />

1560 1560<br />

C.125 AD AD<br />

C.1507<br />

1593 1593<br />

1729-1780<br />

1805-1881<br />

1833<br />

1760s<br />

1807<br />

1913<br />

1914-1918<br />

1948<br />

1965-76<br />

1967<br />

1939-1945 1950s-60s<br />

1966<br />

1971<br />

1981<br />

1973<br />

1984<br />

1988<br />

1978 1982 1987<br />

1993<br />

2000<br />

2003-2013<br />

2002 2016<br />

2017-20<br />

Mulberry UTC celebrates incredible results<br />

We are extremely<br />

proud of our students’<br />

achievements following<br />

this year’s summer exams.<br />

Our GCSE students achieved a<br />

strong set of results in summer<br />

2020. Their hard work and<br />

determination led to superb<br />

outcomes in their academic,<br />

technical and vocational<br />

qualifications leading to successful<br />

progression to Sixth Form study.<br />

We are delighted to also share<br />

the exceptional achievements<br />

of our Year 13 students. They all<br />

worked incredibly hard this year<br />

and the results they have achieved<br />

are well deserved.<br />

In summary, Year 13 students<br />

secured places at top universities in<br />

a number of fields including:<br />

Kings College London – Nursing<br />

St Georges, University of London<br />

– Diagnostic Radiography<br />

Ravensbourne University –<br />

Digital Photography<br />

Queen Mary University of<br />

London – Biology<br />

University of Greenwich –<br />

Sociology and Criminology<br />

Anglia Ruskin University –<br />

Pharmaceutical Science<br />

University of East Anglia –<br />

English with Creative Writing<br />

Loughborough University –<br />

Automotive Engineering<br />

64 Parnell Rd, London E3 2RU<br />

A 020 3137 7024 m info@mulberryutc.org<br />

www.mulberryutc.org @MulberryUTC<br />

Principal: Dr Katharine Vincent<br />

There have been many individual<br />

stand-out performances and we are<br />

delighted to share a selection of<br />

these with you:<br />

Stella Benjamin: A* (A-level<br />

Sociology), D*D* (Digital Media)<br />

Continued on page 6<br />

NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS<br />

5


NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS<br />

Continued from page 5<br />

Naciima Jino: AA (A-level<br />

Biology and Psychology); D*D<br />

(Applied Science)<br />

Haneefah Sideeqah: A (A-level<br />

Sociology), D*D* (Digital Media)<br />

Charlie Davis: AA (A-level<br />

English and Sociology), D*D*<br />

(Digital Media)<br />

Jaabir Hussain: A*A (A-level<br />

Maths and Further Maths),<br />

DD (Digital Media)<br />

Our students now have the<br />

opportunity to pursue exciting<br />

choices and prosper in their<br />

Black pioneers and innovators<br />

celebrated during BHM<br />

For Black History Month at<br />

Mulberry UTC, we celebrated black<br />

pioneers and innovators linked<br />

to our areas of specialism within<br />

the curriculum. This included Bell<br />

Hooks (feminist writer), Maggie<br />

Aderin-Pocock (space scientist)<br />

and Andrew Brimmer (economist<br />

and business pioneer).<br />

MUTC staff shared examples<br />

of their favourite books by<br />

black authors including Candice<br />

Carty-Williams, Roger Robinson<br />

chosen career paths. Their overall<br />

performance is a reflection of our<br />

thriving Sixth Form and our<br />

Key Stage 4 students are looking<br />

forward to emulating and<br />

continuing this success.<br />

APPLY NOW! Applications are<br />

now open for September 2021<br />

For further details<br />

about Sixth Form<br />

destinations across<br />

the Trust, please read<br />

our Going Places<br />

brochure.<br />

and Bernadine Evaristo. In a<br />

virtual whole school assembly,<br />

we reflected on the importance<br />

of Black History and the underrepresentation<br />

of the huge<br />

contribution the black community<br />

has made throughout<br />

British history.<br />

We also considered common<br />

misconceptions about Black History<br />

Month and the importance of<br />

education to further equality and<br />

understanding within society.<br />

Mulberry UTC House<br />

System launched<br />

This term, Mulberry UTC launched<br />

a new House System to provide<br />

further support to students and<br />

enhance their opportunities to<br />

be involved with extra-curricular<br />

activities, including actively taking<br />

up important leadership roles<br />

within the school community.<br />

The three student Houses are<br />

named after trees: Oak, Elm and<br />

Ash. Each has its own distinctive<br />

identity and characteristics, and<br />

each is led by a Head of House and<br />

a student House Captain.<br />

A competitive selection process,<br />

including a formal interview panel,<br />

recently took place for the House<br />

Captains. The Year 13s House<br />

Captains were interviewed and<br />

appointed this half term and they<br />

are Najama Jino (Ash House),<br />

Jalilah Jaha (Elm House) and Mikey<br />

Self (Ash House).<br />

The House Captains are supported<br />

by Year 11 Vice Captains and<br />

a team of Year 10 and Year 12<br />

House Ambassadors. The student<br />

leadership got off to a brilliant start<br />

when they represented the school<br />

at a virtual event with their local<br />

MP, Rushanara Ali, on Friday<br />

27th November.<br />

Students have been busy earning<br />

house points and the total so far<br />

this term are as follows:<br />

ASH<br />

1700<br />

OAK<br />

1663<br />

ELM<br />

1509<br />

Introducing our new Health T-Level<br />

The student leadership team have<br />

lots of exciting ideas for upcoming<br />

competitions, charity events and<br />

extra-curricular activities – it is<br />

going to be a very exciting year.<br />

We are delighted<br />

to introduce a new<br />

Health qualification<br />

at Mulberry UTC.<br />

Students can now apply to study<br />

a T-Level in Health that will give<br />

them a head start towards a<br />

career in nursing.<br />

A T-Level is a new two-year<br />

qualification combining subject<br />

theory, technical learning and<br />

an ongoing work experience<br />

placement throughout the course<br />

to ensure that students have<br />

the skills to thrive in the field<br />

of nursing.<br />

T-levels are equivalent to three<br />

A-Levels and are recognised by all<br />

universities and providers of Higher<br />

Apprenticeships.<br />

Students studying the T-level<br />

in Health will learn through a<br />

combination of classroom study,<br />

practical and technical work in<br />

simulated health environments<br />

and work experience with Barts<br />

Health NHS Trust. Students<br />

will also have the opportunity<br />

to work towards the Care<br />

Certificate, a requirement for all<br />

workers in hospital settings.<br />

Read more about this exciting<br />

qualification on our website .<br />

6


Gosset Street, London E2 6NW<br />

A 020 7920 7900 m info@mulberryacademyshoreditch.org<br />

www.mulberryacademyshoreditch.org @MulberryAS<br />

Executive Principal: Mrs Ruth Holden<br />

Best results ever for<br />

Mulberry Academy Shoreditch<br />

The 2020 cohort secured the<br />

best results ever for Mulberry<br />

Academy Shoreditch. Our Key<br />

Stage 5 cohort achieved a value<br />

added +1.01 with a grade B average<br />

points score per A-level. Strong<br />

subjects include Spanish, IT BTEC,<br />

Economics, Chemistry, History and<br />

English Literature.<br />

We saw a significant rise in<br />

performance in English and<br />

Maths. We are proud that our<br />

students achieved the grades<br />

needed to study fabulous<br />

courses at university, with<br />

36% attending a Russell Group<br />

University. Destinations include<br />

reading Medicine at University<br />

of Southampton, History at the<br />

London School of Economics<br />

and Kings College London and<br />

Computer Science at Kings College<br />

London. The breadth of courses<br />

now being study by our alumni is<br />

also something to be proud of.<br />

Year 7 is music<br />

to our ears<br />

Each morning, we’re delighted to<br />

see the Year 7 Music tutor group<br />

displaying their fantastic talents<br />

during their tutor time. They are<br />

stationed in The Street beside our<br />

lovely piano, which is a beautiful,<br />

light and airy space perfect for<br />

the occasion!<br />

The tutor group compromises<br />

of the students who played an<br />

instrument at primary school and<br />

are continuing with their instrument<br />

here with us. We are so happy to<br />

benefit from some great music first<br />

thing in the morning and it’s a great<br />

way for staff and students to start<br />

the day.<br />

At KS4 58% of students achieved<br />

grades 9–5 and 83% 9-4 in both<br />

English and maths. 22% of all<br />

grades awarded were 9–7 reflecting<br />

the hard work of all involved. We<br />

are proud that 80% of students<br />

study EBacc subjects and that<br />

30% of students achieved a strong<br />

EBacc (grade 5 or above in English,<br />

maths, science, a humanity and<br />

a language). 37% of students<br />

achieved grades 9–7 in English &<br />

32% in maths. Retention into our<br />

Sixth Form is 80%, so we have the<br />

pleasure of seeing their next steps<br />

to exceptionally bright futures.<br />

For further details about Sixth Form<br />

destinations across the Trust, please<br />

read our Going Places brochure.<br />

BHM celebrated<br />

One of the celebratory events that<br />

took place during Black History<br />

Month at Mulberry Academy<br />

Shoreditch, was the showing of<br />

a special video that highlighted<br />

some of the places connected to<br />

our school community. It was great<br />

to see students and staff from<br />

countries as diverse as Somalia,<br />

Dominica, Jamaica, Congo,<br />

Nigeria, Barbados and Trinidad<br />

and Tobago talking about their<br />

culture and traditions.<br />

The video also reflected on<br />

everything the students had learnt<br />

about racial equality/inequality<br />

and systemic racism during BHM<br />

and also included a special<br />

dance performance.<br />

Applications for<br />

Sixth Form now open<br />

We are pleased to announce<br />

that we have begun to take<br />

applications from Year 11<br />

students for places into Year<br />

12 for next year. Our Sixth<br />

Form is steadily growing and<br />

becoming extremely popular<br />

with our own students, but<br />

also with students form<br />

other schools.<br />

At our November event, Year<br />

11 students met with Heads<br />

of Department to discuss<br />

our Sixth Form curriculum<br />

offer and hear from Year 13<br />

students about<br />

the great work we do with<br />

current students.<br />

By the way...isn’t it amazing<br />

that the term ‘Sixth Form’<br />

has remained whilst other<br />

names within our<br />

education system<br />

have changed<br />

over time!<br />

Secure your place<br />

Apply today<br />

7<br />

NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS


Drop Down Day extravaganza<br />

NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS<br />

Mulberry Academy Shoreditch<br />

held its first Drop Down Day of the<br />

academic year and a fantastic day<br />

of learning was had by all. Drop<br />

Down Days replace structured<br />

classroom lessons so that students<br />

can enjoy a deeper learning<br />

experience away from the norm.<br />

Running with the theme ‘Health<br />

and Wellbeing’, the day was a jampacked<br />

extravaganza, providing<br />

a range of enriching activities<br />

enabling students to learn,<br />

connect and have fun with staff<br />

and with each other. All students<br />

participated within school and<br />

outside of school.<br />

The suite of captivating and<br />

thrilling activities included: team<br />

building workshops, a visit to the<br />

local Power League, exploring<br />

the use of social media today and<br />

relationships, building a remote<br />

control car workshop, GCSE<br />

examination preparation and<br />

important revision skills.<br />

Wishing you a<br />

(Merry Christmas)<br />

and a very<br />

(Happy New Year)<br />

from all at<br />

If you would like to contact the CEO or have any feedback on the contents of this newsletter, please contact<br />

us as follows: m mstnews@mulberryschoolstrust.org A 020 7790 6327 www.mulberryschoolstrust.org<br />

The Mulberry Schools Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (Company No. 10035860).

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