Our Vision – Mulberry Academy London Dock

The Mulberry Schools Trust (MST) will be opening an outstanding 6 form entry 11 – 19 co- educational comprehensive school on the London Dock residential complex, replicating the outstanding provision in Mulberry Academy Shoreditch and Mulberry School for Girls.

This mixed school will share the features that have led to the long established girls’ school becoming an exceptionally successful provider with a secure reputation both locally, nationally and internationally – as seen in the links made in 2015 with the then First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama and her initiative Let Girls Learn (now known as the Global Girls’ Alliance). The same features frame the offer of Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, judged to be outstanding in 2012. Both schools in the Mulberry family provide outstanding achievement for all, in an environment that is inclusive, caring and ambitious with high standards in everything they do.

The new school will be a flagship school, delivered in partnership with the Local Authority and the DfE, creating another truly exceptional school in Tower Hamlets with first class facilities to rival anything that can be found elsewhere in London. Its ethos will promote community cohesion, inclusion and a rich social mix in which all children can thrive, regardless of background.

The Trust’s Commitment

The Mulberry Schools Trust is committed to partnership with Tower Hamlets Local Authority, the council, local schools and families as well as other community stakeholders. The Trust has a track record of stepping up to support others locally if required to do so. It walks the talk of partnership.

Bringing Down Barriers to Success

Those responsible for the schools in the Mulberry Schools Trust have a deep understanding of the issues that face disadvantaged students and how to overcome the barriers that poverty and social exclusion create. They also know how to ensure that able students, who often fare less well in our schools, achieve according to their real potential. They have a track record in this work as well as in work to support students with severe and complex needs. Pedagogy and practice in inclusion is cutting edge amongst the staff and governors of the school.

For example, we know that networks of support are essential for young people in their early careers; they are often started at school. Therefore everything possible is done by the Trust’s schools to make connections and foster relationships with external partners in higher education, business, industry, the arts and the sciences in support of students in the Mulberry family. Equally, destinations for students with severe and complex needs are well- planned and carefully considered in order to ensure their success in transition.

We build community cohesion through our extended school provision. We offer the chance for students to develop their own sense of self as a young person, to decide their place in the world and to articulate their power to achieve. We provide the means by which, through intellectual and applied learning, students will make outstanding educational progress and can access careers at all levels in London and across the globe. We ensure young people encounter a holistic view of gender, race and identity which grounds its power in equality, sensitivity and shared control.

The schools model together a world in which there is a ‘partnership of equals’ of women with men, boys with girls – a world where diversity and rich cultural and religious heritages are valued and respected – a world in which voices are heard and power is negotiated.

There is an emphasis on high quality subject teaching underpinned by high quality support for learning and intervention. Inclusion services reinforce personal development and there is excellent pastoral care. Leadership is strong with high levels of expertise in education supported by knowledgeable, committed and challenging governance. Recruitment of governors, trustees and staff has equality and diversity at its heart.

The Mulberry Schools Trust’s corporate and arts partners such as Mercedes Grand Prix LTD, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the British Film Institute, the National Theatre, the London Stock Exchange Group, the Donmar Warehouse, the Southbank Centre and others all contribute extensively to the wider extra-curricular experiences that the Mulberry Schools Trust is able to offer in support of its aims.

Curriculum and Learning Experience

Provision for students’ learning in schools within the Mulberry Schools Trust is framed by a formal curriculum and extra-curricular offer known as ‘Mulbacc’ (the Mulberry Baccalaureate) – the hallmark of a Mulberry education. The development of confidence, creativity, leadership skills and a love of learning underpin every stage of the provision that is made – from nursery schooling through to adult education. Underpinning all of this work are the values of:

academic scholarship and ambition to do well
intellectual rigour and technical prowess in vocational learning
independence in learning
partnership with other schools, industry, colleges and universities including Oxbridge and the Russell Group
support for local families’ ambitions and aspirations
global citizenship, global awareness and a commitment to British identity
creativity and the arts, fostering confidence and creativity

Mulbacc is characterised by rigour and high expectations at all levels. There is an emphasis on high quality subject teaching reinforced by high quality support for learning and intervention. Inclusion services support personal development and there is excellent pastoral care. Leadership is strong with high levels of expertise in education supported by knowledgeable, committed and challenging governance. The experience of learning, teaching and curriculum in schools within the Trust will:

Provide curriculum pathways appropriate to high levels of academic challenge in the traditional curriculum and intellectual rigour in the applied learning curriculum at all key stages and will consist of:

Subject mastery with academic voice & love of number
High quality, confident writing and speaking
Computing & the creative use of technology to support knowledge, innovation and invention
Confidence gained from performance, self-expression & public speaking
Creative and artistic skills as well as development of cultural capital and critical thinking
Collaborative learning and purposeful group work
SMSC dimensions of learning & sense of identity which includes ‘Britishness’ and global citizenship
Physical fitness & motor skills

Prepare for and foster a love of learning in subject / technical disciplines in all phases and will consist of:

National Curriculum
Writing, reading & mathematics
Skills in scientific & technological enquiry
Aptitude leading to proficiency in at least 1 MFL other than mother tongue
Understanding of the globe & the chronology of human history
Citizenship, politics, religious education & PSHEE
The arts, sport & culture

Be entitled to an enriched education through The Mulberry Pledge which gives access to, in all phases:

Enrichment education programmes (mirroring the Women’s Education programme at Mulberry School for Girls)
Sports coaching in particular cricket, football, rugby, martial arts, hockey, fencing, rowing, climbing
Arts & cultural visits including art galleries, museums, theatre
Visits abroad
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Outdoor education
The full extended learning offer
The MST STEM Academy

Academic intervention programmes and support for learning for all phases, consisting of:

Prep
Star Academy
Literacy & numeracy catch-up
Voice work

The Inclusion & Support Team: Whilst the methods of delivery will vary according to age, mixing as appropriate thematic study and discrete subject-based teaching, the aim is to ensure high levels of achievement in the ‘Mulbacc’ by age 16 either in academic or technical qualifications. The Trust considers this to be a suitable base for specialising further at advanced level in either academic or technical learning at one of the Trust’s sixth forms or the UTC prior to university or apprenticeship.

Mulberry Learn: Schools within the Mulberry Schools Trust will have access to Mulberry Learn. Mulberry Learn, a VLE powered by Microsoft teams is an outstanding learning platform through which students can be taught, can learn, can interact and achieve both within school but also remotely. It is a shared portal to which each school has its own access point and on which all learning resources for students are stored. Students and staff are able to access units of work and resources as well as activities and assessments. This allows teachers to prepare more easily, cutting down workload. It allows students to carry out supported independent learning and to join live lessons even when not physically in school. It helps students to ‘prep’ lessons beforehand and parents / carers to help their children at home.

Inclusion, Support for Learning and Pastoral Care: An inclusive provision across the Mulberry Schools Trust is an essential part of the ethos that underpins it. Provision is comprehensive and, with the exception of our Special and Alternative Provision, all schools have a mixed ability intake that follows the Tower Hamlets admissions policy and the DfE’s Admissions Code.

As far as possible, students with severe and complex needs are accommodated in the mainstream schools in the Trust. Where (on rare occasions) the standard curriculum is not appropriate for a child, this is discussed with parents, the child and senior leaders to agree a rigorous alternative with challenging progress milestones. Students with special educational needs and disability (SEND) and students with EAL (English as an additional language) have access to specialist assistance to ensure that their needs are fully met. Specialist teachers carry out reviews and update Education and Healthcare Plans (EHCs). At times, students may be referred to specialists in the Inclusion team or they may be referred to external services such as CAMHS or social services.

Pastoral care is essential to support students’ achievement and it is regarded by the Trust as an area of professional expertise that is closely tied to Inclusion. Each school in the Trust has a team of Heads of Year / pastoral leaders who take responsibility for students’ personal development and well-being. They oversee teams of form tutors and contribute to the development of PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education). They use the Inclusion service to support their work and they have a multi-agency panel meeting monthly to ensure that students causing concern in relation to their personal needs are properly supported.

The multi-agency elements of the Inclusion service will eventually be shared with some dedicated officers based in schools and some that will be offered centrally. These services may include:

A school counsellor
A school nurse
A learning mentor
An attendance and welfare officer
Child protection officers
A school social worker
A police liaison officer
A parent liaison officer
Educational psychology and speech therapy services

Safeguarding of students is a priority and so the pastoral care team in each school works alongside this multi-agency team to promote students’ well-being and safety. Parent liaison and support has proved critical to the success of students within schools in the Trust. Schools in the Trust benefit from a family learning programme. Mulberry’s dedicated centre for parents – the Mulberry and Bigland Green Centre – with a Children’s centre and extensive offer of classes in basic skills, advice and support workshops on such issues as breast cancer, drugs addiction, safety on the internet and prevention of extremism is offered to all.

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Mulberry Academy London Dock
6 Virginia Street
London
E1W 2AD
020 3745 8080
info@mulberrylondondock.org

Mulberry Academy London Dock is part of the Mulberry Schools Trust which is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company No. 10035860).

Company’s registered office: Mulberry Schools Trust, Richard Street, Commercial Road, London E1 2JP.