A group of six Year 12 Economics students triumphed over five other schools to win a place in the final of the Sheriff’s Challenge, a public speaking competition for London schools. For the past six weeks they have been working on a presentation about the City of London: their task was to establish whether the role of the City should go beyond creating wealth and jobs. They were well supported by a mentor from the City livery company of accountants, but all of the creative energy in the final presentation was their own. While many of the other schools approached the challenge by standing in a line and reading their lines off prompt cards, the Mulberry team scripted their presentation into a play, using their brilliant knowledge of economics to explain how important the City is to the UK economy, while also talking about the starkness of the contrast between the wealth of the City and the poverty in Tower Hamlets. The girls won because of their knowledge, their hard work in rehearsing and their passion as young Muslim women who do not see role models in the City. All four judges agreed that they were rightful winners. They will compete against three other schools in the final, which will be held at the Old Bailey. My view, as their teacher, is that they have a great chance of winning!

This week on Wednesday and Thursday students in Year 8, 9 and 10 took part in the first round of the virtual Urban Debate League tournament. There were two rounds of debates each lasting 20 minutes with an additional 15 minutes to prepare for the unseen motion. The first motion was ‘This House would enforce the private lives of MP’s to remain private’, and the second motion was ‘This House would ban all disciplinary measures (for example detentions and exclusions) in schools’. It was a tough debate with year 8 and 9 debaters winning one of their debates and losing the other, and year 10 debaters winning both their debates. Congratulations to all those who participated in the tournament! It was a fantastic debate and you all made some really strong arguments

All students in Year 7 travelled to Stratford East Theatre in December for the pantomime performance of Little Red Riding Hood. We were incredibly proud of Mulberry students who demonstrated the most enthusiastic participation of all schools in attendance. Students laughed the whole way through and commented that the character playing Little Red Riding Hood was particularly funny.