Mulberry Stepney Green Mathematics and Computing College Review 2026: A STEM-leaning Tower Hamlets secondary with a distinctive sixth form

A school that has built its identity around mathematics, computing and science, while staying firmly comprehensive and community-facing. The buildings date from the 1960s, but the day-to-day experience leans modern, with a newer sixth form block, a large library with ICT facilities, and sports provision that includes a roof-top play pitch.

Leadership also marks a recent transition. Mr Zumon Chowdhury became Head of School from September 2024, following a shift in roles that moved Mr P. S. Bhutta into an Executive Headteacher position.

The clearest thread running through the school’s own messaging is aspiration. The emphasis is on students setting ambitious goals and then engaging actively with school life, academically and socially. That aspiration is framed in practical routines: structured tutor time at the start of the day and after lunch, daily check-ins, and a clear expectation that students use planners and homework systems consistently.

A strong community shape sits underneath that. The school describes its intake as rooted largely in Bangladeshi heritage, with many students identifying as Muslim, alongside a growing mix of other backgrounds. That matters for parents because it affects what a child experiences as “normal”, from friendship groups to how confidently different identities are handled. The school explicitly references both local context and future-facing opportunity, including proximity to Canary Wharf and the City.

Pastoral structures are visible in how responsibility is organised. Students are grouped into a house system with four houses, Redwood, Oak, Willow and Elm, tied to rewards for behaviour and sporting achievement. For families, that can make a large secondary feel more personal, particularly if the house system is used consistently for attendance, recognition and inter-house events.

At GCSE, the school’s outcomes sit above England average overall, with a profile that matches its specialist heritage. Ranked 975th in England and 10th in Tower Hamlets for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England (top 25%).

The Attainment 8 score is 50.1, while Progress 8 is +0.12, indicating students make above-average progress from their starting points. The EBacc average point score is 4.76, above the England average of 4.08, and 35.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above across the EBacc subjects.

For parents comparing schools locally, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can be useful for checking how these indicators stack up against nearby Tower Hamlets options on the same basis.

In sixth form, the outcomes picture is weaker relative to England benchmarks. Ranked 2105th in England and 15th in Tower Hamlets for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), results fall below England average overall. A-level grades show 11.4% at A* or A, compared with an England average of 23.6%; and 29.2% at A* to B, compared with an England average of 47.2%.

That does not mean sixth form is the wrong choice, but it does mean families should look carefully at subject fit, teaching strength by department, and the support around study habits and applications.

The curriculum intent is ambition for all, rather than a narrow track for a small academic set. External evaluation describes a broad curriculum that reflects both community and global diversity, with large numbers taking history or geography and a modern foreign language at Key Stage 4.

Teaching is described as structured and knowledge-building. Lessons often begin with retrieval activities, and homework is used, at least in part, to revisit earlier topics so learning sticks over time. For students who thrive on clear expectations, this tends to suit. For those who need more checking-in before moving on, the same external evaluation highlighted that consistency can vary, with some teachers not always checking understanding thoroughly before progressing.

The school’s specialist identity is not just branding. It has been a Specialist School in Mathematics and Computing since September 2005, and it describes instances of students studying A-level mathematics earlier than usual, which signals both pace and ambition for the most confident mathematicians.

Where Students Go Next

The school runs through to Year 13, so “next steps” includes both sixth form progression and post-18 destinations.

For 2023/24 leavers, 67% progressed to university. Apprenticeships were 5%, employment was 7%, and further education was 1%. Alongside that broad progression, there is a small Oxbridge pipeline: nine applications were made in the measurement period, with one acceptance.

For families, the practical implication is this: the sixth form appears to support a wide set of routes, with university the most common, while the Oxbridge path exists but is selective and relatively small in scale. Students aiming for Oxford or Cambridge should expect a targeted support programme and a need to be self-starting.

The school also signposts a strong higher education guidance structure, including Unifrog access for sixth form students and a stated programme of mentoring and preparation for competitive applications.

This is a Tower Hamlets school, so Year 7 admissions are run through the local authority rather than directly through the school. For September 2026 entry, the closing date for secondary applications was 31 October 2025, with outcomes notified on 2 March 2026. Tower Hamlets also uses banding at secondary transfer, and applicants must sit a cognitive ability test.

Demand is high. The council’s 2026 secondary booklet lists 669 applications for 190 places, which is consistent with a strongly oversubscribed school. In 2024, the last distance offered was 1.758 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

For families assessing realistic chances, FindMySchool Map Search is a sensible first step. It helps you check your likely straight-line distance against the last offered distance, while remembering that Tower Hamlets banding and applicant distribution can shift year to year.

Open events typically run in late September and October for Year 6 families, with a mixture of morning tours and an evening session; dates vary annually and are best confirmed directly with the school and the council booklet.

Sixth form entry is handled directly. The school states that sixth form applications for the 2025/26 cycle opened from 21 November 2025, and it publishes a subject list that includes A-levels such as Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, Further Maths and Physics, alongside vocational options including BTEC pathways in Business, Computing and Sport.

Safeguarding and wellbeing are presented as integral rather than add-ons. The most recent Ofsted inspection (30 November to 1 December 2021, published 31 January 2022) states that safeguarding arrangements are effective and describes a strong culture of staff training and vigilance.

That culture is backed by practical capacity. The same inspection describes a safeguarding team meeting weekly, partnership working with the local authority, and on-site support including a social worker and a school counsellor, alongside participation in a national mental health programme. For parents, the implication is that concerns are intended to be triaged quickly, with multiple trained adults involved rather than a single over-stretched lead.

Daily structure also plays a role. Tutor time happens at the beginning of each day and after lunch, giving regular touchpoints for attendance, wellbeing and early intervention if something is going wrong.

Extracurricular life here is easiest to understand through two pillars: structured academic support and a strong sport and STEM mix.

Academic and study support is embedded into the timetable through homework clubs and subject clubs. The school publishes year-group club timetables that include a breakfast club in the library, homework clubs at lunch and after school, and targeted stretch such as a morning maths club and a gifted and talented club. This matters for families who want a predictable, supervised study environment, especially if home space is busy or shared.

STEM is a real identity marker

Students are encouraged into STEM project work, including Greenpower racing. The school has publicly celebrated success at the Greenpower Goodwood International Final, indicating that engineering-style teamwork is not just a token club but something that reaches competitive level.

Sport is broad rather than niche

Provision includes a sports hall, fitness suite, and roof-top pitch, and the published programme shows regular football, cricket, badminton, basketball, judo, and multi-sports across year groups, including lunchtime “open hall” sessions. This tends to suit students who benefit from daily movement and a clear routine of supervised activity.

Trips and enrichment are also specific rather than generic. The school references opportunities such as Tall Ships experiences, university visits, cultural trips, and engagement with Police Cadets on site.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day begins at 8.35am. It ends at 3.30pm Monday to Thursday, and at 1.45pm on Fridays. Most after-school activities run until 4.45pm, with some continuing to 5.00pm. The published week totals 32.8 hours from morning registration to the end of the day.

Transport is straightforward by London standards. The school states it is a short walk from Stepney Green Underground Station, and also walkable from Limehouse DLR. It also notes bus links close to the school and secure cycle parking on site.

• Oversubscription is the limiting factor. Council figures show 669 applications for 190 places. In 2024, the last distance offered was 1.758 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

• Sixth form results sit below England averages. If A-level outcomes matter most for your decision, look carefully at subject choices, support, and how the sixth form suits your child’s study habits.

• Tower Hamlets banding adds an extra step. All applicants must sit the cognitive ability test used for banding at secondary transfer, which can feel unfamiliar to some families.

• Curriculum implementation is not equally strong in every area. External evaluation highlighted that Key Stage 3 humanities planning needed review to ensure subject knowledge is built sequentially.

For families seeking a large, ambitious Tower Hamlets comprehensive with a clear STEM identity, strong GCSE-level performance, and a disciplined approach to routines and study support, this school has a lot going for it. The environment appears orderly and purposeful, with a wide set of clubs and a genuine engineering-style enrichment strand through Greenpower and STEM activities.

Who it suits: students who respond well to structure, enjoy mathematics and computing, and will use the study and club infrastructure consistently, alongside families who are realistic about admissions competition and proactive about sixth form fit if staying post-16.