16 October 2026
Through its partnership with Mulberry Schools Trust, the University of Sunderland in London funded a GCSE Mathematics booster programme that helped students achieve a 70% pass rate in GCSE resits, compared with a national average of around 15%, at Mulberry UTC in Bow, East London.
The initiative was developed after Mulberry UTC identified the barriers faced by students who had yet to achieve a pass in GCSE Maths, often limiting their options for further study and employment.
Having worked together for five years, the school raised the challenge with the University, leading to the creation of a targeted tutoring programme launched in spring 2025.
Since then, around 40 students aged 16-18 have taken part in intensive GCSE Maths support sessions ahead of their retake exams, receiving two hours of tuition twice a week over a four-week period.
Turning Students’ Lives Around
The impact has been significant. “We found that pupils with the tutors were four times more likely to pass their GCSE retake”, says Mulberry UTC Principal, Dan Seed.
"The booster sessions have turned students' lives around by giving them a sense of confidence. Without this help, those students would have been at risk of being left behind."
Dan added that achieving a pass in Maths can have a lasting impact on a young person's future, opening the door to further study, training and employment opportunities.
For Dan, “It’s about more than just individual students passing their retakes. It increases their chances of connecting with future employment - Tower Hamlets residents working in Tower Hamlets.”
Connecting the Community to Higher Education
The GCSE booster scheme forms part of a wider partnership between the University and Mulberry Schools Trust, which also includes visits the campus near Canary Wharf, guest lectures, workshops and opportunities for students to explore higher education.
"Many of our students come to us with little experience of university and could be the first in their family to progress into higher education," says Dan.
"The partnership helps build a stronger connection between higher education and the Tower Hamlets community."
Harpal Larr, Student Recruitment and Conversion Manager at the University of Sunderland in London, reflected:
"The success of the GCSE booster scheme is a clear example of how our widening participation work is delivering a positive impact in our home borough of Tower Hamlets."
"We look forward to continuing our partnership with Mulberry Schools Trust and creating further opportunities for young people locally."