Curriculum guide: Key Stage 5

Welcome to the Key Stage 5 Curriculum Guide, which has been designed to serve as a reference for parents and carers who have queries about the learning of students in the Sixth Form at Mulberry UTC. This guide includes all the subjects which are available for students to study during Key Stage 5 at Mulberry UTC.

If you have any enquiries related to the Key Stage 5 Curriculum please contact:

Julia Kibela-Purnell, Assistant Principal
Email: jkibela-purnell@mulberryschoolstrust.org

As they move into the Sixth Form, students make choices about their specialist subjects based on their interests, their existing strengths and their future career plans. The curriculum offered at Mulberry UTC enables Key Stage 5 students to combine academic, technical and vocational qualifications, giving students the opportunity to stretch and challenge themselves as they prepare for university and the world of work.

Sixth Form students at Mulberry UTC rapidly develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in their chosen specialist subjects through rigorous and challenging programmes of study. Beyond the taught curriculum, there are also many opportunities for students to participate in a wide range of enrichment activities including drama, arts, public speaking, debating and sports.

The curriculum at the UTC is made accessible to all students with disabilities or special educational needs through quality first teaching and additional specialist help from the support for learning team. Further information about how Mulberry UTC supports students with special educational needs and disabilities can be found in our SEN policy, which is available on the school website.

Mulberry UTC offers students a unique opportunity for students to follow a flexible curriculum that combines A-levels with technical and vocational courses.

Students choose courses from one of the UTC’s four areas of learning:

Creative Industries

  • Level 3 Digital Media Diploma
  • Level 3 Performing & Production Arts Diploma
  • A level English Literature
  • A level Performing Arts
  • A level Film Studies
  • English Language GCSE Retake

Health

  • Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma
  • Level 3 Health and Social Care Extended Diploma
  • Level 2 Health and Social Care Diploma

Humanities, Social Science and Business

  • Level 3 Business Diploma
  • A level Politics
  • A level Sociology
  • A level Psychology

Maths and Science

  • Level 3 Applied Science Foundation Diploma
  • Level 3 Applied Science Diploma
  • A level Maths
  • A level Chemistry
  • A level Biology
  • Maths GCSE Retake

Students may combine these subjects in a number of different ways. Most students take either:

  • An Extended Diploma (worth three A-levels)
  • A Diploma (worth two A-levels) plus one A-level
  • A Foundation Diploma (worth 1.5 A-levels) plus two A-levels
  • Three A-levels

Whether your passion is filming, directing, editing, animation, app development or games design, our courses in Creative and Digital Media will foster your creative talents.

Our Creative Digital Media curriculum has been designed in collaboration with industry specialists. Everything you do will be focused on preparing you for your future career in the media industry.

As a student at the UTC, you will have creative freedom to pursue your passions within the creative industries. You could be:

  • Planning and recording radio shows
  • Planning, filming and producing your own films
  • Designing and creating your own apps
  • Learning how to creative 2D and 3D animations
  • Reporting on local, national and international news stories

Creative Digital Media students will benefit from access to our state of the art facilities, including brand new television, photography, broadcast and animation studios and editing suites.

Our Creative Digital Media curriculum has been designed in collaboration with industry specialists, ensuring you will be exceptionally well-prepared for your future career in the creative sector. Our partners at the British Film Institute will provide advice and support for students, alongside a range of other partners from the media industry who will provide students with work experience, internships and training opportunities.

Courses available:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Digital Media (must be combined with one A-level)

Our courses in Performing and Production Arts combine a focus on creative and technical talent with the development of skills that are needed for the world of work. As well as developing educated, versatile, intelligent and employable performers, technicians and stage managers, we prepare young people for the practical demands of the creative industries.

Students work across a broad range of disciplines to ensure a good understanding of both production and performance, before specialising in a chosen field. You will learn how to work collaboratively and to find creative and innovative solutions to problems. Your ability to work hard, focus and get on with the task in front of you will prepare you for whatever you want to do in the future.

Production Arts students will engage with lighting, sound and video design and operation, stage management and set and costume construction and take responsibility for production and technical management. You will also develop essential industry-relevant skills including manual handling, working at height and first aid.

Performing Arts students develop their skills as performers for theatre, TV and film. You will learn about communication, improvisation and masterful presentation, how to focus, engage with an audience, react quickly and act like you have things under control. You’ll explore and develop your creativity, taking part in live and recorded performances both inside and outside the UTC.

All students benefit from working in our brand new theatre. This state of the art facility, with an audience capacity of 250, has been designed to the highest specification in collaboration with our partners at the National Theatre. They provide ongoing support for UTC students, to ensure students gain a deep understanding of the theatre industry. We also work with a wide range of other partners within the creative industries, who offer work experience, internships and training opportunities for UTC students.

Courses:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts (must be combined with one A-level)

Our healthcare courses are suitable for students who wish to progress to health careers including nursing, midwifery, social work, youth work, art therapy, care work, nursery nursing, health visiting and nutrition.

Students on these courses build their understanding of the requirements and challenges of working in a health-care setting, including building relationships, safeguarding, equality and diversity and health and safety. You will also learn how to develop a person-centred approach to care. As well as focusing on anatomy, physiology, nutrition and infection control, you will learn about how to support young people facing challenging circumstances or older people with dementia or mental health conditions. Your projects will link to areas such as public health, therapy services and immunology.

Healthcare students will meet practitioners and gain first-hand information about their work or research as well as working on live projects and problems. You will learn in our simulated health environments and participate in relevant work experience with our sponsors, Barts Health NHS Trust, and a wide range of other health practitioners. You will also have the opportunity to work towards the Care Certificate, a requirement for all workers in hospital settings.

Courses:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (may be combined with resit English/Maths GCSE)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (must be combined with one A-level)
  • Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

Business

Studying Business provides students with a solid understanding of the business world and teaches you both to develop theory and to apply practical skills. Our courses also provide the opportunity to build links with companies, giving you the additional skills needed to progress to the next level or secure employment.

Key topics include finance, change management, marketing strategy and project management. We work with partner organisations including the BFI and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

This is an ideal qualification for learners who are intending to progress to university, to employment or to a business apprenticeship.

Information Technology

The Information Technology course gives learners an insight into IT and cyber security. The course pathways provide students with practical and project-based opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in areas such as infrastructure, application development and data analysis.

Students investigate the pace of technological change,

IT infrastructure on a  global scale, and the importance of legal and security considerations.

Key topics includes cyber security, internet of everything, software and  hardware, plus project-based opportunities on mobile technology, tech support and networks

Our Applied Science courses are suitable for students who wish to progress to careers in health and science including radiography, pharmacy, physiotherapy, paramedic science, optometry, anaesthetics, dental hygiene.

You will strengthen your scientific understanding and develop high-level laboratory, research and analysis skills relevant to a range of scientific and health settings.  You will learn to work safely and to control hazards.

You will focus on human physiology and nutrition and genetics, cell biology, microbiology and drug development. Your projects will link to areas such as infection control, phlebotomy and pharmaceutical services.

Health science students will meet practitioners and gain first-hand information about their work and research, while working on live projects and problems. You will also have the opportunity to work towards the Care Certificate, a requirement for all workers in hospital settings.

You will learn in our simulated health environments and participate in relevant work experience with our sponsors, Barts Health NHS Trust, and a wide range of other health practitioners.

Courses:

  • Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Applied Science (must be combined with two A-levels)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science (must be combined with one A-level)

Students may combine their technical qualifications with one or two A-level subjects, depending on the size of the technical qualification they study. The A-level subjects that we offer are:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Maths
  • English
  • Government and Politics
  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Film Studies

Our Future Medics pathway is available to students achieving a majority of GCSEs at grade 7 or above including science and maths. Students who are selected for this pathway will study Biology, Chemistry and Maths A-levels alongside a unique personalised programme of study and support which is designed to equip them for the study of medicine at university. Students wishing to follow this pathway must complete a Future Medics application form, which is available from the Sixth Form team.

PSHE is delivered through tutor time, enrichment activities, themed assemblies and targeted workshops. These are often facilitated by external agencies, who bring a unique perspective on the subjects being discussion. We also offer extended Personal Development lessons which take place once each half term.

The PSHE curriculum at Mulberry UTC equips students to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society by developing their understanding of fundamental British values, developing their understanding and appreciation of diversity and by celebrating what we have in common and promoting respect for the different protected characteristics as defined in law.

The curriculum also develops student’s soft skills which are important to become confident, happy and successful individuals. These skills include their resilience, confidence and independence – and help them know how to keep physically and mentally healthy

Our industry partners:

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