• Thank you to all staff and students for their patience with the internet issue in school. Hopefully this will be resolved very soon.
• Sixth Form Open Evenings- On Tuesday 13 October and Wednesday 4 November we have our two open evenings when lots of prospective students and parents/carers will be having a tour of the school. They run each evening from 4.30pm until 6.30pm and we need lots of tour guides. If students would like to help please email Mr Shaw shawr@smrt.bristol.sch.uk. The more the merrier and a great way of evidencing your contribution to the school/wider community!
• And thank you to all Y13 Parents/Carers who were able to attend the Y13 Parental Briefing on Wednesday. All parents/carers have now been sent a link to a recording and the slides.

Key Events This Week

• ???????Over the course of this month we will be acknowledging and celebrating Black History Month. I know we have lots of events planned and well done to the students leading on Y7-Y11 assemblies next week.
• Well done to all the Y13 students who met the internal early application UCAS deadline for those applying to Oxford or Cambridge universities and/or studying Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Studies. This has given tutors and Miss Kerby time to review the applications and ensure they are sent on to universities comfortably before the external early entry UCAS deadline.
• On Wednesday 7 October all Y12 and Y13 students are off timetable for P1 due to the Subject Mentor morning. Y13s who are not a subject mentor should use this time for progression planning.
• Y11 assembles-  Thanks to all the students who have contributed to various Y11 assemblies across a number of schools in recent weeks, with Fairfield to come this week.
• On Friday 9 October all students studying Philosophy and/or RE will be attending a talk by Philosopher and writer Julian Baggini on the topic of 'How to think Philosophically'. This will be from 2.30pm-3pm in the Common Room. All other students not studying Philosophy or RE are welcome to attend as well.
• Y11 assembles-  Thanks to all the students who have contributed to various Y11 assemblies across a number of schools in recent weeks, with Fairfield to come this week.
• Y11 assembles-  Thanks to all the students who have contributed to various Y11 assemblies across a number of schools in recent weeks, with Fairfield to come this week.
• We hope that the Y12 Art and Photography students who attend the St Ives trip had a great time. Thank you to the staff who are supporting this trip.
• Parents and Carers – do you know someone who works at a University, or has experience of Oxford or Cambridge University or works in a profession such as Law, Engineering, Veterinary or Medicine which are taught at University and who might be suitable and willing to help us out? Every year we have a large number of students who apply to Oxford and Cambridge and we give them all a mock interview with someone outside the school who can stretch them academically in their chosen subject area. We are always in need of new volunteers for our pool of interviewers. They do not need to be local as interviews are done online in early December. If so, then check with them they would be willing to consider it and then contact Mr Wheeler at the 6^th Form with their details at wheelerr@smrt.bristol.sch.uk . Feel free to volunteer yourself if you feel you think you are a good fit for this.
• As the library starts to get busier as teachers increase the work they set students to complete independently, students have been sent the silent study room timetable if the library is full: Silent study rooms.pub
• Free School Meals-  If students were receiving Free School Meals in secondary school they should now be on our system and be able to receive them from our canteen. If there is any problem please ask them to see and Millie Feldman, our Pastoral Mentor, in the Pastoral Office, opposite G10. Or if you think they may be eligible there is a link to apply online on the Sixth Form website: St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School - Financial Support
• Please remember that if students are ill or absent we do expect parents/carers to phone or email and tell us or leave a message BEFORE the start of the school day where possible. Have the 6th form number (0117 3532073) and the attendance officer direct line (0117 3773465) on your phone. Also call if you are significantly delayed in traffic. If it is easier then email 6thform@smrt.bristol.sch.uk . Absences known in advance require a form to be completed which is available from reception.

• Y12 have registration on Monday (Group 1) or Tuesday (Group 2).

• And a Y12 Assembly on Wednesday 7 October before Y12s will be meeting with Y13 Subject Mentors during P1. 

• Thank you to all the Parents and Carers that were able to attend the Y12 Parental Briefing on Wednesday. You will find a recording of the presentation and a copy of the slides on this section of our website: St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School - Parent/Carer Information Evenings

• Please note Y12 have a folder check week during WK 5 October. All Y12 should bring in their work folders into school so that teachers can monitor that students are keeping organised.

• Student Voice- This is very important to us. There will be a student committee meeting on Tuesday 6 October in Room 202 at 12.30pm but if in the meantime there is anything we can do to ensure you have a really positive experience at SMRT please let us know. 

• Students- Make sure you have followed the redcliffe6thform Instagram feed to be kept up to speed with what is being organised. 

• Due to Y13 tutor reps being in Y12 tutor on Monday or Tuesday and then Y13 Subject Mentors on Wednesday, there is no tutor or Wednesday or Thursday this week.

• Thank you to all the Parents and Carers that were able to attend the Y13 Parental Briefing on Wednesday. You will find a recording of the presentation and a copy of the slides on this section of our website: St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School - Parent/Carer Information Evenings

• Supplementary options - If you are not doing a supplementary course, such as Maths Studies or EPQ and so are planning to do volunteering or work-experience then you should be completing a form for Ella – by far the simplest and probably the most valuable option is to do some in-class support of younger students at main school. Talking to your teachers to see how and when you could help them for an hour or two per week is a great way to sort this out quickly. 

• Student Voice- This is very important to us. There will be a student committee meeting on Tuesday 13 October in Room 202 at 12.30pm but if in the meantime there is anything we can do to ensure you have a really positive experience at SMRT please let us know. 

Own Your Greatness (Purpose, Achievement) 

In a Marianne Williamson poem, one of the lines reads ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.’ It made me think about how, in this country especially, there is an expectation that we will do our best, be brilliant and achieve our potential, but this is followed by another expectation that we are humble and self-deprecating lest we be called show-offs or arrogant. What a ridiculous thing to balance!! I want to encourage you, for your own mental health, to own with courage and pride the things you are good at – there will be more than a few – and not feel like you have to put yourself down or diminish yourself in case that is judged harshly. We are all great in some areas – unapologetically owning that promotes good mental health! 

Another busy progression related week. Please continue to check the Progression Blog at  https://6thformprog.blogspot.com/ for more opportunities. 

Year 12 and 13:

• Pathways to Veterinary Medicine with University of Nottingham - YR12 only - an initiative for students interested in a career related to Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; providing opportunities to experience the sector and receive ongoing application and transition support. Apply here: https://www.suttontrust.com/our-programmes/

• Volunteering opportunity at the SS Great Britain -  As a youth volunteer, you would help the education team deliver workshops to schools at the education centre of the SS Great Britain. If you would like to apply, please email: volunteering@bristoldockyards.org

• Work experience in Film - Discover Creative Careers and Futures for All are offering two work experience opportunities for students relating to the Film industry. Apply at: Futuresforall.org

Year 13:

• Well done to those of you who have submitted your UCAS early entry application. This is not sent to universities straight away, and will be checked multiple times by the Progression Team.  Your application will be reviewed, with UCAS predicted grades entered, alongside the reference. Our aim is to ensure that your UCAS is not sent off until you have had your final UCAS predicted grades confirmed by your tutor and also read your reference, which will be shared by tutors in a tutorial slot.

• The UCAS early entry deadline is the 15^th October. 

• Apprenticeship highlights:

• BDO Accountancy/Business Apprenticeship.  The team work with a wide variety of organisations, helping them across areas such as Audit, Tax, Deals and Consulting. This means there are opportunities to build a career working with different businesses and industries while developing professional and commercial skills. The link to opportunities is here: careers.bdo.co.uk/early-careers

• HSBC Degree Level Apprenticeship. This is a paid, permanent role in the banking sector, working with individual clients or businesses on financial solutions, alongside a fully funded degree and professional qualification. Applications open: Week Commencing 28th September 2026 (for a programme start of November 2027).

• Legal Apprenticeship with Burges Salmon. If you are interested in working in the legal sector, this is for you! Application deadline is the 9th November. Apply here: https://www.burges-salmon.com/jobs/legal-apprenticeship-2027/

• Super-curricular is different from extra-curricular (hobbies and activities) in that it is about stretching yourself academically beyond the narrow A Level syllabus, and it is something all the best A Level students will be doing. You can find our recommended reading list on our website at: St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School - Study Links (smrt.bristol.sch.uk) 

• If you are a science A Level student you should absolutely be flipping through the New Scientist magazine every week to keep up with research. We have a hard copy in the library and a login you can access with the email address 6thformlibrary@smrt.bristol.sch.uk and the password Redcliffe.  

• Bristol University have produced lots of resources, including online lectures, to support students in exploring HE options or super-curricular research, You can sign up for access to these at Virtual resources for students | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol 

• Bristol Festival of Ideas rumbles on, which the full index of talks at https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/?pageNumber=1  

• Another fantastic reservoir of free on-line lectures to add power to your University personal statement can be found through Gresham College at https://www.gresham.ac.uk/  

• Swansea University has a great range of webinars related to the full range of Uni course they offer and wider issues at https://www.swansea.ac.uk/study/webinar-series/  

• Speakers for Schools run an excellent series of online talks relating to particular areas of work through the year. The full list is at Upcoming Broadcasts - Speakers for Schools.  

Key support information 

• Mental Health support page on our website - Health-and-Wellbeing-Sources-of-Support.pdf (smrt.bristol.sch.uk) 

• For really well pitched advice on mental health for young people check out this podcast, recommended by the Senior Students - https://linktr.ee/unboxedpodcast  

• Another great resource on Self-Care with loads of suggestions and ideas to try out to help build new habits which can support our wellbeing is here: https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/  

• The Centre has sanitary products available if you ever need them. We try and keep a stock in toilets, with mentors and Millie and at reception if you need anything. 

• Condom Cards: Redcliffe Sixth Form have now been linked onto the C-Card scheme because practising SAFE sex is important. C-Card is a free and confidential condom distribution scheme for young people aged 13-25 living in Bristol. Once signed up you can collect condoms and lube for free from several outlets. Millie will be your C-Card representative in the Sixth Form, and you can collect them from her at any time during the day. Collecting condoms will be private, free, and completely confidential. Please drop her an email at feldmanm@smrt.bristol.sch.uk  or just pop by the office opposite G10 to have a private chat.  

• Remember you can always speak to our learning mentors, and Millie, for help or visit the Brook website for more information about sexual health, contraception, pregnancies, counselling, PREP (help with HIV) and more. https://www.brook.org.uk/