• Thank you to all the students who helped at the second (and final) Open Evening of the year. You all represented the school so well.

• Also well done to all students who sat GCSE resits this week with the final Maths exam on Monday.

• On Tuesday 11 November we will have a two-minute silence on Remembrance Day. 
• Thanks to the students who have volunteered to help Y7s with their reading. This starts on Thursday 13 November at 8.30am in the main school library.
• As workload increases in Term 2, to help students with student organisation and meeting of deadlines, I wanted to remind students of the library catch-up intervention. If a student misses a deadline, then the teacher will book the student in for a catch-up session to complete this work in the library on a Tuesday or Thursday at 3.15pm-4.15pm under the supervision of the librarian. If students then complete the work before their catch-up session, they won’t have to attend the session as long as they have provided evidence of this work to the teacher who will inform the librarian. 
• Noticeboards- You will find student noticeboards on each of the floors in the back stairwells. Please use these to promote club/societies and other events, and see Ella or reception to unlock them for you. Please don’t stick posters up in the stairwells outside of these noticeboards. 
• Model United Nations: Model UN will be running an MUN conference in December.  Please let Mr Wheeler know if you are interested or if you have any further questions. Don't forget, Model United Nations runs every Thursday after Sixth Form in the Common Room.
• Festival of Economics- 18- 21 November 2025- This is happening at the Watershed and lots of free events for students. See this link for more details.
• An updated enrichment timetable- Final Enrichment Timetable 2025.pdf
• 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.

• It is a Y12 tutor registration on Monday (for Group 1) and Tuesday (for Group 2) as normal. 

• Assembly now happens fortnightly on a Wednesday on Week One for Y12 so no assembly this coming week as it is a Week Two.

• Date for the diary- Y12 have a parents subject evening on Wednesday 3 December from 4pm. This happens online and parents/carers will receive all of the details very soon. 

• It is a Y13 tutor registration on Wednesday (for Group 1) and Thursday (for Group 2) as normal.

• Y13 have assembly on Tuesday.

• Y13 students and parents/carers will receive a gradesheet showing updated Predicted Grades and Engagement Levels on Tuesday 18 November.

• Y13 teachers are currently confirming what students are going to be assessed on in the mocks in mid-January. They will then share the revision topics with Y13 and students will be given a mock timetable. 

• Interview practice- Please make sure you read the progression section of this newsletter for opportunities to have interview practice.

• There is a Y13 Student Committee Meeting on Thursday 13 November @ 12.30pm in Room 202. Message from Daniel, 'Next Thursday during lunchtime we will be meeting in 202. Our agenda will be discussing some proposals to the canteen services, which will be very useful in our meeting with the canteen on the Friday same week. We would like all of us to contribute to the survey attached here https://forms.office.com/e/nBPMX9WiK4 to answer 5 quick questions on making healthier food accessible to all of us.'

Physical Wellness – moving and eating 

Clichéd, I know, but our bodies are like machines. They need to be kept in good condition to function well. Nutrition and exercise are important not just for our muscles, but also for our brain function. Did you know your brain uses 20% of the energy your body gets?!  Its functions include processing our emotions or memories, and producing hormones that help with connection and happiness. So, eating food that nourishes us and fuels our various functions is beneficial to both our physical and mental wellbeing.  Another key is being active, even if you’re just walking. This releases endorphins – happy hormones – into your brain increasing your feelings of wellbeing! Eating well and moving more promotes good mental health. 

All of our live progression opportunities from the Newsletter are accessible in our Progression Site at www.6thformprog.blogspot.com, including more detail on the items below, and if you would like an appointment with Steve James, our careers advisor, then please contact reception or speak to your tutor to book a slot.

Year 12: 

• Summer Schools - the blog has summer schools you can apply for including for medicine and other competitive courses. Check them out!

• Pathway to Bath - Apply Now! A weekly programme that can lead to a lower entry requirements. 

• Cambridge University is running You'll Fit In, and Target Oxbridge, which are aimed at BAME students interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge University. They're also running subject-enrichment courses for Physics and English.

Year 13

Congratulations to everyone who already has offers!! 

If you're still writing your personal statement, make sure you're sending it to your tutor on Unifrog for them to review. Then send it to Mr. Jones or a subject teacher related to your degree. You can find subject specific guides on the UCAS website.

Work

The blog has lots of career insight events in Bristol. These are hosted by companies that will be hiring for September so do sign up for them if you're interested!

Apprenticeships

Lots of Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships are now open! Amazing Apprenticeships has compiled them all here: https://www.amazingapprenticeships.com/resources/higher-and-degree-listing/

The blog has lots of apprenticeships fresh for November already so check them out. There are also webinars to support your applications. Deadlines vary but some close very soon so apply before it's too late!

Interviews

We are looking to run practice interviews relevant to anyone considering an apprenticeship, work, or another option after 6^th Form. To register your interest, please sign up here. Separate to this, we're running interview practice for specific university applicants:

• Mr. Wheeler will be running Oxbridge interview practice on the 26^th & 27^th November so please look out for his email. 

• Mr. Jones will be running MMI practice on Monday 15^th December & Bristol University are coming in earlier in the term to run a practice session as well (date tbc).

University

Bristol Scholars is a programme available to students applying to Bristol University who have had life experiences that have adversely impacted your education. Please discuss with your tutor or Mr. Jones. This can include lower entry requirements by up to 4 grades & additional support from Bristol University.

Lots of universities make contextual offers which lower the required grades for courses - use this tool to find out what lower offers you may be eligible for!

All UCAS applications must be paid and submitted for review by 12 December. Info on how all the parts of your UCAS application can be found on the progression website.

University Entry Exams for Y13 (follow the links for more info)

LNAT - deadlines vary depending on the university

TARA - New! UCL now requires an entry exam for 10 courses. Check the website for details.

• 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/