• Congratulations to the Maths students involved in the Bristol Schools Maths Competition, with over 300 students from schools across Bristol, crammed into the Bristol Grammar School Great Hall. We had seven teams entered- more than any other in Bristol. Each student was fully engaged in puzzling their way through some difficult problems like, "find the number of ways the letters ABCD can be rearranged so that A and B are next to each other".
• One of our Year 13 Further Maths teams - consisting of Theo Bracey, Filip Jurczak, Elliot Reynolds, Ben Snook, Austen Spencer-Fleet and Joe Tredgold, performed particularly well, coming top. This is five wins in a row for the SMRT Further Maths teams!
• Well done all and thanks to the staff who supported this (see photos below).
• Staff Update: Megan Fox, our attendance officer, will be leaving us on Friday 21 November for a promoted post at a different school. Considering Megan was a student at SMRT (Mr Shaw taught her in Y7!) and then returned as member of staff, this is very much the end of era. Best of luck to Megan. Alison Owen, the Senior Attendance Officer, will lead on Sixth Form attendance in the interim. 
• Also, Diane Hillman, our Sixth Form Receptionist (Monday-Thursday), will not be in school for a period of time for health reasons. All our prayers and best wishes go to Diane for a speedy recovery, and we look forward to seeing her back in school again very soon.

• Please note we have an inset day on Thursday 27 November so on this day the school will be closed to students.

• Over the last two weeks students have been voting for the two charities that we as a Sixth Form will raise money for during Raising and Giving (RAG) week which is coming up in December. Lots of great causes were suggested, with the two charities we have voted for to be announced next week. Then over the coming weeks students will find out more about these charities and also will plan lots of different fundraising activities. 

• Well done to all students who sat GCSE resits over recent weeks. You will receive your results in January.

• 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.

• 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. 

• Y12 Assembly- All Y12 have this on Wednesday.

• 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 next week.

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

• 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. There will be an assembly on Tuesday 25 November to plan for the mocks.

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

• And also in the progression section, please note UCAS applications for 2026 entry must be submitted by Friday 12 December to give staff time to meet the external deadline.

Psychological flexibility is defined as the ability to accept our emotional experience without avoidance and…continue to pursue our goals despite a negative experience (Hayes, Luoma, Bond, Masuda, & Lillis, 2006). In other words, even if something unexpected happens or goes wrong, it’s ok to be sad or disappointed, but being able to problem solve or try again builds our psychological flexibility. This is so relevant to the situation the world is in today – there is so little certainty! But as humans we can, and do, make the best of situations and find new ways forward. Feel it; accept it; adapt. It 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.

We have lots of opportunities to look through:

Year 12: 

• Medicine Summer School

• 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. 

• Subject-enrichment courses for Physics and English.

• Essay, Translation, and Design Competitions hosted by Cambridge University

• Chemistry & Physics Enrichment Programme

• Maths Enrichment Programme w/ Bath University

• Nursery Work Experience & Volunteering Opportunities

• Youth Insight for businesses programme

• Work Experience for female students in Business & Finance

• Gaming Industry Taster Day

• Career Taster Days for Investment Banking, Music & Media, Town Planning, and Aviation

Year 13

Congratulations to everyone who already has offers!! 

UCAS applications must be submitted by the 12th December. Info on how all the parts of your UCAS application can be found on the progression website. 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!

• Apprenticeships local to Bristol & Bath

• L3 Apprenticeships in Production & Technical Support for GKN Aerospace Engineering

• BBC Apprenticeship - Closing Soon!

• Finance Apprenticeships @ SW Group

• Business Apprenticeship @ Dunelm

• Apprenticeships @ BP

• Rolls Royce Apprenticeships

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. Online practice is also available

• 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). Also sign up for online MMI practice hosted by Bristol University.

University

• Subject-Specific taster sessions w/ Bristol University (online)

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!

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/