• Well done for everybody’s efforts so far raising money for our RAG charities. We have raised nearly £500 so far with lots more events coming up this week including a Redcliffe’s Got Talent event at 4pm on Tuesday in the main hall. We need more acts for this so please fill this one out if you would like to perform (all abilities/talents welcome!): Talent Show and Open Mic Sign Up - 16/12/2025 – Fill out form

• And use this link to donate (parents/carers can as well if they would like to!). The money will be divided equally between our chosen charities, Bristol Refugee Rights and Human Appeal. https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QAT4DBCY

• Well done to all the students who organised the SMRT MUN Conference.

• Well done to all Y13 who met the internal UCAS deadline. Remember when you pay and send it does not automatically go to universities. It comes to us first so we can do a final check of your application, enter your reference and UCAS predicted grades before sending off to your chosen universities.

• We have our annual community Carol Service at St Mary Redcliffe Church on Monday 15 December starting at 7:30pm.  This is a wonderful evening for all the family.  There will be plenty of carols and readings as well as a number of excellent choir pieces.  You and your family are warmly invited to attend.  At the end of the service the Friends of SMRT will be providing mince pies and festive refreshments.  Although you do not need a ticket to attend and can just turn up on the night, it would be helpful for us if you let us know how many seats you will require as this will help with refreshment orders and logistics.  Please click on the link below to book your tickets.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/smrt-community-carol-service-2025-tickets-1977369643834?aff=oddtdtcreator

• We have one more week of school before the holidays. We break up on Friday 19 December and return on Monday 5 January.
• On Friday, due to the main school having a church service in the morning, for only P1/P2 lessons taught by a member of the Sixth Form pastoral team will happen as normal which are these ones:

 

• Periods 3 and 4 then happen as normal for all before we finish at 12.50pm.
• For those that don't have a lesson P1 and/or P2 there will be a Christmas film showing in the Common Room. 

• Y12 Careers Event- On the morning of Thursday 22 January between 8.30am and 10am, we are planning a careers event for our Y12 students. This event involves the whole of Year 12 choosing two sessions to explore future progression options. If parents/carers would be able to come into school to share their experience of a profession that would be amazing. Please complete this link if interested: https://forms.office.com/e/sixAUhrp6x  

• Redcliffe Hub - Reading Volunteers- Thank you to all the students who have filled out Ella's form to indicate their interest in volunteering at the Redcliffe Hub. It will begin in the new year and will take place after the Sixth Form Day. For those keen but have not signed up yet please complete this one: Redcliffe Hub Reading Support - Form  – Fill out form

• Sixth Form Applications- This year we once again received well over 1000 applications for places for 2026-27 entry! Thanks to everybody’s efforts for making Sixth Form the place it is and all the great contributions from students at the Open Evenings. You obviously did a great job! 

• 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 then have assembly on Wednesday.

• Students and parents/carers will receive a gradesheet showing predicted grades and engagement levels on Tuesday 16 December.

• For those considering sitting an AS in the spring/summer of Y12 this document explains our approach: AS-Level-Options-at-SMRT-Sixth-Form-040925v2.pdf The entry form then becomes available in January and the deadline is usually early February. Students should only sit an AS if they are currently studying 4 subjects and wanting to come away with a qualification in the subject they drop at the end of Y12. As explained in the link above, not all subjects offer the AS and not all exam board subject specifications make it easy to deliver alongside the A Level. Any problems/questions though please see Mr. Shaw.

• GCSE Certificates- Students who sat their GCSES at SMRT can now pick up their certificates from reception if they haven't already.

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

• Y13 Mocks-  Students and Parents/Carers have now been emailed the revision topic list and overall timetable for the mocks that are happening in January starting on Monday 12 January. Morning sessions start at the start of Period 2 10.20am, and afternoon sessions at the start of Period 4 1.10pm and all exams are in the Sports Hall unless there is a specific exam access requirement. Bags can be left in the Sports Hall changing rooms. Any questions about revision should be directed to the subject teacher in the first instance. 

• Y13 Coursework- Here is a link to an overview of the coursework/Non-examined assessments and the associated deadlines: KS5 Subject Coursework Data 2025-6.pdf

• Best of luck to all those waiting to hear back from university applications or who have interviews coming up. We know the vast majority though are in the process of applying which is normal ready for the external January deadline.

• If students would like to help plan the leavers/year book come to the meeting in G10 on Tuesday at 10am.

Rest  

It is well researched and understood that as humans we need rest. This does not entirely centre around just sleeping well. We need to actively engage with taking more breaks throughout our day, especially when we life is stretching us. Taking a moment to shutdown/re-boot/rest should be part of being active - it's part of being productive and having endurance, it's part of being creative, it's part of being happy. If you don’t know where to start, and putting time aside to meditate is not for you, then why don’t you try a mindful moment. We can all manage that. Take a look at what this means, explained by Pooky Knightmsith, who is a renowned child mental health expert, author, speaker and podcaster with a PhD in Psychological Medicine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBrAXNz5ZAc 

Take a break – it will promote 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 13 - remaining UCAS applications must be submitted as soon as possible. The deadline is today (12th December). Info on all parts of your UCAS application can be found on the progression website. When you submit your application on UCAS it goes to Mr. Jones for review before being sent back to you for correction or sent to your 5 universities.

Year 12 - Please spend time researching Work Experience opportunities! (See the list of options below)

Opportunities:

Gap Year:

• TEFL - Teach English as a Foreign Language and earn as you travel

Apprenticeships:

Lots of Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships are still open! https://www.amazingapprenticeships.com/resources/higher-and-degree-listing/

Latest Apprenticeships on the blog (a full list can be found here):

• Investment Banking

• Engineering & Supply Chain Apprenticeships

• Business Management

Interview Practice:

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. Jones will be running MMI practice interviews on Monday 15^th December at 3.30pm. Please come to the common room.

University Taster Sessions & Support:

• Pathway to Bath - free academic programme

• STEM Learning Online Mentoring

• 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.

 

Work Experience & Insight Events:

• Banking w/ Lloyds

• BBC Careers Event

• Creative Careers w/ The National Youth Theatre & Netflix

• Business & Finance w/ Aon

• Business & Technology National Programme w/ Smart Futures by EY

• Careers in Auditing w/ The National Audit Office

• Army Careers

• 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/