• HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! We have made it to the end of a really long and exhausting term, and I am sure everybody is desperately in need of a break! Thank you to all students, parents/carers and staff. We are so pleased with how well Year 12 have settled in and how well Year 13 have risen to the challenges of their final year. We look forward to an important 2026 ahead so I hope everyone has the opportunity to get some time to rest over the next few weeks ready for us to hit the ground running on our return. And please note it is only a 6 week term when we come back in comparison to an 8 and then a 7 week term we have just had, so it will go quickly! 

• Best of luck to Lisa Dry who is leaving SMRT for a new role at a different school. And welcome to Suella Chapman will be joining us in January as our new Sixth Form SEND lead. Meanwhile with Ms Garrard now returning following her maternity leave, thank you and goodbye to Mr Tallack, a Sixth Form tutor and English teacher.

• We know this holiday can also be a difficult time. In the email with a link to this newsletter you will find an attachment with a list of support agencies if needed over the holiday. Kooth is a particularly good organisation if you or someone you know needs extra mental wellbeing support during the holiday season www.kooth.com to find out more. 

• And finally this excellent resource, a parent's guide to teen well-being, was recently shared with me and I think could be very helpful for parents/carers of 16-19 year olds: ELM057-Parents-guide-to-teen-wellbeing-v6-spreads.pdf

• We return on Monday 5 January which is a week 2. 

• Please note, due to the main school church service, on Thursday 8 January only lessons taught by members of the pastoral team will happen as normal which are these ones: 

• GCSE Resit results- Thursday 8 January- Results will be uploaded to the Bromcom Student Portal. 

• On Wednesday 4 February we have our Sixth Form Culture Day. More information will be shared with students about this on our return.

• RAG week- Well done to everybody who organised and/or participated in our RAG week(s). We have raised nearly £800 so far, for Bristol Refugee Rights and Human Appeal,  with more events planned later in the year. 

• 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.

         

• On our return Y12 have tutor registration on Monday for Group 1 and Tuesday for Group 2. 

• Y12 have folder checks WK 12 January.

• Please note we are moving the second Y12 Parental Briefing from Wednesday 18 March to Wednesday 4 February (5pm-6pm) as I think parents/carers would appreciate having this information earlier in the year to help with post-18 progression planning. This talk will be finished by 6pm for those that have children in Y9 at SMRT as I am aware that there is also a Y9 options talk that evening starting at 6pm. I will send all the details early in January and for those not able to attend there will be a recording shared after the event.

• 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.

• It is a full Y13 tutor registration on Wednesday 7 January on our return.

• Y13 have assembly on Tuesday which will on preparing for the mocks.

• 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. 

• Please remember that the UCAS external deadline is 14 January 2026.  This is the external deadline though and all students applying should be 'paying and sending' asap and comfortably before then. 

• On Wednesday 28 January we have the second Y13 Parental Briefing at 5pm. You will receive all the details early in January.

• The Y13 Parents/Carers subject evening is then on Tuesday 10 February. Again expect all the details in the new year.

Kindness 

Roald Dahl said “I think kindness is my number one attribute in a human being… it covers everything.” He was a clever and wise man! It is great to be kind to one another; not only does it promote good mental health in us, but it also can have a positive effect on others’ mental health. It is important that we are kind to ourselves too, because we are often our own harshest critics. Maybe today think about how you can have compassion for yourself and be kind to others, remembering that most of us are trying to do our best.  Being kind to ourselves and others 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 13 - remaining UCAS applications must be submitted as soon as possible. The UCAS deadline for applications to be sent is the 14^th January at 6pm. Before this deadline, your application must be completed and submitted, and your tutor reference and predicted grades added. 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:

• Animal Rights Law Essay Competition

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):

• KMPG Apprenticeship - application support

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:

University Taster Sessions & Support:

• NEW: Exeter Plus Programme - for high-achieving Y12s

• Sutton Trust Summer School Programme

• Pathway to Bath - free academic programme

• Careers in Psychology Event

• Subject Masterclasses by University College London

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/