• I hope everybody has a great half-term. We return on Monday 23 February which is a Week 2. 

• When we come back Y13 have their last full term before their exams begin and Y12 have their mocks immediately at the beginning of the following term, so this needs to be a really productive one. Students therefore should use half-term to rest but also organise folders and catch up on any outstanding work ready to hit the ground running again on our return.  

• This is Mr D'Amelio's last week before Ms Mlewa returns from maternity leave. Thank you very much to Mr D'Amelio and also Mrs Pardesi for covering Ms Mlewa's teaching and leadership responsibilities.

• Well done to our Maths Students who represented the school at the Bristol Schools Maths Competition in the Great Hall of Bristol Grammar School this week. From Mr Cross: All problems were unfamiliar with the following the best-answered question: find the perimeter of the rectangle whose area is 48 and whose diagonals have length 10. Competing with around 200 students, our teams collaborated well and found some novel solutions; one of the Further maths teams came top, even attaining full marks in both the pair and group rounds! And a Year 12 single Maths team came joint-second despite competing against Year 13 teams! The sense of excitement and mathematical perseverance was a delight to experience and they were all a credit to the school.

• Our students also had lots of success (also at Bristol Grammar School) at the BGS Model United Nations competition. Our team representing France won the 'Best Delegation' trophy, beating nearly 50 other teams, covering Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Taunton, Cardiff and Gloucester.

• And finally thank to everyone who wrote in Diane's Book of Memories which was given to Diane's family after the funeral on Thursday. 

• For those in Y12 keen to better understand what an Extended Project Qualification is like but also for all Sixth Formers interested in the topics, all students are welcome to attend the following EPQ presentations: (and if anyone else in Y13 is happy to present in a similar way let me know):

• 

• Guidance talks/tours-  Y12 Students might remember last year when in Y11 they were invited into Sixth Form to discuss subject options and have a tour of the school from current students. We are planning for this again for new applicants and we need tour guides.  The dates are Monday 9 March, Wednesday 11 March and Monday 16 March. The tours will all be immediately after P5. Please can you email Mr Shaw (shawr@smrt.bristol.sch.uk) if you are interested in doing one, two or all of these sessions. Thank you. 

• SEND support- Parents/carers who would like to chat to the 6th form SEND team regarding any queries/concerns they have relating to their young person's additional learning needs are invited to book an appointment with Suella, our KS5 Learning Support Co-ordinator, via the school booking system (same one as for parents/evenings). 10-minute appointments are available at the following times: Thursday 26^th February between 1.30-3pm and Thursday 5^th March between 1.30-3pm. 

• HPV vaccine drop-in session- Wednesday 25 February 10am – 2pm- The Sirona care & health School Aged Immunisation Team are visiting our Sixth Form. Due to a decline in vaccination uptake since the COVID pandemic they are offering vaccination information and Meningococcal ACWY, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio and HPV vaccinations to sixth form students who have not received a dose previously. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations   If you have any questions please contact the School Immunisation Team: 0300 124 5515 or email sirona.sch-imms@nhs.net.  If students would like to receive a vaccination they need to go to the meeting room opposite G10 between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 25 February. 

• On Friday 6 March between 2.30pm-3pm we have the Deputy Editor for the Financial Times coming into school to talk with students. All students studying Business Studies and/or Economics and those considering journalism as a future career should attend. The talk will be 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.

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

• Access Arrangements- All Y12 parents/carers were sent this letter this week.

• On Friday 13 March Y12 are off timetable from P3 as they will be attending the Apprenticeship and University Fair at Ashton Gate. More details coming soon.

• Then on Wednesday 18 March Y12 have a Progression morning. Also more details coming soon.

• Students and parents/carers should have received this letter earlier in the term with information on a week in July when students are off-timetable for work experience, the Geneva trip or Geography field work: Sixth-Form-Work-Experience-Week letter

• Y13 have tutor registration on Wednesday for Group 1 and Thursday for Group 2. 

• Y13 then have assembly on Tuesday.

• Y13 should all now be using the revision booklet (that they all received this week, see Miss Foster if any problems) to help structure and record/plan their revision. Parents/carers should ask to see this and tutors will be also monitoring weekly.

• Y13 have a folder check week during the first week back after half-term, WK 23 Feb.

• Now that the deposit deadline has passed you will shortly receive details about the confirmed cost for the leavers' ball.

Comparison 

It is not useful to compare ourselves to others – there will probably always be someone who is more […] than you. Fill in the gap yourself. We are also only ever working with a limited amount of information about that person. The truth is, comparison often leads to a drop in self-worth. Our behavioural responses become narrower, and we can’t perform at our best, which feeds into the negative loop of feeling ‘less than’. Often our response is to work harder/strive to do better, driven by trying to be like somebody else, which keeps us stuck in a toxic loop and ultimately leads to less connection, exhaustion and burnout. We can all strive for better without it coming from a place of comparison with others. If it comes from a ’safe brain’ place, where we compare our progress in connection to our own story, we feel energised, rested and connected to the people around us, we can look clearly and calmly at what we might want to improve in our own lives, without it being a response to those around us.  Living our own life, not comparing ourselves to 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 - Over 100 of you have heard back from all 5 universities! You'll need to respond by 6^th May. Here is a guide on what to do: https://www.ucas.com/applying/after-you-apply/types-of-undergraduate-offers/replying-to-your-offers. Not applied? The blog is full of apprenticeships & gap year opportunities - see Mr. Jones if you have any questions. Student Finance England applications will be opening late March - you'll get more info on the 10^th March in school.

Year 12 - You'll all be attending the University & Apprenticeship Fair at Ashton Gate on Friday 13^th March. More info about this in registration but you need to register for a ticket here: https://www.ukuniversitysearch.com/fair-signup/bristol-spring-2026/register

You should be planning work experience for the summer so keep an eye on the blog as there are lots of opportunities for you: university taster sessions, summer schools, work experience, extra courses, etc. Keep checking it!

Opportunities:

Gap Year:

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

Apprenticeships:

Key Information for parents and students on apprenticeships, including first-hand experiences

NEW Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships have been added: https://www.amazingapprenticeships.com/resources/higher-and-degree-listing/

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

• SGS Apprenticeships

• Rolls Royce Apprenticeship

• Two Solicitor apprenticeships - Michaelmores & Osborne Clarke

• Transport Apprenticeships in Bristol - they're coming in for a talk on Monday lunchtime, 23^rd Feb, in 102

University Taster Sessions & Support (more on the blog!):

• Crimson Education - Support programme for disadvantaged students considering Oxbridge

• Summer School @ Birmingham University

• Built Environment Summer School

• Introduction to Oxbridge Series

• Bath University Summer School

Work Experience & Insight Events (more on the blog inc. paid!):

• Mott MacDonald Careers Talk @ School

• Infantry Insight Day

• Medical Mentoring Programme

• Built Environments Careers

• Dental & Medical Work Experience

• 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/