• We have made it to the holidays! I do hope everyone gets the chance to have some time out from thinking about A Levels and exams over the coming weeks. But as Y13 will start having exams a few weeks in, and Y12 return to mocks it will also be a time for some key revision. 

• We return on Monday 20 April which is a Week 2. 

• Well done to the Y13 Theatre Studies students who had their practical exam on Wednesday and were amazing! 

• Well done to all of the Y12 students who visited Cambridge University this week as part of HE+. Our students were fantastic and a credit to the school.  

• Well done to all Y13 students who completed the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). 

• Thank you to the Christian Union society and Ella for the Easter Egg hunt on Tuesday.

• Thank you to Ella and all the players who competed in the Football tournament on Monday and well done to Team Geography for their win!

• Good luck to Kacper and Adil who compete in the VEX Robotics World Championships in the United States during WK 20 April.

• Good luck to Myra and Poppy in the Gabblers After Dinner speaking competition on Thursday 23 April.

• All Y12 students should now have their timetable for mocks and Y13 should now have their timetable for the external exams. Any problems though please let the Head of Year or I know.

• Thank you and best of luck to Dr Mannan who leaves at the end of this term with Ms Walsh and Mrs Sancto-Halpin both returning from maternity leave.

• And finally a reminder that sharepoint is a very useful place for students to access subject resources and revision resources.

• The QR code on the left below will take students to the Student Hub and the one on the right will take students to the Revision Hub.

• On Thursday 23 April due to the main school church service, only lessons taught by a member of the Sixth Form tutor team will be happening on the Tuesday during P1, which are these ones: 

• SMRT Spring Concert- Thursday 7 May at 7pm in the Main Hall. Tickets are £10 adult/£5 student and will be on Scopay closer to the time. All the year 12 A Level and 10 GCSE Music students are playing in this as their performance mocks.

• Counsellor Drop In- Toria from Transforming lives for good, will be offering a counselling drop-off session for anyone who wants to speak to someone confidentially about anything worrying them, on a Wednesday between 12.45pm and 1.45pm in the meeting room opposite G10. Drop in when convenient, no booking required. Any questions see Mrs Apps or Miss Foster.

• Christian Union will continue to meet at lunchtimes on Wednesdays in 202. All are welcome. They will also be running a Bible study on Wednesdays at 3.15pm in Room 102.

• Revision Offer from Into University- Hi! We’re running Easter Holiday Revision Sessions at IntoUniversity and would love for you to join us if you’re in Year 11–Year 13 and preparing for exams. On 15th and 16th April, our classroom in the Withywood Centre will be open from 10am–3pm as a quiet space for you to revise.

  During the sessions you’ll have access to:
  • IntoUniversity staff who can help with your work
  • Laptops
  • Free printing (perfect for past papers!)
  • Revision resources like flashcards
  • Free Domino’s pizza at lunchtime

  If you’d like a supportive place to focus on your revision before exams then please get in touch with us. You can email lauren.jones@intouniversity.org or phone us on 0121 803 7505. We’d love to see you there!

• 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.

• Y12 mocks- A reminder that students have their mocks immediately after the Easter holiday. Students how have their mock timetable and confirmation of what they need to revise. Students must attend all lessons around their mocks. If they miss a lesson due to a mock teachers will know this as registers will have been updated. 

• Y12 students considering applying to Oxford or Cambridge Universities should attend a meeting with a representative from Oxford on Wednesday 29 April at 3.15pm in Room 202.

• UCAS Predicted Grade procedures- Here is our procedures document which explains how we provide UCAS Predicted grades as discussed at the parent/carer briefing earlier in the year: UCAS Predicted Grade Procedures.pdf

• Year 12 Volunteering Opportunity - Would you like to volunteer on a Tuesday morning 8.30am -8.55am in Main school with year 11 students? This will last for 5 weeks next term, supporting students with revision and build up to their GCSE exams. Speak to Mrs Apps if you have questions and sign up here - Volunteering with Year 11 – Fill out form

• Y12 over the coming weeks will be asked to confirm if they would like to start the Extended Project Qualification process. This is an excellent qualification which will help prepare students for further study and universities will take this into consideration with offers. If students decide not to do an EPQ they will need to pick an alternative option which will be shared with students in tutor and Extension Studies lessons. It is absolutely fine to start the EPQ process and then review along the way whether this is something that they would like to continue with.

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

• Y13 have assembly on Tuesday.

• All Y13 have been asked to complete this form to confirm a personal email address that can be used by the exam's team to communicate about certificates as well as few other questions: SMRT Alumni- Y13 2025-26 – Fill out form

• When we return Y13 only have 4 weeks of lessons before study leave begins. This is such an important time for attendance (considering the impact attendance had on student progress and results with last year’s Y13 at this time) so please expect us to have particularly high expectations. 

• Please remember Y13 students should be using their revision booklet to help structure and record/plan their revision. Parents/carers should ask to see this and tutors will be checking in with students regarding this in tutor registration and ViP/tutorials. 

• From JCQ who oversee the exam boards: Fake paper scammers
  Each summer there are individuals who claim to have question papers on social media: almost all of these are fake. Candidates who think they will get an advantage by buying a paper online or by making money from selling a question paper or confidential exam-related information are at a serious risk of being disqualified. If a candidate sees something which appears to be a question paper leak, they must report it immediately to their school or college exams officer or to the relevant awarding organisation if that would be quicker. It can also be reported directly to the social media platform where it was seen.

• Student Finance-  Students had their student finance talk this week which was a very similar presentation to the one parents/carers were invited to in January. Student Finance opens for 2026/27 applications on Monday 23 March.

• Leavers Hoodies- Students have been sent an email about the option of a hoodie.  Here is the attachment that there were sent: Hoodie link 

• Y13 Ball- Here is the letter that parents/carers were sent this week: Y13 Leavers Ball- June 2026 Update The deadline for payment is Friday 1 May. Any problems see Ella.

Accepting Change  

Life changes all the time; you have probably already noticed that, and you may find that hard.  We can’t always control the changes, but we can control how we choose to respond. A positive attitude can change our experience of change enormously. If we think ‘I don’t like this change, I want everything to stay the same’, it usually prolongs the transition. Instead, we might think ‘I don’t like this change, but I wonder what opportunities it might create for growth? Choosing to have a positive attitude to change, even when it is hard, 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 - Most of you that have applied to university need to respond to your offers by the 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. If you're not sure about which to pick have a chat to your tutor or Mr. Jones. Student Finance is open so make sure you apply soon so we can help with any issues that come up. As mentioned in assembly, Clearing opens on the 2^nd July and may be a useful way to plan around results day anxiety. If you have any questions or issues with any of the above see Mr. Jones!

Year 12 - If you're looking for something to do during a break from revision, why not apply for some work experience! Once it is organised, add it to Unifrog for approval: Here is a how to guide. There are also lots of summer school and supercurricular opportunities on the blog for you, see some highlights below!

Opportunities:

Work:

There is the National Apprenticeship & Education Fair on the 27^th April with lots of current apprenticeship & work opportunities being held at Ashton Gate. 

Hospitality jobs in Bristol

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):

• Solicitor Apprenticeship w/ HMRC

• Apprenticeships Fair @ Ashton Gate on Monday 27^th April - current Degree and Higher Apprenticeships

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

• University of Reading Summer School

• Music Conservatoire Insight Day

• UCAT Support for Medicine applicants

• Junior Water Prize  - STEM students

• Food Science & Nutrition Summer School

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

• Chemistry & Engineering WEX @ UoB

• KPMG Work Experience - last few places remaining!

• Aon Work Experience applications open

• Latest WEX opportunities in Bristol

 

• 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/