Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you had a refreshing Easter break. It has been a positive start to Term 5. Year 11 and Year 13 should be focussed on making the absolute most of their lessons and the available support as we approach the home straight towards the summer examinations.

Start of Term Service

The start of year service was an excellent occasion. The theme for the service was Easter and the resurrection with a focus on Mary’s Story, John 20:11-18 and Thomas’ Story, John 20:24-29.  Thank you to all the students and staff who contributed to the content and organisation of the service. Special thanks to Gary Miller, one of our Premises Team, for sharing a moving and inspiring testimony. It was a pleasure to have Revd Dr Brutus Green (the new Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe Church) officiating his first service for SMRT School.

Update re Multi Academy Trust Consultation

All parents and carers were sent a brief update by our governors on 29 April, to explain that they had voted unanimously to continue the process towards joining Lighthouse Schools Partnership, and we now enter a further period of due diligence. Governors will be sending further communication this week.

Prewett Street and Redcliff Mead Lane Traffic Calming Scheme Consultation

We communicated with you about this scheme in our last newsletter.  The Bristol City Council Engagement Team is planning to start the consultation in the first half of May (date TBC). We will keep you updated.

Exams

We wish all our students and their families the very best for the exam season. There is a programme of support in place for students throughout this period. Please also visit the Exams page on our website for useful dates and information.

Summer Uniform

We moved to summer uniform on Tuesday 5 May so students may choose not to wear their jumper.  Our blazer is already optional.  All other elements of the uniform, including the tie are compulsory.  If there are financial difficulties regarding the purchase of School uniform, please do speak to your child(ren)’s Head of Year and we will do whatever we can to support you. We have regular second-hand uniform sales, which you can find details of on the school calendar on our website.

SMRT Breakfast Club sponsored by BS1 Alive Cradle to Career Hub

This is a reminder that the 8-week trial of the new format Breakfast Club started on Tuesday 5 May and will end for review on Friday 3 July 2026.  Breakfast Club will be fully supervised by school staff and attendance will be registered each morning.

If you would like your child to attend the Breakfast Club trial, please sign them up as soon as possible using this email:  BS1Alive@smrt.bristol.sch.uk .Places may be limited, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible.

As this is a trial, we will be asking students and families for feedback to help us decide how Breakfast Club may continue in this format in the future if it proves to be a success.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss whether Breakfast Club is suitable for your child, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at BS1Alive@smrt.bristol.sch.uk.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to welcoming students to Breakfast Club.

Attendance

Our attendance rates continue to be significantly above national and local averages.

We remind parents/carers that they must notify the attendance team (attendance@smrt.bristol.sch.uk or leave a message on 0117 353 2069) by 8.30am regarding any absence that day.  This will support us in carrying out our safeguarding responsibilities.  Please use this link to read more about attendance, and how we can support students and families that might be having issues.

Community News

We welcomed two new LSAs to our team, Mr Nichols and Miss Keiller-Hall.  We also welcomed our new DT technician, Mr Guy.  We said goodbye to Mr Marie (MFL) who is relocating, although he will be in school to support some exam groups for a couple of days this term.  We wish him well.

Have a great week.

Del Planter

Headteacher

 

1. Thanksgiving for Easter

   • We thank God for His faithfulness throughout the Easter term

   • We Praise God for a strong start to this new term and for His continued presence in our school community.

2. Exam Season

   • We pray for all students beginning their exams.

   • We ask that they would experience peace and confidence, knowing that God is with them.

   • We pray that they are able to do their best and feel encouraged in their efforts.

3. The Term Ahead

   • Let's pray for the weeks ahead - that they would be filled with meaningful learning, growing friendships, and a strong sense of community.

   • We ask that our school would continue to be a place of support, kindness, and growth for all.

Contents

With Term 5 now underway we are getting to the "business end" of the year in terms of exams. Year 10 and Year 12 are currently sitting their respective exams and I have been really impressed by the seriousness with which students in both year groups have approached these assessments. Year 10, in particular, have behaved really well in what is their first full set of 'mocks'.

For Years 11 and 13 many subjects are now completing course content and focusing on revision. There are a plethora of revision websites etc. but in our experience the best resources are those suggested by individual members of staff as they will be best placed to advise on exactly what and how students should be revising. 

Year 9 options are now in and we are starting to build the option blocks. Over the next few weeks we will finalise students' choices and I will meet with those students to whom we haven't been able to give their first choice and make sure they get the reserve subject that they would most like to study.

Exams can be a stressful time for students so just as individual teachers can provide guidance on revision, students' tutors can provide support and advice for those students who are finding things a struggle. It is always better to talk about these things as there is plenty of help available.

Mr Taylor

After the May bank holiday (4 May), we enter into our ‘Summer Uniform’ rules.  As a reminder: 

• White collared shirts with a SMRT tie, worn appropriately. It is imperative for students to wear their tie (unless they have an exemption). 

• Plain black polishable shoes, as normal. 

• SMRT blazers remain optional, as normal. 

• SMRT red jumpers are not required to be worn.  

The full policy is here, and website information is here. In line with the policy and the clear reminders above, students should not be wearing hoodies to school or PE kit at any other time. 

Mr Morgan 

Last week, we had our beginning of term service in St Mary Redcliffe Church.  We focussed on the Easter story and how the risen Jesus encountered both Mary and Thomas.  We considered the impact of an encounter with Jesus on their lives.  We then heard a testimony from Mr Miller (Premises Team).  He described how he encountered Jesus many years ago and the positive difference this has made to his life.  It was great to hear a real-life story and a great way to start the term.

Karuna Duzniak

Every week we run a worship session in our tutor groups, and make these available on our website for parents and carers to view.

Each newsletter will feature a Weekly Worship we would like to highlight from the previous month.

Our supplies of second-hand uniform are running low, especially PE Kit. Has your child grown out of their uniform? We will gratefully receive all second-hand uniform in good condition to sell to other families. Please bring all donations to our main reception. All the money we raise goes to charity, in particular our partner school in Uganda. Thank you for your support

Mrs Duzniak

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are pleased to share that St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, in partnership with BS1 Alive, will be running a Breakfast Club trial and we would love to invite your child to take part.

Breakfast Club will provide students with a £1(to be paid via SCOPAY), nutritious breakfast in a calm and welcoming space before the start of the school day. Research and experience both show that starting the day with breakfast can support concentration, wellbeing and readiness to learn, as well as give students a positive and settled start to the morning.

What is the Breakfast Club Trial?

• Start date: 5 May

• End date: TBA

• Time: 7:45–8:20am

• Location: Lower School Gate Entry, School Dining Hall / A2/ Gym 

• Who can attend: All students

• Cost: £1 per breakfast (if this is an issue, please let us know). No child will be turned away, but please do sign up. 

Students will be able to enjoy a simple breakfast (such as cereal, fruit, toast and drinks) and spend time with staff before lessons begin.

How to Sign Up

If you would like your child to attend the Breakfast Club trial, please sign them up as soon as possible using the link below:

Sign-up, email: BS1Alive@smrt.bristol.sch.uk

Places may be limited, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible.

🛡️ Safeguarding and Supervision

Breakfast Club will be fully supervised by school staff and partners, following all safeguarding and school policies. Attendance will be registered each morning.

Feedback

As this is a trial, we will be asking students and families for feedback to help us decide how Breakfast Club may continue in the future.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss whether Breakfast Club is suitable for your child, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to welcoming students to Breakfast Club.

With warm regards,

BS1 Alive Hub

                                                      BS1 Alive Breakfast Club

 

The house point totals as we reach the end of this month are as follows:

SEND Newsletter – Summer Term Update

Dear Students and Parents/Carers,

As we move further into the summer term, we would like to share some important updates from the SEND team and outline the support available over the coming weeks.

Exam Support – Years 11 and 13

With GCSE and A‑level examinations beginning next week, we recognise that this can be a particularly stressful time for our Year 11 and Year 13 students. The SEND team will continue to provide in‑exam and pastoral support throughout the exam period to help students feel calm, prepared, and supported.

Please note that no SEND group interventions will take place during the exam period, allowing students to fully focus on their examinations and revision and staff to provide support with exams access arrangements.

Mentoring with the School Dog

We are pleased to share that mentoring sessions with the school dog are fully up and running. A number of students are already accessing this support, which has been very positively received. This intervention continues to provide a calming and supportive space for students who may be feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

Year 6 Transition

Our Year 6 transition programme is now underway. We are currently contacting parents, students, and primary schools to ensure a smooth and supportive transition into secondary school. 

Staff Updates

This term we said a fond farewell to LSAs George and Mandy, who have both moved on to new roles. We would like to thank them for their dedication and wish them every success in their new posts.

At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Ella and Joe to the SEND team. They have already settled in well, and we are looking forward to the positive impact they will have on supporting our students.

SEND Parents’ Coffee Morning

We will be welcoming parents and carers to our SEND Parents’ Afternoon Tea at 2pm on 7 July. This event will provide an opportunity to meet the SEND team, ask questions, and connect with other families.  We are also pleased to confirm that the SEND Bristol Parent/Carer Forum has been invited to attend.

Further details will be shared closer to the date.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Please do not hesitate to contact the SEND team if you have any questions or concerns using the learningsupport@ email address

Kind regards,
The SEND Team

Each fortnight we send a 'Wake Up Wednesday' (WuW) safeguarding update to parents and carers. These cover a range of topics and themes that empower and equip parents and carers with the confidence and practical skills to engage in conversations with young people. We also make WuWs available on our website.

Here's the WuW update we are highlighting this month. 

Link

The next Friends of SMRT meeting will take place on Thursday 11 June at 7pm.  The meeting will be hybrid (face to face and online). Do join if you can.

Mrz Duzniak

Dear Parents ,

I wanted to gently share a lovely opportunity that has come our way.

Bristol Ensemble & Leon Bosch at St George’s Bristol)

On Tuesday 20 May at 7.30pm, the Bristol Ensemble will be performing at St George’s Bristol – a beautiful and thoughtful evening of music for strings, including Samuel Barber’s much‑loved Adagio for Strings, alongside powerful contemporary music that reflects on history, courage, and memory.

The ensemble has kindly offered 20% off tickets for our school community using the code RED1NK. If your child plays an instrument, enjoys music, or you’d simply value sharing a meaningful cultural evening together as a family, this would be a wonderful opportunity.

📌 At‑a‑glance details

ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL | 20 May 2026 | 7.30pm
🎶 Bristol Ensemble & Leon Bosch
🎟 20% discount code: RED1NK
🔗 Book here:
https://www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/whats-on/bristol-ensemble-with-leon-bosch/

Experiences like this are a gift – chances for our young people to encounter live music, creativity, and stories that stay with them long after the final note. I hope some of you are able to enjoy it together.

With every good wish,

Rob Short
BS1 Alive Cradle to Career Project Manager & Hub Coordinator
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School
Please note students attending should be accompanied by a parent or carer.