TERM 4 VALUE:

Forgiveness

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

We hope our students have had a good week. Last week we welcomed inspectors for our Catholic Inspection under the Section 48 framework. The inspection was a significant moment for us as a college community. The inspectors were extremely complimentary about the college - and, more importantly, about our students. They commented on the clear understanding our young people have of our mission and vision, the way our values are lived out day to day, and the genuine culture of care and respect that defines our community. They spoke warmly about the calm, purposeful atmosphere around the site and the thoughtful way students articulated what it means to be part of a Catholic Sixth Form College rooted in dignity, service and the common good. As parents and carers, you should feel proud. The partnership between home and college is what makes this possible.

We know that our Year 13 students will have finished their second set of mock examinations this week. We have been genuinely impressed by the way students have prepared, approached these assessments with maturity, and supported one another through what can be a demanding period. Mock exams are not simply about grades; they are about building resilience, refining revision strategies, and learning how to perform under pressure. The conduct and commitment shown have been excellent, and we thank you for the encouragement you continue to provide at home.

This week we also celebrated the work of our National Theatre Connections production of Wildfire Road. This open production allows students from across the college, regardless of previous experience, to participate in high-quality theatre. It demonstrates the power of the performing arts to build confidence, foster collaboration, give voice to young people’s perspectives, and create a strong sense of belonging. The dedication of our cast and crew, alongside the commitment of our Performing Arts team, has been outstanding. Opportunities like this remind us that education is not only about academic success but also about character, creativity and community.

Alongside these academic and creative achievements, it has been a joyful week for enrichment and chaplaincy. We were delighted to host our first ever Holi celebration - a vibrant and beautiful display of colour that brought students together in a spirit of joy, unity and cultural appreciation. Preparations for RAG Week are also in their final stages, and we look forward to an action‑packed programme of events next week. As always, our fundraising reflects the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly solidarity and the common good, as our community comes together to support this year’s chosen charity, Bristol After Stroke. We are grateful for the enthusiasm of our students and the generosity of our families, which ensure these moments of celebration and service continue to flourish within our college community.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Kind regards

Marian Curran

Principal

Students are reminded that all stairwells are not areas in which they can sit and/or socialise. This is due to the Health and Safety issues associated with doing so. Recently, and owing to a serious injury caused by misuse of a stairwell, we have had to close down some access routes in C & E block to be strictly emergency access only.

We ask all students to continue to respect this and also to be reassured we are looking to find additional spaces for socialising and coming together as well as encouraging students to make use of existing spaces such as the cafés and sports hall area (open for sports and wellbeing activities and time together at published times).

In order to enhance site security/safety at the college, we will be locking the secondary entrance/exit gates by the new sports pavilion in the times between college coach drop offs & pick-ups ( 09:45 -14:45)

This will allow our security personnel to concentrate on one single point of entry to site that is within line of sight from their position at the barrier.

However, this will mean that for staff/students entering/leaving site between 09:45 – 14:45 the main entrance gates at the end of the drive will be the only access/exit option.

As the weather gets colder and wetter, we’re all spending more time indoors. Let’s keep our college a clean, welcoming place for everyone. Here’s what we expect:

✅Pens belong on paper, not on walls, desks, or chairs 🖊️

✅Toilet paper= toilet use only. Not stuffed back in the holders, not on walls, not anywhere else 🧻

✅Bins are for rubbish-keep floors and tables clear 🗑️

✅Treat furniture and equipment like you’d want it treated at home 🛋️

✅Respect each other’s space- no mess, no stress 🫧

✅Toilet cubicles must only be used by one person at a time. The ONLY exception to this being during lockdown where more than one person may reasonably need to use a cubicle to hide🚽

🤝Why? Because a clean, safe, and welcoming environment benefits everyone. It’s about pride in our college and respect for each other.

Bottom line: If you wouldn’t do it in your own home, don’t do it here. Let’s keep our spaces looking good and ready for everyone to enjoy. 💪

The College takes the safety of students and staff very seriously. Students should not invite friends who do not attend St Brendan’s onto the site and must wear their student lanyard and ID at all times on campus. (Students should obtain a temporary student lanyard from the main reception if they do not have their ID card with them.) Our campus personal patrol the site and can be approached if any student is concerned about their own safety or the safety of others.

St Brendan's is a cashless campus so please make sure you have a card and/or contactless payment on your phone.

If you need to purchase print credit you can do this on the College “Store” which you can access on our website or by using this link St Brendan's Sixth Form College Store

When prompted to login, click on the “Sign in with Microsoft” option, where you can use your College email and password. Your print credit account will automatically update after payment has been approved.

A reminder to all students, parents and carers to please turn right only, when exiting the College between 15:50 – 16:20 at the end of the College day.