TERM 3 VALUE:

Compassion

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of this half term, I would like to wish all our students, parents and carers a restful and refreshing break. It has been a full and productive few weeks, and I am grateful for the commitment and hard work shown by our students and staff alike. During the half-term break, the season of Lent begins for those in the Christian tradition. Lent is often described as a time to pause, reflect and reset - an opportunity to think about the kind of person we want to be and the impact we have on others. In a busy college community, that invitation to slow down and be intentional is valuable for everyone, whatever your faith or worldview. It is a chance to reflect on gratitude, generosity, resilience and service - qualities we seek to nurture in all our students.

Just like the season of Lent, the coming month of Ramadan offers a similar opportunity for those in the Muslim community. Both seasons, though distinct in practice and meaning, encourage a deep sense of mindfulness. Ramadan is often described as a time of self‑discipline, compassion and gratitude. Fasting during daylight hours creates space to slow down, reflect inwardly and strengthen one’s sense of empathy for others. These shared themes remind us of the power of small acts of kindness, the importance of gratitude, and the value of caring for one another. Ramadan, like Lent, offers a moment in the year to step back from the rush, reconnect with our values and consider how we contribute to a supportive and thoughtful community. We extend warm wishes to all students, staff and families who will be observing Ramadan, and we hope that this season brings peace, reflection and a renewed sense of connection.

Our students continue to impress us with their focus and determination. Many of our Year 13 students are now beginning to receive offers for university, competitive training placements and apprenticeships. We are especially proud to share that five of our students have received offers from Oxford or Cambridge this year. All students holding these offers studied at state schools, which makes this achievement even more significant. In addition, we are delighted to see so many students securing wonderful apprenticeships in highly competitive organisations, such as Rolls Royce, Snapdragons Nursery and Norland Nannies. I am thrilled to congratulate our students and staff on this outstanding success, and to thank colleagues who support our Oxbridge preparatory programme, guiding students from their initial interest through to securing their offers. We look forward to celebrating all university and apprenticeship destinations as offers continue to arrive over the coming weeks.

We are also delighted to share that, so far, we have raised £260 through recent fundraising efforts. Massive thanks to Pauline and the team for all the cakes and treats, and to students and staff who supported the event so generously.

When we return after half term, our Year 13 students will begin their next set of mock examinations. This is an important stage in their preparation for the summer, and we know it can bring a mixture of focus, determination and stress. We want to remind students, and reassure parents, that exam stress is normal and does not prevent success. In fact, a manageable level of pressure can sharpen focus and motivation. What matters is how students respond to it.

We are encouraging students to:

• Set small, realistic study goals.
• Take regular ‘brain breaks’ to support concentration and memory.
• Balance revision with self-care.
• Stay hydrated, get good sleep and remain physically active.
• Make time for activities they enjoy.

Constant revision without rest can lead to burnout. Exams measure knowledge and understanding - they do not measure personal worth. Progress and improvement matter far more than allowing a single grade to define confidence or identity.

Site Safety – Drop-Off and Collection

To help keep everyone safe, we kindly ask parents and carers to take extra care when dropping off or collecting students. The College has a limited number of parking spaces and a small, designated drop-off and pick-up area. Once these areas are full, please do not park elsewhere in the car park. Blocking access routes is causing congestion and significantly increases the risk of accidents. It may also prevent or delay access for emergency vehicles. We appreciate your understanding, patience and continued cooperation in helping us keep the site safe for everyone. This is a simple matter of collective responsibility - and we need everyone’s support to ensure our site remains safe and accessible.

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.