St Brendan's News Bulletin 15.11.24 | St Brendan's Sixth Form College

15th November 2024

TERM 2 VALUES:

Integrity

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

We hope that all our students have had a positive and productive week at College and congratulations again to our English and Maths GCSE students who have now finished their exams! We also want to congratulate the ATL3 Sport group in their recent exam, with 100% pass rate! It is important for all students to continue attending these lessons, your results for all your hard work will be available in January – more details will follow shortly.

On Monday, our College community marked Remembrance Day with a pause for silence at the 11th hour. This was a solemn and important moment for us to collectively remember and honour the sacrifices made by those who served in conflicts past and present. Thank you to everyone who participated in this act of remembrance.

As mentioned in last week's bulletin, and to mark the month of November our Chaplaincy Team has introduced a special reflective opportunity through our "Prayer Jug". We invite students/staff to place names and intentions in the jug, which are remembered in prayer. We warmly encourage everyone to take part in this meaningful act of reflection and connection. This space is for everyone, regardless of background or belief, to find a moment of peace and solidarity.

Kind regards,

Marian Curran

Principal

KEY DATES:

Tuesday 19th November - Acting Showcase performance at 18:30 (ticket booking link below)
Wednesday 20th November - Student assemblies starting from 13:45 in the Sports Hall
Wednesday 20th November - Acting Showcase performance at 18:30 (ticket booking link below)
Friday 22nd November - Internal Deadline for UCAS Applications
Monday 25th November - Year 13 Mocks begin (A-level & Applied Courses)

UPCOMING PERFORMANCE:

TUESDAY 19^TH NOVEMBER 6:30PM
WEDNESDAY 20^TH NOVEMBER 6:30PM

Join our Year 12 and 13 Acting students for the first show of the year!

Year 12: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (extracts)

"Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down."

Interval

Year 13: Burying your Brother in the Pavement (abridged)

"Tom's brother Luke is dead. This has upset a lot of people but it hasn't upset Tom. Or, rather, it has upset him, but in ways he can't explain and other people can't understand. You see, Tom and Luke were never friends. In fact, Tom didn't really like Luke at all. So it's an odd decision - to try and bury Luke in the pavement of the Tunstall Estate where he was killed."

Age recommendation: 12+ some adult themes and strong language. Themes of grief and mental health, mention of suicide.

Please click here to book your ticket.

GCSE Exams Key Information

For some of our students, the start of this term marked an important milestone with the completion of their Maths and English GCSE exams. We are proud of all the hard work and dedication you have shown in your revision and preparation. The results of these exams will be available in the second week of January. We hope you feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in what you have achieved!

Year 13 UCAS Applications

Many of our Year 13 students have been working diligently on finalising their UCAS personal statements over the half-term break. A friendly reminder that the deadline for UCAS applications is Friday 22nd November. Please make sure to double-check your applications and ensure everything is completed and submitted on time to us. Our careers team can then carry out a final quality check, add in your reference and predicted grades before submitting to UCAS. It is often the case that the team need to return your application to you to make final edits and changes so please make sure to check your emails and carry out the changes required.

The College has been informed that Sixth Form Colleges nationally have balloted for industrial action in November. While we currently do not have confirmed dates, we will keep you informed as soon as more details are available. It is important to note that this strike is not specific to our College but stems from a trade dispute between the Secretary of State for Education and teaching unions concerning equitable pay for teachers. We will update you as soon as we have further information.

Hi everyone,

My name is Ezra and I am a member of the Bristol City Youth Council. I am currently working in the Crime and Police campaign where our main aim is to improve youth relations with the authorities. The first step to this is having young people fill out this form which will only take 5 minutes at most.

Please click here to complete the form.

Our next step is to feedback and forward your questions to the authorities, and turn their answers into a presentation. This presentation will then be shared with you and other young people so that you are aware of what the authorities are doing to keep the youth in Bristol safe!

By completing this form, you help us make a change in attitudes between police and young people, and you help us make Bristol safer!

Thanks,

Ezra

New Parking Permit Application Process for Year 12 & 13 Students

We are excited to introduce a new, streamlined system for 2nd and 3rd students to apply for a College parking permit. To request a permit, simply click on the link below or visit the College website to complete the online application form. Once submitted, Central Admin will process the application and notify you when your permit is ready for collection from Reception.

Student Vehicle Registration Application Form

If you prefer, you can also request the link by emailing info@stbrn.ac.uk.

Safeguarding & Support Resources for Parents & Carers

Being a parent or carer of a teenager can present many challenges and a lot can happen over the course of a student’s journey with us. Students may experience issues around their wellbeing, mental health, relationships and identity to name just a few examples. Navigating this as a parent or carer can feel overwhelming, especially if you are not sure where to look for help. To help, we have put together resources on a range of topics to help you navigate supporting your child with tips and advice on everything from how to talk to your child about their mental health, to checking their privacy settings on social media. You can access the resources here. Please keep checking back as we will be adding to them throughout the year.

Talking to your Child about Knife Crime

You may have seen in the news that the trials of those accused of being involved in the murders of Darrian Williams and Mason Rist and Max Dixon have started in Bristol. Understandably, you may be worried about knife crime and your child’s safety. Being able to discuss this topic can be daunting.

The Shadow Board of the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership have put together this video, made by young people, with some advice around how to tackle this conversation as a parent or carer: How to have conversations with your child about knife crime (youtube.com)

Please contact us if you have concerns in relation to knife crime or you have concerns about your child. You can email info@Stbrn.ac.uk and ask for a member of the Safeguarding Team to contact you.

Revision & Study Support

As our first round of examinations begin, we wanted to make all students and their parents/carers aware of our Revision Toolkit area of the website. Here you will find lots of handy resources and templates to support you with organising your revision as well as some effective strategies, proven by research, to help your study time be the most impactful it can be.
Check it out here.

Social & Study Spaces

Students are not to socialise on stairwells in C, D or E Blocks. It is not a space for socialising or studying and is a health and safety issue as chairs are being removed from classrooms and placed onto the landings or in front of fire exits. There are ample spaces for students to go including; Café Max, Café Min, LRC, study spaces on D Block bridge and A Block and this is where students will be asked to move to if they are found to be in the areas which are off limits.

BANNED BOOKS IN THE LRC

This month the LRC is displaying a selection of books that have been banned at some point by schools, libraries and even governments.

When you read one of our BANNED BOOKS and come to discuss it on one of this term's Book Club meetings, you will receive two extra stamps on your LRC Loyalty Card. With the LRC Loyalty Card, you get a stamp every time you borrow something from the library. Once you have collected 12 stamps and posted a really well written review in the catalogue, you receive a £10 Amazon gift card. You will find guidance on how to write a great book review in the Loyalty Card information in the library catalogue.

This term the Book Club is meeting on 15th and 19th November and on 5th, 13th and 17th December.

You can learn more about banned books in the Banned Books Project.

16-19 Student Bursary

A reminder to all students about the 16-19 Student Bursary. More information can be found on our website here.

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

To see the timetable for all clubs and societies click here.

If you'd like to take part you can either turn up on the day, or email bwi@stbrn.ac.uk to be added to the Teams page.

New Club Alert: Let’s Talk!

Join us every Thursday at 12:10 in Room A115 for "Let’s Talk" - a supportive space focused on men's mental health. All are welcome to connect, share, and discuss important topics in a relaxed, judgement-free environment.

Governor Vacancies

We are always looking for external governors to serve a four year term. If you would like to be a foundation governor and are practising Catholic, please contact PrincipalsPA@stbrn.ac.uk for more information.

We also see parent governors which would be for a two year term, again if you are interested in this key role representing the voice of parents, please contact the above email also.

Turning Right during the end of the day

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.

Please see the letter attached here for directions back to the A4, if needed.

Studying the SQE with Sarah (Teacher of Law)

Join one of our Law Teachers, Sarah, to learn about the SQE.

This will be a LIVE session hosted on her TikTok channel on Friday 15th November from 20:30 - 21:30.

simplylaw.by.sarah

CAREERS

Careers News

Head over to the Careers News page for lots of useful resources and opportunities.

Read the latest edition here!

NEW Careers SharePoint Site

Our Careers Team have created a Careers SharePoint site to support you in obtaining all the information, advice and guidance for your future plans.

On the site, you will find the following pages:

Careers Guidance Meetings - You will see our calendar of activity and have access to our booking link
UCAS - Information and guidance on personal statements, open days, taster days, key deadlines and much, much more
Apprenticeships - Guidance on understanding apprenticeships, useful links, and hints/tips for interview
Industry Spotlight - Videos that will inform, educate and empower you to make an informed next step decision
CV and Cover Letters - Useful templates and guidance
Labour Market Information - Understand more about the growing and declining sectors and industries
Subject Careers Support - Information and links to subject-related support that can impact your studies
Work Experience - Dates and opportunities to gain ready-life experience of the workplace

Click the link https://stbrn.sharepoint.com/sites/Careers or log onto the jump page and click on the Careers Zone button.

Pathway To Bath

We are so excited to announce that applications for our next intake of Pathway to Bath are open now!

This award-winning blended curriculum enrichment programme for Year 12 students from Widening participation backgrounds offers students:

The opportunity to work on an undergraduate topic in a subject of their choice alongside academic tutors and undergraduate e-mentors
A chance to attend a free 3 day residential at the University of Bath
The opportunity to receive a guaranteed conditional offer to the University of Bath

If you would like have a chat with one of their team first or book a virtual assembly please click here. Students can apply via their website now and the deadline is 31st December 2024.

Any questions, please email pathway@bath.ac.uk

Burges Salmon Legal Apprenticeship now open for applications

The Burges Salmon Legal apprenticeship provides the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor by completing the Level 3 Paralegal and Level 7 Solicitor apprenticeships over a period of six years, whilst earning a competitive salary.

This is an amazing opportunity for students in Year 13 who are interested in pursuing a legal career and would prefer an alternative to the university route.

Applicants must apply here by midnight on Friday 15th November 2024 to be considered for this apprenticeship: Burges Salmon Careers | Legal Apprenticeship 2025 (burges-salmon.com).

Calling All Potential Sponsors!

St Brendan's is seeking sponsors to support our sports and health enrichment activities! We have several exciting opportunities where your contribution can make a real difference to our students and College:

🏅Team Kit Sponsorship
⚽ Training and Equipment
🧘‍♀️ Yoga Classes
🚴‍♂️ Fitness Equipment
📚 Health Workshops
🎖️ Awards and Trophies
🌳 Outdoor Activities
🛠️ Facility Upgrades
💡 Innovative Programs

We are open to any ideas — no offer is too big or small! In return, we will offer media coverage across all our social platforms and much more. Partner with us to foster a healthier, more active community!

Interested? Get in touch here!