17th March 2023
Welcome!
Dear Students, Parents/Carers,
I'd like to start by saying a massive congratulations to our A-Level Dance students for their fantastic performance on Wednesday. The class were joined by an audience of parents/carers, friends and fellow students who got to watch a showcase of amazing skills and moves that have been learnt and developed during their time at St Brendan's.
We are all looking forward to our National Theatre Connections performance of “The Heights” next Monday and Tuesday in the St Brendan's Theatre, before our students head off to perform at the Bristol Old Vic on Friday 31st March. If you would like to come along to watch, you can get tickets by clicking here.
Well done also to our students who took part in work experience this week via the Bristol Future Partnership. We have received positive feedback from employers and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how the students benefitted from the experience and how they all ended the week feeling inspired about their next steps.
In our Bulletin on 3 March we provided an update on how parents and carers would be contacted should their student report an absence or miss a lesson. You will start to see an increase in communications home around absence, because it is linked to student achievement, and so that we are working together to keep our students safe. Where a student reports an absence or misses a lesson without informing the college, an email will be sent to parents/carers. Similarly, teachers will be speaking to students who have missed a lesson to explain their absence was noticed and to ensure the work missed is caught up on. Follow up letters and emails home will also be sent to keep parents/carers informed. Support and monitoring is in place, and we appreciate the value of working with parents/carers to stay informed as to the reasons why a student would be missing college.
Kind Regards
Marian,
Principal
OFSTED Surveys - Important
Ofsted - Parent & Carer Survey
As communicated earlier this week, we have been notified that Ofsted will be inspecting the College on Tuesday 21st of March to Friday 24th of March.
I have emailed students directly to let them know about the Ofsted visit. Inspectors will be keen to find out about their experiences of studying at St Brendan’s and what they think about the College. There should be nothing for them to be concerned about in regards to next week and the inspection is focused on the education we provide for them as a staff body at the College. However, if your son, daughter or young person has any questions they can contact their Academic Mentor or a member of the Wellbeing Team, who will be very happy to chat things through.
It is huge privilege to have such amazing young people here at St Brendan’s and we are so proud of them and what they have, and are continuing, to achieve.
As part of the inspection, Ofsted would like to hear from parents and carers and we would therefore be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey here
The survey will close at 11am on 22nd March 2023.
Ofsted - Student Survey
As communicated earlier this week, we have been notified that Ofsted will be inspecting the College on Tuesday 21st of March to Friday 24th of March.
Inspectors will be easily identifiable by their Ofsted lanyards and will be visiting some classes and lots of different areas of the College, including Café Max and Café Min. They will want to speak with as many students as they can during their time at St Brendan’s, so please do enegage with them and share your views about the College and your experiences here.
As part of the inspection, Ofsted want to hear from you! We be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey here. Your views are important to Ofsted and will help the inspectors understand you experience as a student at St Brendan’s.
The survey will close at 11am on 22nd March 2023.
Supporting our community during Ramadan!
St Brendan's is looking forward to our students and staff being able to observe Ramadan – a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community for Muslims.
The quiet room B211E - is to help support times for prayer through Ramadan there is a booking form to prevent unnecessary queuing and waiting. Please use the form here to book a space between 12:10 -15:45 as an individual or a group of up to six students. Alternatively please enquire at the Chaplaincy office (B209). Space will be allocated with a maximum of six and there are separate Female and Male times available, please note that no-one should be eating and drinking in this room. Please ensure sure you book times that do not interrupt your timetabled lessons.
Each Friday starting on the 17th of March we will be opening C105 Sanctuary Space 12:10-13:00. The C105 RPE room, when free, will also be available for Quiet spiritual reflection and study. There are a range of reference books and materials available for your use. This room is not to be used as a social space and must be used quietly and respectfully
If there is anyway the college can help with sadaqah (offering good deeds and charitable donations) during Ramadan, please see Beth Wilson in the SU Office (Cafe Max) to discuss.
Easter Revision Sessions
We are delighted to announce our Easter Revision Sessions are taking place across a number of courses. Please click here to find out what sessions are running and when. Please speak with teachers directly to tell them you will be coming in so that we can place a register at reception.
Keep an eye out for the next two bulletins as more subjects will be added!
After College Revision sessions
Due to the success of last years' sessions, a number of courses will be running after college sessions throughout April - May. Further details of these sessions will be communicated in due course.
Non-Examination (Coursework) Appeals policy
For many Year 13 students (and Year 12 Criminologists) you will have completed pieces of non-examination work as part of your course, typically known as coursework. As per JCQ guidelines we must inform you of the process to review marks once they have been published should you wish to. It is very unusual for a student to do this as often, having spoken to their teacher, the marks awarded are understood. However, there is a process should you need it.
All of the details of the policy and process, including deadlines for marks release and review/appeal dates, can be found by clicking here!
Our new Sports Facility!
As you will have seen the grounds next to the main college campus are currently undergoing construction as we have been granted permission to build a new sports facility. Our vision is to offer the best facilities for our students, in order for them to be fit for the future, both physically and mentally. The new facility will revolutionise the physical learning experience and to inspire people of all abilities to follow an active and balanced pathway. Our new facilities will not only serve every student at St Brendan’s but will also provide much-needed accessible opportunities for our local community.
Our new facilities will include:
- Floodlit 3G pitch for football/rugby matches
- Floodlit 4 tennis courts, netball courts & basketball courts
- Pavilion – 2x FA standard changing rooms, briefing room, reception, kitchenette, storage and visitors’ toilet
- A U16 football grass pitch
- Practice pitch and Training grid
- Coach parking
- New vehicular exit onto Broomhill Road
We need your support!
The new sports facility will be a transformational project for St Brendan’s and will inspire the next generation of young women and men in the sport which is something we are so passionate about. We need your support to help us to raise the remaining £500,000 to make our vision a reality. You can choose to support us in various ways:
• Become a leadership donor (naming rights for the new sports building)
• Make a regular donation
• Make a single donation
• Share corporate contacts (who might be willing to support us with sponsorship or grant funding)
• Find out if your employer will support matched funding schemes
Visit our Just Giving page here or please feel to contact Marian (Principal) directly.
PREVENT
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be providing information and advice in relation to the Prevent Duty for our parents and carers. This is in response to the Government decision to make Bristol a priority area for Prevent.
What is the Prevent strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people being radicalised, or supporting terrorist or extremist causes and to provide support for those who may be at risk of being radicalised. For St. Brendan’s, this means we have a responsibility to protect our students from extremist, extreme or radical views in the same way as we protect them other harm like exploitation or violence.
At College, Prevent is a key part of our Safeguarding Policy and the support and care we provide for our students. It is also a key aspect of our curriculum and the personal development of our students, where we encourage healthy discussion, education on the British Values and the College’s core values. We aim for all of our students to be prepared to become active, positive citizens.
Some of the activities we undertake as part of Prevent are:
- Exploring other cultures and faiths through our RPE Programme
- Teaching the British Values in Tutorial and subjects like Politics, Law and Health and Social Care
- Developing thinking and discussion skills and helping students to have a positive sense of self and identity
- Promoting the spiritual, social, moral and cultural development of our students
- Student Union activities like Culture Day, Black History Month and Raise and Giving Week
Some of you may be very familiar with Prevent, others may be less sure and so we will be sharing key things all parents and carers should know over the coming weeks. For now, I’d like to direct you to the Educate Against Hate parent resource page. Educate Against Hate is a fantastic online resource for parents and carers, where you can find information on everything from online safety, to what the warnings signs of radicalisation are. We’d encourage all of our parents and carers to have a look at the site and bookmark it: Parents' Resources - Educate Against Hate
Finance Support for Uni applicants
Information for parents/ carers of Year 13 students
Student Finance
Student Finance helps cover the costs of tuition fees at university, as well as living costs. Full-time undergraduate 2023 to 2024 applications are now open, It's quick and easy to apply and students don’t need a confirmed place at a university.To find out more and apply, click here.
Disabled Students Allowance
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs students may have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability. This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance. The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income, and students don’t need to repay this money. For more information and to apply go to this website.
UCAS
Once students’ applications have been submitted, you can sign in anytime to track them and find out about the different offers they may receive and the dates to reply.
If students have used all five choices on their applications but are not holding any offers, they may be eligible to use EXTRA. Find out more.
If your young person has not yet applied to university to start in 2023-2024, its not too late! Applications can be submitted until 30 June 2023 when they will be entered into Clearing.
Students can contact the Careers Department ceiag@stbrn.ac.uk with any questions about university and the application process.
CAREERS
Careers News
Head over to the Careers News for lots of useful resources and opportunities: click here!
Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP)
Work Insights & Skills Week for students: 10th - 14th April
A volunteer-led charity, SMBP is a collaboration of 170 commercial organisations, professional services firms and professional sports teams working in towns and cities across the U.K. All are committed to supporting students from low income backgrounds in their pursuit of a career in business.
Applications open from January 2023
Opportunities for Students to gain skills & earn money!
The Woven Academy will provide you with a good understanding of the work environment, independence and self-confidence. An opportunity to explore career options and some money in your pocket to either spend or save.
- Click here to find out more information about the opprotunity!
- Find out more on The Woven Academy website here!
BAME History
Sebastián Toral
Sebastián Toral was one of the earliest black conquistadores in the New World. He helped the Spanish to conquer the southern Mexican state of Yucatán in the 1530s and 1540s. Toral was most likely born in Africa and came to the Spanish colonies as a slave.
Introducing Prom 2023!
We are pleased to announce you can now buy your Prom 2023 tickets! Prom will be taking place at the Bristol Harbour Hotel on the 10th of July from 8pm - 12am! Tickets are £34 per person as this includes entry to the venue and a fabulous 2-course meal!
Year 13's, you only have until 24th March to book your tickets and make prom happen!
Please fill out the permission slip here
and hand it to Beth in the SU Office (Cafe Max) by 24th March.
St Brendan's Debate Society
Last week, the Debate Society put forth the motion “This house would ban smoking and vaping.” The proposition, arguing in favour of the statement, emphasised the many negative health effects of smoking, the vastly unknown long-term effects of vaping, and the government’s responsibility to care for its people by abolishing harmful substances. The opposition combatted these arguments by putting forth the fact that a black market would unavoidably remain and perhaps make smoking/vaping even more dangerous, the perilously slippery slope of curbing individuals’ freedoms, the effect on the economy, and the benefits of vaping as an alternative to smoking. Overall, the proposition was voted to have the winning argument due to its more effective delivery. - Hazel Eastham, Media Officer.
The St Brendan's Debating Society meets at 11am on Fridays in D106. All are welcome!
TalkCampus
TalkCampus provides a safe and non-judgmental space for students to connect and support each other.
Download TalkCampus today to support other students worldwide through their academic journey
Oxford & Cambridge University Applications
We would like to support all students interested to apply to Oxford or Cambridge University. You might find some or all of these to be true of you:
- Achieved a mixture of 7, 8, 9s in your GCSEs.
- Gaining a solid set of A's in your A-level assessments.
- Ambitious to study at a highly competitive university.
- You are intellectually curious and like to read/think a lot about certain topics.
If you are interested in applying to Oxbridge but feel that you have not achieved your potential yet, both University of Oxford and University of Cambridge run Foundation years which are also excellent pathways to studying at Oxbridge.
Find out more below:
Oxford’s Foundation Year Programme
Please get in touch with Hetty Brown if you would like any more information: Hbr@stbrn.ac.uk
Save the Date: Culture Day!
Culture Day is taking place on the 26th April.
Save the date, plan your outfits and join in on the day!
Come into college dressed in something to do with your country and culture to celebrate the diversity of the St Brendan's community.
Petition for free transport for college students
Many of you have recently mentioned the difficulty that rising transport costs create for your students in attending college, especially once they reach 18 and in the context of current inflation.
NUS has now launched a campaign on this topic, called Move It, asking for free public transport for all students and apprentices, which we are supporting based on your feedback. Because transport arrangements for young people vary by local authority and transport type, they’re keeping the headline ask very simple at a national level.
There is a petition students can sign here to build momentum; please take 2 minutes to complete this and add your voice to the cause.
Chaplaincy
The Chapel is open every day for quiet reflection.
You can find Jennine Oldis in room B209, all faiths & no faiths are welcome!
If you would like to follow any of Chaplaincy's social media accounts - the links are below.
KEY CONTACTS
Marian Curran Principal
Steve Clayson Vice Principal (Curriculum, Quality & Innovation)
Alexandra Moruzzi Vice Principal (Student Experience & Progression)
Vicki Haigh Head of Pedagogy, Professional Development and Innovation
Phillip Berry Assistant Principal
Laura Howe-Haysom Head of Safeguarding & Support Services
Ross Stone Exam Officer
Sarah Hinder Finance Manager
Claire Woodhouse Attendance Officer
