19th May 2023
Welcome!
Dear Students, Parents/Carers,
We hope this week has gone well for all our students.
This week we have been celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week. On Thursday 18th our students and staff wore green to raise awareness of this year’s theme which is based around anxiety. There was a selection Krispy Kreme donuts on sale that were very popular amongst students and raised funds for Young Minds, as well as our wellbeing space based in our College Chapel. Many of our students have participated in different activities, especially those who are now completing their final examinations.
Friday 26th May will be final teaching day for our Year 13 students. We will be holding a goodbye assembly in our Theatre on Friday at 2:30pm. We wanted our students to know that teaching staff will still be available to anyone who need that any last minute support. Students can continue to use college facilities, for example the Learning Resource Centre and other study areas. However, we would like to stress that students should not be coming into College just to socialise with friends.
Could we ask students who have external exams, to make sure that they bring the correct equipment with them. Your teachers will have informed you of what will be required for the different papers that you are sitting. Students also need to ensure that they are wearing their lanyards at all times.
For our Year 12 parents, you should receive an update on your daughter/son's progress on Pro-portal on Friday 26th of May, this is preparation for our Progress Review Day on Thursday 8th of June.
Best wishes
Marian
Principal
Year 13 Student & Parent: End of Year Surveys
Year 13s are approaching the end of their journey here at St Brendan's and we would love to hear how your time here has been. Please could you take a few minutes to complete the Year 13 End of Student Year Survey
We would also be hugely grateful if parents and carers of Year 13 students could complete the Year 13 End of Year Parent Survey
Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s focus is ‘anxiety’. Many of us experience anxiety and with the upcoming exams, our students may be feeling and showing signs of being under pressure and nervous. It can impact sleep patterns, appetite, feeling overwhelmed and on edge.
- Parents/carers can find some useful information that could be used to support your young person during exam season here
Reading is a form of self-care!
The LRC would like to remind you that reading improves memory, reduces stress, helps build self-esteem, and allows an individual to develop or improve skills.
In aid of Mental Health Awareness Week, the LRC will be displaying some books to encourage mental health awareness and self-care. The link to our reading list, which includes links to Young Minds, is here
To log in, please enter your staff or student number, remember there is no password!
CAREERS
Future Progression Day 2023
Invitation to Future Progression Day! We are excited to let you know that we will be running our annual Future Progression Day 23 for our Year 12s on the 4th of July 2023. The event aims to provide young people with insights about different industries and to help them with relevant skills to succeed in their future plans.
Parents/cares: If you think you could help run one or more workshops during this day we would love to hear from you, please fill in our registration link. You will find out more details on the form.
Replying to your UCAS Offers - Deadline!
It's almost time to reply to offers made by universities at UCAS! Students can check their application to see their personal deadline.
If students receive their last decision on or before 18 May 2023, their reply date is 8 June 2023 (except if using Extra to find a place).
If students receive their last decision on or before 12 July 2023, their reply date is 17 July 2023 (including Extra choices).
More details can be found here
Careers News
Head over to the Careers News for lots of useful resources and opportunities: click here
This house believes ...
On Friday the Debate Society completed a debate on the motion ‘This house believes that we should ban the manufacturing of new clothes’. The Proposition, arguing in agreement, put forward the inherent flaws in clothes manufacturing, highlighting that over 350,000 tonnes of clothes are thrown into landfill each year, as well as the terrible conditions many workers have to face to make our clothes. They highlighted the huge environmental cost, the fashion industry being responsible for 10% of global emissions annually, more than airplanes and shipping combined.
The opposition rebutted these arguments by explaining how clothes add to our personal identity, and are a big part of many cultures, and that without them many people would lose a part of their self-identity. Overall, although very few members actually wanted to ban the manufacturing of clothes, the Debate Society determined the proposition argument to be the winning side. Charis Taylor, Motions Officer
Skills Booster with Tutor2U
We are delighted to share with all students, but in particular those about to embark on exam season, this great free resource from Tutor2U.
From the features of an effective revision environment to the science of how we learn, you'll find everything you need in this self-paced course to make your revision effective.
Apply here for Skills Booster course.
Students are also reminded of our very own Exam Toolkit area of the website, full of resources created by our Academic Coaches and Progress to Success team that you can use to help you get the most from your revision. These can be found by clicking here
Y12 Progress Review
The Progress Review event for our Year 12 students will be held on Thursday 8th June from 3pm to 8pm. The purpose of this event is to allow Year 12 Parents/Carers to talk with subject teachers and academic mentors to discuss how your young person is progressing at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College.
The booking system is open. Details on how to book your appointments can be found here
Unfortunately some teachers will be unavailable for this event and a list of those teachers can be found here
This is an ONLINE EVENT only on the published date. Teachers are not required to write reports in lieu of meetings. If you are unable to attend this event and you wish for an update on your young person's progress you can contact, in the first instance, their Academic Mentor (by phone or email). They will be able to discuss this with teachers and provide an update for you.
Ahead of the meetings, and at any time, you can see current attendance and recent assessment marks in Pro-Portal. To access this, please follow these instructions
If you have any issues with accessing Pro-Portal please contact our eLearning team at elearning_systems_support@stbrn.ac.uk
Should you have any queries or need assistance with the booking system, then please email progressreview@stbrn.ac.uk
Take us with you!
Calling all Year 13s - We have a growing Alumni community on our FutureFirst channel and LinkedIn profile which we would love for you to join.
Our Alumni Network allows you to:
- Keep in the loop with classmates and teachers
- Network with others
- Opens you to a range of career opportunities
- Mentor current St Brendan's students
- Keep up to date on what companies we are working with and what activities and events are currently taking place at the College.
It also means we get to follow you on your unique journey and learn the amazing things you will go on to accomplish. Join us on FutureFirst and LinkedIn today!
Welfare support
Many of our students receive welfare support here at college and we have a number of students on the waiting list. Students are able to access up to 6 welfare sessions and we also strongly encourage our students to see their GP and seek a referral to specialist mental health services wherever possible. Students will be informed when they are coming to the end of their 6 sessions, as we seek to offer students on our waiting list an appointment.
We will continue to offer drop-in sessions at morning break, Monday-Friday with Sian Blatchly and Sarah Oliver, our Welfare Officers. Students can access support by speaking to their Academic Mentor in C5 or Student Welfare and Engagement Assistants who are based in B25. We do offer a re-referral process for students who wish to engage and feel they would benefit from further sessions.
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
Chaplaincy
The Chapel is open every day for quiet reflection.
You can find Lydia (the College Chaplain) and the Chaplaincy team 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
