20.06.2025
TERM 6 VALUE:
Truth
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
I am writing to update you on some important changes to the College Calendar that affect our Year 12 students.
Changes to Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th June:
The College will now be open on both days (originally planned as remote learning days). However, a number of teaching staff may choose to take part in proposed industrial action on these dates. While this will not affect all lessons, we do expect some disruption to the timetable. Students have been asked to check in directly with their teachers to confirm whether their scheduled lessons will go ahead. Any staff not participating in the industrial action will continue to deliver their lessons and support sessions as normal.
Changes to Monday 30th June and Tuesday 1st July:
These days will now be remote learning days for Year 12 students, and students will not be expected to attend College in person. This change has been made so we can move our Year 11 Taster Days to the 30th June and 1st July, helping us manage some of the logistical challenges we’re currently facing. We understand this is a change from the original plan and we really appreciate your flexibility and support.
Thank you for your patience and support during this time of change. We are committed to balancing the needs of students with those of our staff, and will continue to keep communication clear and timely.
As always, our priority remains the wellbeing and success of every student, and we will do everything we can to support their learning and development through this period.
With best wishes,
Marian Curran
Principal
CHAPLAINCY
The Chapel is open every day for quiet reflection.
You can find the Chaplaincy team in room B209, all faiths & no faiths are welcome!
There are lots of enrichment activities that you can get involved in via the Chaplaincy, click the button below to find out more.
Thought of the Week:
"John the Baptist boldly spoke the truth, even when it cost him everything. Remembering his feast day this week, reflect on how you can be a voice for truth in a world that sometimes prefers silence. What truth needs to be spoken in your life?"
KEY DATES
Thursday 26th June - LRC closed 8:00-14:30 due to exams
Friday 27th June - LRC closed 8:00-16:00 due to exams
Monday 30th June - Remote Learning Day & Prom
Tuesday 1st July - Remote Learning Day
Wednesday 2nd July - Year 12 Future Progression Day
Thursday 3rd July - Youth Talks (17:00-19:30)
Friday 4th July - Last day of Term 6
Wednesday 3rd September - Induction day for ATL3 & Year 12
Thursday 4th September - First day of Term 1 (Year 13 students first day back)
EVENTS
LRC closed for exams - 26th & 27th June
The LRC will be closed on these dates due to assessments taking place:
- Thursday 26th June - 8:00 to 14:30
- Friday 27th June - 8:00 to 16:00
You can use study spaces in B6 and B101.
There will be a book return box outside of the LRC.
Student IDs can be obtained in Reception.
Print credit needs to be purchased on the College Store
Year 12 Future Progression Day - Wednesday 2nd July
Forget your usual timetable – Wednesday 2nd July is all about YOU and your future!
We’ve planned an exciting Future Progression Day packed with inspiring, interactive sessions designed to help you shape your next steps – whether that’s university, an apprenticeship, a gap year or just figuring things out!
🎯 What’s happening?
- No lessons all day – instead, choose TWO awesome sessions (or a third if you're keen!) that spark your interest.
- Chat to current uni students in Café Max during break – get the real talk on life after St Brendan’s.
- Expect a day that’s fun, friendly and full of future-focused inspo.
🚀 Book your sessions NOW!
You can pick any sessions you like – mix and match however suits you. Just make sure you book by midnight on Sunday 22nd June!
🎓 General Talks:
- Gap Year Goals – How to take a year out without wiping out your wallet 🌍✈️
- Degree Apprenticeships 101 – Get paid. Get qualified. Get ahead.
- Uni Ready with Gloucestershire Uni – From choosing a course to budgeting like a pro.
- Uni Myths Busted (UWE) – We spill the tea on what uni life is really like ☕
- Student Life & Degree Apprenticeships (UWE) – The inside scoop on finances, lifestyle & success.
- Personal Statement Masterclass (Uni of South Wales) – Get ahead with a killer UCAS statement 💪
🎨 University of South Wales – Hands-on Lectures:
- Operating Department Practice – Get practical with intubation & ultrasound
- Public Services – Teamwork + leadership challenges
- Nursing & Midwifery – Explore different fields + try out a real nursing procedure (don’t worry, it’s not gross!)
- Creative Arts – Discover therapeutic arts & design your own mindful journal 🎨🧠
- Psychology – Dive into mental health perspectives and treatments
- Biology + Dinosaurs – Learn how ancient creatures help explain today’s climate crisis! 🦖🌍
Youth Talks - Thursday 3rd July
Please come along and support our wonderful students who are taking part.
This is a FREE EVENT - taking place in our Theatre (Thursday 3rd July, 17:00-19:30)
Having undertaken oracy training through the Bristol Education Partnership, our students are now ready to deliver their Youth Talks.
The range of topics that they will be exploring is awesome:
- Ethics in the tech industry
- The fault in refining literature to aesthetic or trope to make it more popular
- The misrepresentation of Henry VIII’s wives by Henrician propaganda and modern culture
- The future of organ transplants and how technology could help relieve the waiting lists
- The development of cancer drugs and how they are changing with new technology
- The future of sustainable travel and reparations that need to be made to the current climate
- The unspoken and harmful side effects of vaping
- Feminism: Its history and importance in today’s modern society
- Encouraging young people into policy making
POLICIES
📢 Update to information included in Unreported Absence Notification Emails 📢
We have updated the information included in the Unreported Absence Notification Emails. The email will now include the overall attendance for the subject, the total number of lessons attended (year to date), the total number of lesson that have taken place (year to date) and the date the lesson was last attended.
We have made these changes to help provide more information to Parents/Guardians when these emails are sent. If you would like to provide feedback on the Unreported Absence Notification Emails please email attendance@stbrn.ac.uk.
🖨️ Print Credit 🖨️
Print Credit is no longer available to purchase in the LRC.
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.
📦 Lost Property Notice 📦
All lost property items found in College are displayed outside Café Max during the last week of term. Items are safely stored at Reception and can be collected at any time.
If you believe a valuable item has been misplaced and possibly handed in, please speak to Reception. All valuable items are recorded in our Lost and Found Log Book.
Please note any unclaimed cash will be donated to CAFOD. Unclaimed valuable items will be passed to the Police, who will manage them in accordance with their own lost property policy.
📱 Using social media and examinations/assessments 📱
JCQ have shared the following information for students:
While we like to share our experiences online, when it comes to exams and other assessments, we have to be careful.
- Sharing ideas online can be helpful when you’re studying or revising.
- However, sharing certain information (see information on the right) can break the rules and could affect your results.
- If you’re not sure what you can and can’t discuss online, check with your teacher.
- If you receive exam content on social media, you must tell your teacher.
- Don’t be caught out by scammers selling fake exam papers.
❗️ Reminder: Lanyard Policy ❗️
As mentioned in previous bulletins, our new lanyard policy is now in effect. All students are expected to wear their lanyards at all times while on site. This helps us to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone. If a student forgets or loses their lanyard, they must go to Reception to get a temporary one for the day, after that, students will be charged. Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep the College a safe and welcoming place for all.
🏫 Keeping our community safe 🏫
We would like to remind all students that only enrolled students of St Brendan’s are permitted on the College premises. Bringing friends or anyone who is not a student of St Brendan’s onto the site is strictly prohibited. By doing so, you compromise the safety of our College community, which we take very seriously.
Please be aware that if you are found to have brought an unauthorised individual onto College grounds, this will result in an immediate suspension. We encourage all students to respect this rule and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone at St Brendan’s.
SUPPORT
📕 Recommended reading for budding health care professionals and vets 📕
Our LRC co-ordinator has created a recommended reading list for budding health care professionals and vets.
All the books in the list are available to borrow from the LRC.
🤗 Coping with exam pressure 🤗
We would like to share the following resource with students to help ease exam stress.
📝 Revision & study support 📝
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.
🖥 16-19 Student Bursary 🖥
A reminder to all students about the 16-19 Student Bursary. More information can be found on our website (link below).
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.
CAREERS
Careers News
Head over to the Careers News page for lots of useful resources and opportunities.
Intern Role: Performing Arts Intern Assistant at Bristol Grammar School
This is a one year fixed term post starting from September 2025, suitable for students just finishing Sixth Form, and are keen to work for a year after their studies maybe before heading to University.
The closing date for applications is 25th June 2025.
The Parents' Guide to University 2025
The new UniTasterDays Parents’ Guide to University 2025 is now available – packed with expert advice to help parents and carers support students with their university decisions.
Voices of Experience
Tuesday 1st July 14:00-17:00
The University of Bath are hosting an event for young people to voice their ideas on how to improve the system to help them stay in or get into education, training or employment.
Webinar: Finished Year 13 and want to find an apprenticeship?
Monday 7th July at 15:30
Not sure what you’re doing next, or may want to change your mind. Join this webinar to find out about what to do right now to start finding an apprenticeship. You haven’t left it too late!
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.
KEY CONTACTS
Marian Curran Principal
Alexandra Moruzzi Vice Principal (Student Experience & Progression)
David Beesley Vice Principal (Curriculum Quality & Innovation)
Vicki Haigh Head of Pedagogy, Professional Development and Innovation
Shane Blackshaw Executive Finance Director
Laura Howe-Haysom Head of Safeguarding & Support Services
Ross Stone Exam Officer
Sarah Hinder Finance Manager
Claire Woodhouse Attendance Officer
