24th March 2023
Welcome!
Dear Students, Parents/Carers,
We are approaching the end of a very busy term – only one week to go until a well-earned Easter Break. I wanted to say thank you to all of our students who spoke to our Ofsted Inspectors this week. The Inspectors could not speak highly enough of you as students. They noted the maturity that you show towards your studies, your honesty and also the respect that you show towards one another. It makes me proud to be a Principal of a college where there are students who are a joy to work with. You are all brilliant and thank you.
Just a reminder that the last day of term will be on Thursday 30th of March. I hope you have a lovely half term and that our Year 13’s manage to take breaks from their revision to enjoy some holiday fun.
Kind regards
Marian
Principal
Interested in Athletics?
The South West AoC schools competition is coming up soon and we are looking to enter a team of athletes into this year's events.
The competition will take place at SGS on the 10th May 2023
This year the events held will be:
- 100m
- Shot
- Long Jump
- 4 x 200m mixed relay
- 3000m
Anyone who is interested in taking part you can email Paul Ryan here or pop down to E3 to have a chat and sign up.
Last Day to book your Prom Tickets!
Year 13's, you only have until end of today 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 end of today!
Prom will be taking place at the Bristol Harbour Hotel on the 10th of July from 8pm - 12am! Tickets are £34 per person - this includes entry to the venue and a fabulous 2-course meal!
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 available 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 and 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 in the next two Bulletins as more subjects will be added!
After College Revision sessions
Following the success of last year's 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 Brand New Sports Facilities
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 new sports facilities. 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 facilities 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 students 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.
Careers News
Head over to the Careers News for lots of useful resources and opportunities: click here!
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 student's 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.
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
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.
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
The National Union of Students (NUS) has launched a campaign called Move It, asking for free public transport for all students and apprentices.
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
