27th May 2022
Welcome!
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
As we approach the end of term, I wanted to say a huge thank you to all our students for all their hard work and dedication this term. A huge well done to our student union for organising Culture Day yesterday, it was a great way to end off the term by having an event that brought our college community together by celebrating the diversity of cultures which we have here at St Brendan’s; it was fantastic to see so many different traditional styles of clothing and of course the vibrancy of different flags.
For our Year 13 students, we are sad to see you go. My assembly on Friday will have highlighted what an amazing and unique year group you are. We all know that your two years at St Brendan’s have not been straightforward, however, you have shown true resilience and also a determination that leaves me and I am sure other colleagues feeling very humbled. Due to the diversity of your two-year experience, I am sure that you will be able to any curveball that comes your way in the future and I am sure also celebrate the simple things in life that give things meaning. As you leave, we dedicated our St Brendan’s prayer to you as you continue your magnificent journeys. You are simply fantastic and will be missed. I know that many of you will already have expressed your appreciation for your academic mentors and teachers, this will mean the world to them.
Finally, we do have some revision sessions available during the half term and our learning resource center will also be open during this time.
Wishing you and your families a lovely jubilee half term.
Kind regards
Marian Curran
Principal
Year 12
When we return to college after the half term break on Monday 6th June, we will be reminding all students to wear their lanyard when they are at college. This is a reset of our expectations for our current year 12s so that wearing a lanyard becomes as normal as having your mobile phone with you! Senior staff will be on meet and greet at various points of the college day to check students are complying with this mandatory part of their uniform. We have had incidences of non-students coming onto our campus and this is a very important part of our safeguarding duty for students, staff and visitors.
Similarly, we work in partnership with our neighbours and local businesses to ensure students are representing themselves and the college in a positive way and are keeping themselves safe. We work closely with neighbours and businesses and the police to tackle any incidences of anti-social behaviour.
Access to emails and the College for Y13:
We will be in touch with our Year 13 students about results day on Thursday 18th of August. Many of you will know that the UCAS track will open at 8.30 am on results day. Staff will be available in College to offer careers and progression-related advice and guidance as well as pastoral and wellbeing support. We will be sending you more information on this day next term.
Our Year 13 students will still be able to access their emails after today. This is especially important if you do need any career or pastoral support. I know that some of you will still want to use either the learning resource centre for revision or you may want to speak to your tutor. Please note that coming into College will only be for these purposes and not to socialise with friends.
Grade Boost Sessions
For students taking exams over the next few weeks, we are pleased to introduce 'Grade Boost' sessions for selected subjects in addition to the usual Wave 2/3 support and in-class revision. The Grade Boost timetable will be regularly updated and re-sent each week. Your teachers are also advertising in class on MS Teams.
Please CLICK HERE to see the latest version of the Grade Boost offer.
Exam Information
The Exams Team have collated a range of information for those taking exams this summer - links are below:
Student, Parent, Carer Summer Exam Letter
Student Portal Exam Timetable Instructions
JCQ Info For Candidates - written exams
Summer exams - some useful resources
These are short articles that provide practical advice and support.
Guide to coping with exam pressure produced with Professor David Putwain, a researcher (and a former school and college teacher) at Liverpool John Moores University
Autumn 2022 Examinations
For clarification for our Year 13 students and parents/carers, there are no planned Autumn 2022 exams sitting for A levels. Previous exam sittings in 2020 and 2021 were an exception as a result of Centre Assessed and Teacher Assessed Grades.
Exam invigilators needed!
We are seeking some additional invigilators for our examinations, if you would like to be involved can you please contact HR@stbrn.ac.uk and Alison in the Exams office for further information.
Culture Day
Yesterday, we celebrated Culture Day where students came to college wearing something that represents their nationality; such as flags, clothing, or football tops. We were blown away during the lunchtime catwalk by the beautiful outfits the students showcased representing different nationalities we house at St Brendan's.
It was such an amazing way to end the term and we cannot thank the Student Union enough for organising such a vibrant and fun day for us all.
BAME History
Strive Masiyiwa
Britain's first black billionaire was born in the townships near what was then Salisbury, Rhodesia — now Harare, Zimbabwe. The family house did not have a phone. Few Zimbabweans did back in the Sixties — most had never even heard one ring. Fast forward only a couple of generations and today almost all Africans have mobile phones, many with a web connection. The reason? “We’ve spent $3.5 billion plumbing the continent with fibre-optic cable from the Cape to Cairo, using picks and shovels,” Masiyiwa says. The Econet Global founder fought the Mugabe regime to build Zimbabwe’s first mobile phone network. You can read more about him in this interview with the Sunday Times.
Leaving St Brendan's? Take us with you!
Sign up to our alumni Future First to:
• Volunteering opportunities to enhance your CV
• Showcase your personal development
• Stay in touch with former students and teachers
• Be invited back to school events
• Grow your network
Scan the QR code to sign up or via the link here!
LRC Half Term Opening Times
Opening times:
- Monday (May 30th): 9:30 – 15:00
- Tuesday (May 31st): 9:30 – 15:00
The LRC will remain closed for the rest of the week.
Please be reminded that you are still required to wear your student ID cards when you come into the LRC for safeguarding purposes.
Please also note that neither of the Cafes will be open and that food is not allowed in the LRC.
Important Message
As the end of year approaches, we kindly ask all students who still have overdue library books or temporary ID cards to return them as soon as possible to the LRC. Email reminders have been sent.
Thank you,
Your LRC Team
ATL3 - Summer Term Key Dates
Friday 1st July 2022 - The official end date for all applied courses
Wednesday 22nd June - Future Progression Day
Monday 27th June - Level 3 New Student Day
Monday 4th to Friday 8th July - Work Experience
11th to 15th July - Transition Week
Progress Review for Y12
Thursday 9th June from 3pm – 8pm.
Booking system is now open!
The purpose of this event is to allow you to talk with subject teachers and academic mentors to discuss how your young person is progressing.
How will appointments run?
Following exceptionally positive feedback from parents/carers about these meetings being online and the flexibility this brings, we will be continuing with the virtual meeting system for this event.
All appointments with subject teachers and academic mentors will take place via a Teams video call, with the teacher / academic mentor contacting you through your young person’s student email account (teacher / academic mentor will contact you at the time of your appointment(s)). PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR YOUNG PERSON IS LOGGED INTO TEAMS PRIOR TO THE START OF YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME.
To read more about the event and book your appointment , click here!
Y12 Future Progression Day
Future Progression Day 22nd June 10 to 2.30
Our plans for Future Progression Day on 22nd June are well under way and we have a huge range of workshops in place which will be delivered by external providers.
This is a compulsory event for all year 12 and ATL3 students, attendance will be monitored.
Students are expected to sign up for one activity ( workshop, mock interview or talk) of their choice in each of the three sessions. One of these sessions could be a Mock Interview
Click here to see a huge range of workshops available!
However some of them may only be running once or twice so please check this and plan your bookings accordingly.
We hope you will find the day informative and inspirational !
Careers News:
Future Progression Day! Save the date! Cabinet Office Youth Day Careers Insight Week with Wessex Water The Royal Town Planning Institute Work Experience Production Work Experience with Insane Root Theatre. A Midsummer Night's Dream! BNSSG NHS: Nursing and Healthcare Careers Royal Opera House apprenticeship programme Associate Project Manager Apprentice University Experience! Power & State with Dr. Matt Williams University of Cambridge Foundation Year International Law Firm Undergraduate Bursary Programme And much more! Explore now! |
Chaplaincy
Chapel is open every day for quiet reflection during exam period.
You can find our College Chaplain Ann Morgan in room B209, all faiths & no faiths welcome!
If you would like to follow any of the Chaplaincy 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
Kerry Mullinder Head of Learning Development & Safeguarding
Laura Howe-Haysom Head of Support Services
Alison Rayner Exam Officer
Sarah Hinder Finance Manager
Claire Woodhouse Attendance Officer
