Year 13! Join our Alumni so we can keep in touch with you and your classmates after you’ve moved on to new adventures.

Week 7 - Key Student Messages

Please read through the following key messages for Week 7: 

A message from Mrs Clare

The 6th Form is busy making plans for our 6th Form Open Evening on Wed 21st Oct. Many thanks to those of you who have already registered your support and have signed up. Please make sure that you let us know if you are coming by filling in the relevant google form below:

School Officers

Subject Rep

Y12 &Y13 further support

Please see the overall ‘week at a glance’ above for when we are having meetings. This week is a crucial week in our planning so please make sure you attend the relevant meeting time. This is the most important evening in the school calendar for the 6th Form and the success of the Open Evening depends on you. We love to show off to the public how wonderful you are as a group of students so please come and support if you can.  

Mr Wilder’s Quote of the Week

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou, American writer, poet and civil rights activist. 

6th Form Open Evening: Wednesday 21st Oct 4.45-7.45pm.

Thank you all so much for your support so far, the preparation plans continue as follows: 

School Officers: to meet Wednesday 14th October 12.30pm in W116. This is a checkpoint meeting to discuss progress so far and any help needed.  

Subject Reps: Monday 19th P3 in the Foyer to prepare display boards (more time slots to be confirmed). Please ensure you have spoken to your subject teacher about plans for the evening if you haven't done so already. 

Messages for all Students: 

Y12/Y13 Absences- ongoing 

If you are absent your parent should ring the attendance hotline to notify the school: 01635 576372. If you have any particular issues or concerns please email attendanceofficer@stbarts.co.uk. Please arrange doctor and dentist appointments outside of lessons as far as possible so as not to miss out on valuable teaching.

Y12/Y13 Punctuality & Attendance- ongoing

Attendance is the greatest indicator of A-level success. Please ensure you attend all your lessons, tutor times and enrichment sessions. AM tutor time starts at 8:30am. Friday P5s will be issued for frequent tutor absences or lateness. Get in on time and start your day positively. If you have any major logistical issues with this please do inform your tutor. 

Important Lanyard Reminders

All Sixth Form students MUST sign in and out of the building using their photo ID lanyard for fire regulation purposes.

If you arrive at school without your photo ID, you will need to sign in at reception to pick up a temporary lanyard and enter your PIN at the panel instead of swiping your card.

If you fail to return/lose the temporary lanyard, you will be charged £5.00 to cover the cost of replacement.

If you lose your photo ID lanyard, please report this to sixthform@stbarts.co.uk and purchase a new one via the ParentPay shop on the school website here. The charge for a replacement is £5.00.

Arbor Maintenance- new

Arbor will be unavailable on:

• Tuesday 13 October, 8pm to 11pm

• Saturday 17 October, 10am to 1pm.

Please ensure you have downloaded any assignment related work before the maintenance period if you plan to complete work during it.

Y12/Y13 16-19 Bursary- ongoing 

Please check if you are eligible for our Sixth Form Bursary on the website: 16-19 Bursary St Bart's School The Bursary is there to offer financial support for educational purposes such as equipment, trips and books. If you have any questions with this please email Mrs Clare directly: sclare@stbarts.co.uk  Y13 please renew your bursary: please see email from Mrs Clare. 

Y12/Y13 Eligible for Free School Meals?

Please note that from 1 September, any family receiving Universal Credit is now eligible to apply for Free School Meals. We encourage anyone who may benefit to submit an application. The process is quick and can be completed online through the West Berkshire Council website here. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do get in touch with the West Berks Free School Meals team on freeschoolmeals@westberks.gov.uk.

Y12/Y13 Upcoming trip reminders to sign-up:

Y12 Bruges Music – deadline 13th October (if a Y13 wishes to be added to this trip, please email finance@stbarts.co.uk)

Y12 PE Bath Uni – deadline 18th Oct

Y12 German Exchange - deadline 18th Oct

Y12 Graphics / Photography Oxford - deadline 18th Oct

Y13 Drama Watermill – deadline 1st Nov

Y12/Y13 Sixth Form Games/Sixth Form Cup - Wednesday P5 

See table below. 

Student Voice/Student Leadership- new

 A reminder that on Wednesday 14th October its the E/P round of House Reps meetings.  Please check your emails for the organisation.

A reminder that on the 12th, 13th and 15th October we have the first round of Student Council meetings and the Head Students are supporting Miss Ostinelli with these.

GreenFest Volunteers needed!

On Saturday 24th October, St Barts is hosting GreenFest, a free community festival all about sustainable living. Over 1,000 people from around West Berkshire will be coming, and we are one of the partners helping to run it.

Visitors can try a pedal-powered smoothie bike, watch cooking demonstrations, join a repair workshop or visible mending session, plant seeds, and get advice on everything from cutting energy bills to wildlife protection. Local people will also be on hand to chat about electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar panels and simple home improvements like draught-proofing.

We need student volunteers to help visitors find their way around, point people to the right stalls and activities, and make everyone feel welcome. It will be a lot like the school open days. You will have time to look around the festival yourself.

The antidote to global despair is local action, and attending this event and seeing all the amazing things going on in your local community will  

Please fill out this Google Form if you can help out – thank you!

A few new moans 1st week

Y12/13 Reception

Please do not enter or exit the building via reception. Use the 6th Form entrance at the side of the building. Reception is a busy place and is only used by deliveries, staff, parents and those who have an appointment. Please do not use it as a walk way. 

Y12/13 Robinson Rooms

As per the messages on the briefing, please be aware that the Robinson Rooms are now only to be used by staff. Expect to be moved on if you go in there.  We have W213, the breakout spaces on each floor in the departments and the library for silent work. We have the balcony area and the Common Room too if you don’t mind some background noise

Y12/Y13 W213- Use of the silent study space. 

Many thanks for keeping this as a silent study space and well done to those of you who are using this space well. Please do not eat in this space or use your phone. 

Y12/Y13 The Curnock top floor Art table- 3rd week

This is a quiet working space for students who have lessons on the top floor of Curnock (Art, Film, Graphics, Media, Photography) – we welcome and encourage you to use it during the day in order to get things done!  Please remember that it’s not a social space for crowds to gather, especially during Activity Time when other groups have tutor sessions – other spaces are available for eating and lunchtime chat.  It’s also not a place where you are allowed to use your phone – if you do, you should expect to be challenged, and potentially moved on. Thanks very much! Mr Evans

Y12/Y13 Joggers- 2nd week

Joggers with elastic, gathered bottoms are not permitted. Please save these for the sports field!

Y12/Y13 Clubs & Societies

Please follow this link for a full list of Sixth Form Clubs & Societies 26-27.

Engineering Club:  Wednesday AT in E011

Run by Physics reps for aspiring engineers. Come and find out about how to apply, the ESAT and also have a go at completing fun Engineering problems, puzzles and challenges.

Aimed at Y12 but Y13 welcome.

Y12/13 Senior Debating Society Update- 2nd week

A great turnout again last week for the Senior Debating Society. This week’s motion is: This house believes the monarchy should be abolished in the United Kingdom. All students welcome to come along and get involved or watch the debates. Every Thursday 3:15pm in W111. Please speak to President of the Debating Society, Ben Symes (20BSymes@stbarts.co.uk) if you have any questions. Alternatively you can speak with Mr Langton, Mr Wilder & Mr Castel.

Y12/13 Mock Trial

Mock Trial is an as accurate as possible recreation of a magistrates court and case using real legislation and court proceedings. Another brilliant opportunity to get involved. Please sign up your interest here: Mock Trial Expression of Interest Form. Any questions please speak with Louise McLuckie (21LMcLuckie@stbarts.co.uk).

NEW Faith Clubs- 3rd week

For the first time in the 560-year history of our school, there will now be a greater emphasis and representation of the different faiths in our society. 

If you want to learn more about your faith, make new friends and spend some fun time together, please come along to the following lunchtime clubs starting this week in W111. 

Monday  -  Christianity 

Tuesday - Islam

Wednesday - Sanātana Dharma (Hinduism)

We look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Tylee: RTylee@stbarts.co.uk

Y12/13 Pride Club- ongoing

C215 Friday lunchtimes.

Y12/13 House Music Competition

It’s finally upon us- House Music Competition week! All-day rehearsals will take place on Wednesday 14th October and the competition itself will start at 6.30pm on Thursday 15th October.  Best of luck everyone!

Y12/13 CLAY & CO Clay Club- 2nd week

Want to get creative with clay? Join Cáit from Clay & Co for 7 weeks of making, experimenting and learning new pottery skills. Each week you’ll explore a different clay technique: from pinching and coiling to slab building, sculpting, carving and glazing (and learn what some of those terms mean if you don’t already know)! Suitable for beginners, you’ll make something each week, learn from Cáit and each other and have chances to share and teach the techniques you’ve discovered.

By the end, you’ll have your own collection of clay pieces to show off at our Clay Club Exhibition, as well as new skills and the confidence to share what you know. Mondays 3:15 - 4:45/5pm • For Years 8–13 • November 2 - December 14th

Black History Month Multimedia Competition- 2nd week

As part of our school’s celebration of Black History Month, the Diversity and Campaigns team are inviting you to do something creative inspired by this year’s theme - ‘Honouring Our Communities’. This is a multimedia competition, meaning any entry type is welcome! For example, you could write a short story or poem, make a short film, create a piece of artwork, or compose a piece of music. To submit your entry, please upload it to this Google Form by the 22nd October. Good luck!

‘Poetry on the Fridge Door’ competition!

To celebrate the recent National Poetry Day, please have a look at our Canva competition ‘Poetry on the Fridge Door’ created by Mrs Hewetson and Mr Clayton.

You can access Canva using your school credentials / email address. There will be sweets as prizes for the best poems- deadline to enter is next Friday 16th October. https://canva.link/gf130jm8ekhyx96

Good luck and be creative!

Messages specifically for Y12 (or skip to Y13 messages here)

Y12 Orange Lanyards

We now have more orange lanyards back in stock. If you were issued with a pink lanyard at the beginning of the year, please come and swap this for an orange one. 

12 Message from ICT: WiFi Temporary Code- final reminder

This will no longer be available from Monday 12th October. Please use your personalised WIFI code which would have been emailed at the start of the year. 

Y12 Update from the Library- ongoing

We have so many resources you can use which are specifically for the Sixth Form. Please come along and ask Mrs Hewetson,

research is one of her favourite things!

We also have ongoing volunteering opportunities in the library which you can talk about on your personal statement / CV, from helping with Manga Club on Wednesdays at activity time (starting this week), to doing useful regular tasks in the library which can happen any day of the working week. Please let me know if you can help by filling in this google form. 

St Bart’s Library is here to help you- please come in to talk to us if you have any questions, or email library@stbarts.co.uk

Messages specifically for Y13

Y13 Black Lanyards

If you did not collect your new black lanyard this week from your tutor, please bring your original orange lanyard back to W134 and we will issue a black one. 

Y13 Car Park Permits

Sixth Form students are able to park their vehicles in the Sixth Form Car Park at Wormestall if they display a permit in their car. If you wish to use the Sixth Form Car Park, please follow the link here to submit a permit application.

Please note: 

• Parking is limited to 30 spaces for the whole of the Sixth Form.

• Applications within 30 minutes walking distance of school will not be approved.

• On street parking is possible in the surrounding area whilst being respectful of residential neighbours. 

• Sixth Form students are NOT permitted to park in the school main car park.

• Students are encouraged to walk, cycle, use public transport, or lift share where possible. 

Y13 Early Entrants- Final Review Appointments! 

Please follow this link to check your appointment time and come to the sixth form common room for your final review meeting ahead of submitting your applications. 

Y13 LNAT- 4th week

LNAT support group is running at Wednesday activity time in D110. Anyone thinking of taking the LNAT should attend. Please contact Mr Cameron.

Y13 Careers Drop ins- Ongoing

Mrs Garrety is usually in her office (P033) during period 4 and 5 on a Friday if you want to drop in. 

Y13 House Captains- EP

Sport, Arts and Charity - please check your email from Miss Ostinelli and be ready for the first round of House reps meetings. 

Don’t forget about our wider reading initiative- Five to Thrive- where you get rewarded for reading, whether it is for your A level subjects or reading for pleasure. Collect one of our Five to Thrive cards in the Library and when you have read/listened to five things (fiction or non-fiction books, newspaper articles, JSTOR articles/ journals, NEA research, even a Podcast eg PoliTips), get them signed off by a teacher or the Librarians. Then put them in the box on the Library desk and be in with a chance of winning some Amazon gift cards! 

We also wanted to remind you about the research resources available to you through RMUnify and in the Library- apart from all the fiction and non fiction books we have. Here is a brief guide about what is available at your fingertips and login details where necessary. Please remember to use your school login credentials where possible when accessing these resources/databases to ensure full access, even when working at home. 

Need help with tech? There are some very helpful student videos on RMUnify - click on this tile:

The Purple Press - first issue

More information here: MASSOLIT video essay competition