YEAR 11, 24 October 2025 - Weekly  Bulletin #4

24th October 2025

 Dear Parents and Carers,

Year 11 Weekly Parent Bulletin no. 4

As we conclude Term 1, we want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate our Year 11 students. They have been outstanding role models across the school, consistently demonstrating our core Year 11 values of Perseverance, Presentation, and Punctuality. From students’ smart uniform to their determined approach in lessons and exam preparation sessions, we could not be prouder of students’ start to Year 11. They are setting the standard for what it means to be in Year 11 at Orchard School Bristol.

Year 11 Weekly WOWs!

A big congratulations to this week’s Year 11 WOW nominees! These students have been recognised by staff across the school for going above and beyond in demonstrating Perseverance, Presentation, and Punctuality. We are so proud of their efforts – keep up the fantastic work!

YEAR 11 PPE ROLE MODELS OF THE WEEK 

The Power of Prep

This term has seen an encouraging number of students attending Prep sessions after school, a vital part of our support for students in the run-up to GCSEs.

Prep offers targeted revision, quiet study space, and expert staff support. Attendance has been excellent – thank you – but we want to go even further. After half term, we expect to see every student who is invited to a Prep session making the most of this amazing opportunity. Prep is not optional; it’s one of the best ways to boost progress and confidence.

Excellent Attendance – Every Day Counts

Overall, Year 11 attendance has been stronger – and we thank families for ensuring students attend school on time, every day.

As GCSEs draw nearer, every lesson becomes more valuable. Missing a day means missing learning that may appear in a future exam. Please continue to prioritise attendance – particularly during mock exams and revision periods.

Upcoming Mock Exams – How to Prepare

Mock exams are coming up early next half term and they are a crucial checkpoint in your child’s journey to success.

Preparation is key:

Follow revision timetables

Attend Prep and intervention sessions

Attend the Year 11 Subject Consultation Evening on Thursday 6th November

Attend the Year 11 Parent and Student Revision Evening on Wednesday 12th November

Use revision materials and online platforms provided by subjects across the school

Practise past paper questions regularly

Get plenty of rest and manage time effectively

Mock results inform predicted grades and help teachers identify areas to focus on. The better students prepare, the more useful the mocks will be.

Year 11 Homework – Half Term Expectations

As we approach the half term break, we want to remind parents and carers that homework has been set by subject departments for all Year 11 students. This work is essential for reinforcing learning, preparing for upcoming assessments, and ensuring students stay on track as we move further into this crucial GCSE year.

Please encourage your child to use the half term productively by completing all assigned homework. Tasks may include revision activities, practice questions, coursework tasks, or preparation for mock exams. Completing this work to a high standard will support their progress and confidence moving forward.

Looking Ahead – Every Day Matters

Next half term is vital. We will be:

Completing mock exams

Reviewing performance

Setting targets ahead of the final GCSE period

Students must arrive each day ready to give their best. There is still time to make real progress – but every day counts now. Please encourage strong routines, good sleep, and positive habits over the half term break.

Post-16 Applications – Time to Act

The deadline for Post-16 applications is fast approaching. Students should be:

Researching courses and entry requirements

Attending open days or virtual events

Speaking to tutors and careers advisors

Drafting and submitting applications

Next half term is critical – many deadlines fall before Christmas. Students must check individual course deadlines and ensure they do not miss out on their next steps.

Key Dates and Events – Next Half Term

Please note the following key milestone events for Term 2:

Open Days:

Olympus Trust- Tuesday 4th November at Abbeywood, 17:30-19:30

Olympus Trust- Wednesday 5th November at Bradley Stoke, 17:30-19:00

St Mary Redcliffe 6th Form- Wednesday 5th November, 16:30-18:30

St Bede’s 6th Form- Thursday 6th November, 18:00-20:00

St Brendan’s 6th Form- Thursday 13th November, 17:00

Trinity Academy 6th Form- Thursday 6th November

Bristol Rovers Community Trust- Thursday 20th November, 19:00

SGS College- Saturday 22nd November, 10:00-13:00

Upcoming Application Deadlines:

North Bristol Post 16 Centre- Friday 5th December

St Mary Redcliffe 6th Form- Monday 8th December

V6- End of December 2025 (exact date TBC)

Trinity Academy 6th Form- Friday 9th January

Bristol Cathedral Choir School 6th Form- Friday 9th January

St Bede’s 6th Form- Tuesday 13th January

Year 11 Key Milestone Events:

Year 11 Subject Consultation Evening (Students & Parents)- Thursday 6th November. Please note that our online booking appointment portal opened on Friday 10th October for this crucial event and we strongly encourage your child to attend this vital evening with you to ensure we can work collaboratively to maximise their progress.

Year 11 Student and Parent Revision Evening- Wednesday 12th November

Year 11 Mock Exam Cycle 1- December 2025 – January 2026

Finally, thank you for your continued support this term. Working together, we are helping Year 11 take confident steps towards their futures.

We wish all our students and families a restful, safe, and well-deserved half term break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 4th November, ready to build on a strong start. Thank you also for ensuring that all of Year 11 students arrive on time with immaculate uniform for their first day back so that they can continue to be excellent role models for the rest of the school.

Yours sincerely,
The Year 11 Team

Miss Eddy Mr Hurran Miss Jones
Assistant Headteacher Head of Year 11 Year 11 Pastoral Manager

ieddy@orchard.tila.school phurran@orchard.tila.school bjones@orchard.tila.school