Y12 & 13 EPQ Group Visit to UWE: Wednesday 9th December

Mrs Carrington is looking forward to taking all EPQ students (Year 12 & 13) to the University of the West of England tomorrow between 11am and 3pm.
A copy of the letter sent to all relevant parents last week, detailing the visit can be found by clicking on the following link:
EPQ visit to UWE

UCAS Deadline - 16th December

Final reminder that the deadline for UCAS applications at Marlwood School is Wednesday 16th December. Although UCAS will accept applications up to 15th January Marlwood staff will need time to review personal statements, tutor statements and subject testimonials. Y13 students can continue to arrange Wednesday afternoon appointments with either Miss Morgan or Ms Rosvear for application assistance, booking time slots through Mrs Jefferies in the 6th Form Office.

Star Wars Celebration Event


Weekly Events (7th - 11th Dec)


GCSE Certificate Celebration Assembly




We will have the pleasure of presenting GCSE certificates to current Year 12 students in assembly on Monday 7th December. Students worked extremely hard throughout years 10 and 11 and were rewarded with their GCSE exam results in August of this year. Year 12 students will have the opportunity to receive their certificates during the morning's assembly and take home to parents and carers. For those students who are no longer with us in the 6th Form, or unable to attend the assembly, they or they parents, with identification, may collect certificates from school reception.

Thornbury Rotary Club - Leadership Opportunities


Through our Premium Partner links with the Rotary Club, Thornbury we are pleased to promote the following opportunities to all our students. If you are interested in any of the following please can you contact the school for further information:

·        The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). Thornbury Rotary is able to sponsor up to two student places on this 5 day residential course that is held, annually in July, at a specialist leadership training facility in the Forest of Dean. RYLA offers young people a special opportunity to take part in a course aimed at developing qualities of leadership, team working, initiative and problem solving. Interviews for the 2016 course will take place early next year and entrants will be sought, as in previous years, from both the Castle and Marlwood Schools. There can be no doubt that attendees benefit substantially from the experience. While Castle School students were successful in being awarded places in 2013 and 2014 you should be aware that the only entries received in 2015 were from students who reside in the local area but who are not educated at either the Castle or Marlwood Schools. It is an opportunity not to be missed.

·        Young Musician Competitions. The Rotary Club of Thornbury has involvement in two local competitions. Firstly the Southern Cotswolds competition which invites  competitors who are able to perform at grade 6 level. The catchment area is geographically bounded by Thornbury in the south and Cheltenham in the north. Entrants for the 2016 competition are currently being sought and contact has been made with Alice Holmes of the Castle School who was playing the piano at the Premium Partners gathering. Secondly the Avon Young Musician Award held later in the year. This competition, which is geographically centred around Bristol, invites entrants from  Schools in greater Bristol and northern Somerset that have achieved grade 7 or 8. It welcomes both instrumental and vocal competitors.

·        Young Chef Competition. While the Rotary Young Chef competition not only requires the contestant to demonstrate strong knowledge of culinary skills and hygiene it also places demands on the contestants organisational and presentational ability. The local competition gathers contenders from schools in the north Bristol local area. The 2015 competition was held in November and I am pleased to report that the local winner, and sole entrant from the Thornbury area, was Keeva Holder from Marlwood School.

·        Young Photographer Competition. It is pleasing to report that this competition, which is currently being held, has attracted interest from both the Castle and Marlwood Schools. Submissions are to be received by 12th December with judging taking place by 31st December. The competition encourages competitors to experiment with both traditional and digital forms of photography in order to express their individual ideas and interpretation of the given subject. Significant cash prizes are awarded to successful entrants. Students from the Castle School performed well in the 2014 competition.

Successful contenders in each of the three competitions can progress via one or two further stages to the relevant Rotary national competition. Success at each level is viewed as a significant and one which provides evidence of positive and tangible achievement in competitive circumstances.

School Absence

If a 6th form student is absent from either Marlwood or Castle schools due to illness or any other issue it is very important that the schools' attendance officers are informed. Please contact the following:
Marlwood - 01454 862585
Castle - 01454 862150
Please also ensure that relevant subject staff are emailed directly so that they are aware of the reason for any absence.

Senior Citizen Christmas Afternoon Tea

We were extremely grateful to receive 36 important guests to our Senior Citizens Christmas Celebration on Tuesday 1st Dec, in the Post 16 Centre. Three different care homes joined 6th form ambassadors and Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students to share afternoon tea, a Christmas quiz, bingo, raffle and Christmas carol singing. It was a lovely event with everyone enjoying festivities and the opportunity to get together for a friendly chat, delicious food and entertainment.