Y13: replying to UCAS offers

There is no rush to accept UCAS offers; students have until May to accept them.

I will be running a detailed assembly on Mon 23^rd February on types of offers, conditions, how and when to accept. Students should not reply to offers before this date. Please make sure they are in school for this assembly.

Please get in touch if you have any questions about UCAS.

There will be a webinar on Student Finance for families at the start of next month.

National Apprenticeship Week

9-15 February

National Apprenticeship Week is coming up on Monday 9 February 2026. This the time when many businesses launch their apprenticeship offers and run many information and support sessions. Apprenticeships can be tricky to research and apply for, as each one needs a separate, tailored application and they all have different deadlines.

We strongly recommend the Unifrog Apprenticeship Fair on Wednesday 11 February – student and families can meet over 30 employers, attend live sessions and get application tips HERE.

Any students considering an apprenticeship route should sign up for alerts from NAW and take a look at all the different events. Sign up and research HERE.

The NAW website also includes Industry Hubs, careers advice, on-demand webinars, competitions and more: https://nationalapprenticeshipweek.co.uk/.

Royal Free Hospital Medics Programme

Applications for March placements have now closed, but we can still accept applications for placements later in the year. Please read the criteria carefully before applying!

Our partnership with the Royal Free continues this year and we are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our aspiring medics. The Royal Free offer high quality, bespoke clinical work experience to LaSWAP medical school applicants. This forms part of our Aspiring Medics programme, alongside support from Imperial College, London in March and UCAT workshops in the summer.

The Royal Free are offering:

A two day bespoke clinical work experience in oncology or respiratory
Dates in March, June or July
Support with personal statements and interview prep with current medical students and junior doctors

To take part, you must:

Be 17 at the time of the placement (we will try to arrange an extra session in September for August birthdays, so do sign up at this stage)
Be planning to apply for medicine at university
Be studying to least one of chemistry or biology A Levels
Be aiming for and likely to achieve at least AAB

Apply here: Royal Free work experience 2026 - expression of interest – Fill in form

Other opportunities for sixth form students

Super-curricular and work experience opportunities really pick up during this half term. There are lots of options for students to take part in workshops, competitions and events, and summer school applications begin to open. As well as this newsletter, we recommend students sign up to mailing lists from individual businesses and universities and also keep an eye on UCAS Events and Uni Taster Days:

https://www.unitasterdays.com/

https://www.ucas.com/ucas-events

Please see this fortnight’s LaSWAP Newsletter for even more opportunities. Newsletters are emailed to families or can be found at https://www.laswap.camden.sch.uk/Parents/Newsletters/.

Please check your Spam and mark all emails from LaSWAP, Acland Burghley or Bromcom as Safe/Priority!

Clifford Chance Law virtual work experience
Thursday 19 February 10am-3pm

This one-day virtual programme is designed to help ambitious students develop key legal skills, learn from leading solicitors, and understand the different pathways into the legal profession. Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CChance_Feb26.

University of Southampton online sessions

Wednesday 18 February 4.40pm: Studying a Law degree
Wednesday 18 March 4.30pm: Studying a Psychology degree

Creative Dimension workshops:

All free. Apply here: https://www.thecreativedimension.org/workshops/

Metalwork
Enamelling
Butchery Masterclass with Fortnum & Mason
Special effects makeup for film & TV
Jewellery making
Stone carving
Contour fashion

National Apprenticeship Week webinars and events:

Sutton Trust Summer School
Applications are now open

Sutton Trust run the largest summer school scheme in the UK, offering placements at prestigious institutions such as Cambridge, Sheffield, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Durham, the Royal Veterinary College, Imperial College, UCL and Warwick, plus others. You can choose from in-person and online workshops, masterclasses and residentials (subject-depending), and all ST summer schools also include support with university applications. ST summer schools are open to all students who attend a state school in the UK. Browse courses, sign up for alerts and find out more HERE.

Laura Pearcey (Stanley)
Associate Director of LaSWAP/Pathways and Progress Leader
lpearcey@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk