Y13 UCAS key dates

UCAS will be far from new to Y13, but we are now in key decision time for most of our students as they finalise their statements and choose their courses.

If students need help with UCAS, their first port of call should be their tutor. Their tutor can give feedback on personal statements, discuss university choices and give overall support with the UCAS application process. If a student is still unsure or struggling after meeting with their tutor, they should contact me on lpearcey@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Tutors need time to effectively check applications, look at statements and write high quality, bespoke references. Please help them to do this by ensuring your child’s UCAS application is complete and submitted to the school as soon as possible.

A reminder of some key UCAS deadlines and what they mean

Friday 5 December: LaSWAP UCAS deadline

All applications should be completed, paid and submitted by this date. this is to allow tutors enough time to check applications and add their references before sending them to UCAS.

Wednesday 15 January 2026: UCAS equal consideration deadline

All applications entered by this date must be considered by the university. All applications that meet the 5 December deadline are guaranteed to be checked and sent by us in time to meet this deadline. We may not have time to thoroughly check over applications submitted after 5 December.

Friday 26 February 2026: UCAS Extra opens

If a student has no offers or has changed their mind, they can choose another course via Extra

When can I expect to get offers form universities?

Many universities make offers as soon as they get the application. They are much less busy before Christmas, so the earlier the application goes in, the earlier you can expect to see offers. The exception to this is very competitive universities such as UCL, King’s, Durham and Edinburgh; they get so many applications, it usually takes them longer to make their offers.

If you get all of your offers by 31 March, you must reply to them by 6 May or you will automatically lose them.

Y13 students on non-uni pathways

If your child is not planning to go to university, we have lots of support available via tutors, me and Glen.

Appointments

Students can make an appointment with me or Glen at Acland Burghley.

Ms Pearcey: gap years, deferrals, apprenticeships, uncertain about pathways lpearcey@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Glen Thomson: apprenticeships & work gthomson@aclandburghley.camden.sch.uk

Ms Tait at La Sainte Union: Career and Pathways Support sessions for all LaSWAP students.

Hilary is very experienced in a huge range of university, work, apprenticeship and other types of advice. Her sessions are bookable after school every Monday and Tuesday, so are extremely accessible to all Y12 and Y13 students. Please use the QR code to book.

https://calendly.com/htait-1/opportunity-centre-career-guidance?month=2025-11

Y12 Open Evening Ambassadors

It is LaSWAP Open Evening on Thursday 27 November and we are looking for 6^th Form Ambassadors to help us with this important recruitment event!

What do Tour Guide Ambassadors do at Open Evening?

Show people around and direct the 3000+ visitors around the schools.
Have general conversations about LaSWAP with visitors.
Talk about your experience at LaSWAP.
Help with other relevant tasks on the night.

You should consider becoming an Ambassador to:

Support your sixth form
Add valuable experience to your UCAS application
Gain valuable work experience to add to your CV
Develop your communication and team working skills
Make new friends
Receive a complimentary LaSWAP t-shirt
food and snacks are provided

What we expect from our ambassadors:

Professionalism
Friendliness
Desire to communicate and engage with visitors
Reliability

How to become a Tour Guide Ambassador

Be available from 3pm-7.30pm on Thursday 27 November.
Attend one of the two training sessions being held at 3.30pm in the PHS/WES 6th Form building:

o Tuesday 11th Nov at 3.30pm

o Tuesday 18th Nov at 3.30pm

Complete THIS FORM by Tuesday 12 November

Email Ms Russell with any questions about being an ambassador: rrussell@parliamenthill.camden.sch.uk.

Upcoming LaSWAP family webinars

Please mark these dates in your diary; links will be provided after half term.

Preparing to apply to Oxbridge
Wednesday 3 December at 6pm

This webinar will cover what Oxbridge colleges expect from their applicants and how to prepare; acceptance rates to different courses, super curricular preparation, personal statements, application timelines and more, plus a Q&A.

Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science for Y12 students and families
Wednesday 10 December at 6pm

Considering applying for medical, dental or vet school? This webinar will outline required subjects, other entry requirements, work experience expectations and how to use the next few months of Y12 to get application ready. There will be time for Q&A at the end.

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!

Kings Cross K+ Programme open Monday 10 November:

K+ is King's College London's flagship widening participation programme for students from non-selective state schools or colleges. The two-year programme organises students into 8 pathways based on their subject interests with the aim of helping students to make informed choices about their post-18 options and to offer academic, career and application support.

The pathways are Business, Arts & Humanities, Social Science, Law, Life Science & Medicine, Dentistry, Maths & Engineering and Psychology & Neuroscience.

The programme is not just for students who are sure they want to go to university, but also for students who have the potential to do so and want to have a taste of what university might be like.

As well as offering application and subject support, K+ can give students a two grade reduced offer for King’s and a £1000 grant. We strongly encourage Y12 students to apply!

More information here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/social-mobility/projects/prospective-students/k-plus.

UCL Target Law, closes 28 November

The Target Law Mentoring Scheme is a programme that runs across school Y12 and Y13 for students aspirating to enter a top law school. Target Law will support you with the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to make a successful application to law school, including LNAT, statements and 121 mentoring, plus ‘meet a lawyer’ events and visit to UCL. Apply HERE: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/about-us/ucls-inclusive-law-school/target-law.

Girton College, University of Cambridge, Humanities Writing competition, open now

This is an opportunity for students to research and write beyond the curriculum, using one or more of five selected objects from the Lawrence Room museum objects, as their focus. Essays or creative responses (such as dramatic monologues, short stories or poems) are equally welcome. It is open to UK students in Y12 who have an interest in the Humanities. The deadline to submit entries is 20 March 2025. More information: https://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/humanities-writing-competition

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