MARCH EDITION: VOL. 3
#LongRoadLife
LONG ROAD SIXTH FORM COLLEGE APPLICANT NEWSLETTER
SPRING INTO MARCH
Hello from Long Road!
It’s been another busy and exciting month here at Long Road Sixth Form College, and we’re delighted to share some of the highlights with you.
In this edition, you can read about our Long Road Scholars –Anouk, Harry and Holly - and looking back at our recent Ski Trip, where students enjoyed an unforgettable week on the slopes.
You’ll also find information from our Apprenticeship Information Evening, along with a look at how the college marked International Women’s Day, and other activities that have been happening at college.
We hope you enjoy catching up with everything that’s been going on.
Happy reading!
Long Road
ADMISSIONS UPDATE
SKI TRIP 2026
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2026
PARENT DISCOUNT FOR HALF TERM CAMP
MEET SCHOLARS ANOUK, HARRY & HOLLY
SAVE THE DATE: OPEN EVENINGS 2026
WE'RE HERE TO HELP
Our friendly Admissions Team are here to support and guide you through every stage of your Long Road application.
If you have any questions, please get in touch!
Julianna Sosnowska Director of Admissions
Michelle Butteriss Admissions Officer
01223 63 1125
admissions@longroad.ac.uk
ADMISSIONS TEAM UPDATE
ADVICE AND GUIDANCE MEETINGS
Our team have now met with so many of you! If you’ve not yet had your meeting don’t panic. Keep checking your emails regularly for your invitation to book a meeting. Our next sessions will be running throughout the first week of the Easter holidays.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
Even after you’ve completed your Advice and Guidance meeting, we need to regularly keep in touch with you throughout your application journey. Please check your contact details are complete and correct.
To check your details, log into your Admissions+ account and head to the Personal Details tab. From here you can check your details are complete and up-todate, or make any changes needed.
WELCOME DAY
Monday 29th June is our Welcome Day! Join us for a taste of your conditional offer subjects, and to learn more about life as a Long Road student.
Make sure you accept your conditional offer to hold your place with as and ensure that you receive an invitation to our Welcome Day!
DON’T MISS OUT!
Do make sure you regularly check your emails for updates from us. We’ll be in contact with important info over the coming months.
We can’t wait to meet you soon!
YOUR APPLICATION TIMELINE
Your application timeline will help you keep track of where you are in the admissions process and keep you informed of what happens next. Look for the arrow location to see where we are in the process!
OCTOBER 2025
Applications Open
SPRING & SUMMER 2026
Virtual Guidance Meetings & Conditional Offer
Discuss your options with an experienced member of staff. You'll receive a conditional offer via your Admissions+ account shortly after your meeting.
13 JANUARY 2026
Applications Close.
Applications made after the deadline may be placed on a waiting list
20 AUGUST 2026
GCSE Results Day
Good luck! We're keeping our fingers crossed for you
29 JUNE 2026
Welcome Day
Spend the day as a Long Road student; try out your subjects & get a taste of Long Road life. Auditions for Performing Arts subjects will also be held during Welcome Day.
3 SEPTEMBER 2026
New Student Orientation
Your first day on-campus as an official Long Road student!
25 - 27 AUGUST 2026
New Student Enrolment
Welcome to the Long Road family!
7 SEPTEMBER 2026
Start of Academic Year
2026/2027
Time to start your Long Road life!
SKI TRIP 2026
Both students and staff had a fantastic half-term spent on the slopes and we are looking forward to taking more students again next year.
Whether you're a skiing pro, or have never skied before, you are welcome to join us.
Click here to view all our photos from the week!
LONG ROAD SKI TRIP 2026
It was a fun-filled February halfterm for 40 of our students who have just returned from another fantastic Ski Trip to the wonderful ski resort Pila, situated in the Aosta valley Italy!
Students spent their days taking part in ski and snowboard lessons, available for all levels of ability, resulting in everyone improving their skills - especially our beginners who made outstanding progress up the mountain!
This year we were lucky to have the opportunity to stay in a ski-in, ski-out hotel which ensured maximum amount of time skiing and gave the students the real mountain experience being surrounded by snowy, mountainous scenery.
We then spent our evenings taking part in a variety of apre-ski activities, including Bowling, crepes, pizza night and we celebrated some of our own awards voted for by students. The highlight of our evenings was the visit to Aosta town, experiencing the local Italian culture and having some free time to do some shopping!
We celebrated our final day on the slopes by wearing fancy dress, which everyone embraced with hilarious costumes such as Batman, Crayons and Giraffes.
All the students were brilliant throughout the week, and not only developed new skills but all came away with new friendships with students who they had never met or spoken to before at college.
HISTORY WITH REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WIN!
Huge congratulations to our Netball Team, who this week made history by winning the AoC Sport Regional Tournament and securing their place at the National Championships for the very first time!
The team showed exceptional skill, teamwork and determination throughout the competition, dominating the group stage before October half-term, with wins against Bedford College (30–3), Colchester (14–9) and Oaklands (24–14).
Their outstanding form continued into the semi-final, where they overcame local rivals Hills Road 19–11 in a fiercely contested match — a particularly satisfying victory
that showcased their composure and confidence under pressure.
In a thrilling final, Long Road triumphed 18–15 over UPS, sealing our place as regional champions and writing a new chapter in the college’s sporting history.
This incredible achievement marks the first ever time the team has reached — let alone won — the regional final, and their success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and team spirit.
on to represent the region at the AoC Sport National Championships in April 2026.
Head Coach, Louise Spinale, put it best when she told the team "You all played so well, you maintained your composure and played lovely Netball throughout the tournament."
In relation to her role as her party spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, Pippa also met with Emily King and John Roche, both of whom were involved with the Stickerbook activity focused on sustainability. They were able to share their experiences of the project and their prizewinning visit to CCI at the David Attenborough Building earlier in the year. She also met with students with regard to campaigns to improve local bus services.
PIPPA HEYLINGS MP VISITS
POLITICS STUDENTS
On Friday 26 September we had the pleasure of hosting the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire, Pippa Heylings. Pippa visited the college to meet with A Level Government and Politics students. th
By way of introduction, Pippa spoke in detail about her career prior to Westminster, before taking a variety of questions from our students that included her views on taxing wealth to fund greater equality, why she was no longer a Green Party member, AI, and the proposed introduction of Digital ID for UK citizens.
Whilst discussing her election to Parliament, Pippa displayed her sash from the campaign
group Centenary Action, which has allocated her number 644 representing her place as the 644 woman to sit in the UK Parliament. The students also learned about Mission 2028, their aim to achieve a 50-50 equalgendered House of Commons. th
Such visits remain vital to ensure that our students grow in engagement with the political process and improve their own political literacy. Many thanks go to the students for engaging with the day, to Pippa for giving us some of her valuable time and Ginny Swepson from Pippa’s office, who helped to make the visit run smoothly.
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS
DAY 2026
th
On Friday 6 March we celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 at Long Road. We’ve been organising an event annually for the last 4 years for IWD with the aim to spread awareness, fundraise, and celebrate. This year we managed to raise £170.55 for Cambridge Women’s Aid
The stand for the college’s film magazine The Long Lens was bustling, and had a selection of stories curated from previous issues to showcase. From championing the women behind the camera, lauding the work of female actors, and simply shining a light on the uniquely feminine stories that are rare gems of the silver screen, there's something for everyone in this anthology of articles. Curious to see what it looked like? You can view it here!
Alongside these, we also had a graffiti wall that shared some shocking facts and statistics around women’s rights and issues whilst encouraging students to decorate and add messages about what made them feel positive about the future. Students also had the opportunity to design their own tote bag. We are in the process of using transfer paper to print these now, and students will soon be able to pick them up. Over in the Sports Centre our range of women only gym and sports sessions were also very popular!
A massive thank you to everyone involved, your donations will go towards a charity that provides a specialist service to women and children affected by domestic abuse in Cambridgeshire.
World Economic Forum data shows that at the current rate of progress it will still take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity. There's urgent work to do - and we can all play a part.
Click here to learn more.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: GORDON
Since leaving Long Road I have gained a BSc Medicinal Chemistry from ARU. Worked in the science industry for a number of years. Currently work for South Cambridgeshire District Council. Previous careers of nursing associate and trainee primary school teacher.
My favourite memories are of the friendships I made and how those friends supported me through difficult periods and made the good times memorable.
My passage to college was quite difficult. I originally started my A Levels in 1996. Things were going well until my mother became critically ill with cancer. The college gave
me so much support and care throughout this difficult period. I had to defer for a year until I returned in 1998. Eventually, I completed my A levels and continued with university. I feel thankful to the college, and they gave me the determination and drive to succeed with empathy and advocacy.
My advice to new students is be prepared to work hard and relish the learning. However, have lots of fun and make those long-lasting memories with people you will communicate and cherish for a lifetime.
LONG ROAD SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
MEET OUR CAREERS TEAM
We’re committed to helping you create your own progression plan and supporting you to achieve your goals.
2026 APPRENTICESHIP INFORMATION EVENING
On Tuesday 10th February 2026, during National Apprenticeships Week, we were pleased to host our annual Apprenticeship Information Evening at Long Road Sixth Form College. Nearly 700 students and parents attended.
Tariq Sadiq Careers & Employability Lead
Emma Greenhill Careers Assistant
Geordie Bailey Project Coordinator
careers@longroad.ac.uk
The event gave Long Road families clear, practical information to help them understand the range of apprenticeship opportunities available to students after Long Road. For many students, they represent an alternative to fulltime university study, earning a wage whilst learning new skills and gaining qualifications.
Throughout the evening, students and parents were able to speak directly with employers and training providers about roles,
career pathways, and their own journeys, and ask questions about their profession. Together, they represented sectors including finance, law, healthcare, construction, engineering, defence, media, the public sector, as well as higher education and apprenticeship training.
We are grateful to all the organisations who gave their time to attend, and to our staff and student volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly. As always, our priority is to ensure that every family has access to reliable information so that students can make well-informed decisions about their next steps.
FUTURE SOUNDS: MUSIC WORK EXPERIENCE AT VERTICAL ROOMS
Over the summer, a group of students from local schools and sixth forms took part in work experience at award-winning recording studio and record label Vertical Rooms. The students were immersed in the day-to-day reality of a professional recording studio. Across the week, they took part in songwriting sessions, collaborative jams, and the development of an original track, contributing ideas, lyrics, instrument parts, and creative direction.
With guidance from Pete Brazier and Ben Tobias-Browne, students recorded instruments and vocals, explored arrangement choices, and listened back critically to works in progress to discuss improvements and next steps.
Alongside the creative work, the students were introduced to the technical and practical side of the music industry. They learnt about studio equipment, recording software, and mixing desks.
Throughout the placement, there was a strong focus on understanding the wider music industry. The students discussed career pathways, education routes, and the dedication required to work professionally in music. By the end of their time at Vertical Rooms, many left feeling more confident in their ambitions, inspired by hands-on experience, and excited about future opportunities within the music industry.
THINKING ABOUT WORK EXPERIENCE?
Our Careers Team is always here to help you secure invaluable work experience opportunities that will really help you learn work-ready skills, boost your confidence, and build your CV.
We will show you how to find up-to-date information about the jobs market and give you the chance to practice your interview techniques with real employers.
D OF E STUDENTS TAKE ON THE RAPIDS!
Our Duke of Edinburgh students have been rapidly progressing with all aspects of their Gold Award (Physical, Skills, Volunteering, Expedition and Residential). These activities have included: horse riding, surfing, cooking, sailing, archery, learning to play instruments, and working with community groups and youth sports teams, across the UK and beyond. They are aiming to achieve their DofE Gold Awards before they leave Long Road in the hopes of all being able to go to Buckingham Palace for their celebration event together.
This year for their expedition our cohort unanimously voted for canoeing, largely to avoid having to carry heavy rucksacksalthough they’ve since discovered how heavy canoes loaded with barrels of clothes, food and
camping equipment can be! This involved training in Cambridge where they practised capsizing and righting the boats and a stunning weekend camping in the Norfolk Broads battling very strong winds and sunburn. Finally, for the qualifier our crew spent 4 days expeditioning along the Riven Severn, travelling 119 kms and deploying over half a million paddle strokes between them*, including through the Jackfield Rapids at Ironbridge. Miraculously only one participant got tipped out!
After 10 days of canoeing this Summer, I think it fair to say this year’s Gold DofE participants are well on their way to becoming expert canoeists!
All students at Long Road have the opportunity to sign up for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Scheme – you do not need to have completed Bronze or Silver Awards to take part!
If you’re interested in signing-up or finding out more, contact our D of E Coordinator, Kelcy, at kdavenport@longroad.ac.uk
MEET SCHOLAR STUDENT,
ANOUK
My favourite thing about Long Road is probably the freedom –no more uniform, study and free periods, being treated more like an adult – it's a lot less like secondary and a lot more like university, which is great because not only do I find that more enjoyable, it also helps me to prepare for what university will be like. I love my subjects and the teachers are all wonderful – I've learnt so much already, and they are very encouraging. Making mistakes here and there is nothing to be afraid of; it's much more important to just try without the fear of getting the answer wrong because that's how you learn! Everyone is so friendly, and you'll love it here if you choose to come here post GCSEs. So yeah, I love my subjects (choose subjects you love!), the freedom and everything honestly!
If you're considering Long Road, absolutely apply if you feel it's right for you! I am really enjoying my time here so far and have met so many lovely people. It's a pretty big school compared to my secondary, and I was quite daunted, especially as I didn't know anyone else at first, but it's been wonderful, and I've made lots of friends. So, even if you're a little nervous about it – don't be afraid to take the leap. Besides the worst case scenario, you end up going to somewhere that's right for you anyway. There's no downside! Go for it, it's a bit of extra motivation and a great opportunity! You can put it on your CV and there's nothing to lose in applying, so why not? Don't doubt yourself, keep up the good work and just give it a shot!
ANOUK
Secondary School: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School Year 1 Student
Studying:
Biology A Level
Chemistry A Level
Maths A Level
Photography A Level
Click here to apply for the Long Road Scholars Award today!
Secondary School:
Swavesey Village College
Year 1 Student
Studying:
Biology A Level
Business A Level
Psychology A Level
Progression Goal:
Apprenticeship in IT / Software Development
Click here to apply for the Long Road Scholars Award today!
MEET SCHOLAR STUDENT, HARRY
I chose to study at Long Road as I liked the idea of a larger college where I had more independence than my previous secondary school while still being able to ask for help and assistance from teachers. I like the size of the college as it lets you interact with new people and helps you get used to a busy, fast-moving environment which I wasn’t exposed to beforehand.
I chose to apply for the Scholars award as I want to be involved in shaping the Long Road community in a positive way and encouraging others to follow with this. I also feel it will help me to develop skills that are beneficial to me and would help my CV stand out to potential universities and employers.
The teachers at Long Road are excellent at being there to give help you may need without being at all overbearing. The college also gives you room for a great work-life balance ensuring you still have time for hobbies and interests outside of college.
I would say one of my favourite things about Long Road college life is the amount of people and the overall feeling of the students who go to Long Road. It's easy to make new friends, and you can still easily keep older friendships from secondary school.
MEET SCHOLAR STUDENT,
HOLLY
I chose to study at Long Road after attending my brother’s photography exhibition on campus. I was really entranced by the atmosphere; the students and staff were incredibly friendly, and I liked the independence the college itself had. This made me want to be part of the community, so I put it as my first choice in Year 11!
I highly encourage Year 11s to come to Long Road because the support you receive as a student is incredible. The teachers constantly remind you that their door is always open, and they’re always happy to help if you need it. I struggled with motivation in secondary school, but at Long Road I feel inspired to work hard –not just for myself, but for my teachers, who believe I can achieve much more than I think.
My favourite thing about being a Long Road student is how supportive the teachers are. In secondary school, the focus was on your final grades, which was a little demotivating at times because of the pressure. But in Long Road, the focus is on you doing your personal best, and that has made a huge difference in my confidence. I know that if I need any help or resources, my teachers will be happy to provide it to me. I also love the idea of Plus Time and the Friday Quizzes – They really get good practice in for exam-style questions and have contributed so much to my academic progress.
HOLLY
Secondary School: The Netherhall School Year 1
Click here to apply for the Long Road Scholars Award today!
