THE EXTRA MILE LONG ROAD NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2026 Welcome to Long Road PAGES 1 - 8
FRESHERS FAIR PAGE 9
My Experience As a Level 2 Student PAGES 10 - 11
Student Council PAGE 12
University - FAQs With Chloe Jack PAGES 13 - 15
Enrichment & Events PAGES 16- 20
Extras
PAGES 21 - 26
Welcome to Long Road 📖 The Newsletter 📖
Whether you are new to Long Road or are returning from your glorious summer break, you will all likely be pondering “What is The Extra Mile newsletter”? For the past 3 years, the Student Services department has been creating a newsletter with the aim of proactively helping students. Over time, it has organically transformed into something more, and as such we have decided to rebrand. The Extra Mile will still contain information that is helpful to students, but we will also be working alongside our Enrichment Co-Ordinator Charlotte to bring you a plethora of content that will enhance your experiences both in and out of college. The Extra Mile newsletter is co-created by students and Connor in Student Services. If you would like to get involved, email castran@longroad.ac.uk.
Student Services Our friendly team are here to help you during your time at Long Road. You can find u at Reception and the help desk in the Student Centre, or email us at us help@longroad.ac.uk. Some of the things we can support you with include: Lockers Absences Basic IT support Wi-Fi Changing contact details Booking rooms Enrichment and clubs ... and more!
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Booking Progress Coach meetings Directions and signposting Student ID and Lanyards Events Timetables Attendance letters Password resetting
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Progress Coaches
👨💼
As you find your feet here at Long Road, your Progress Coach will always be here to keep a close eye on how you’re getting on. They will have regular Progress Review meetings with you to help you stay on track and give you the support you need. You will have a weekly 45 minute tutorial with them covering topics such as: Job and university applications Writing a CV Society and philosophy Politics and voting
Additional Learning Support
👩🏫
Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Maybe you’re struggling with your workload? Don’t worry, Long Road has you covered. Our wonderful Additional Learning Support team will work alongside you to make sure you can achieve to your highest potential. Offering 1 to 1 support with quiet work areas, our team specialise in helping students with a variety of needs. Find more information at https://www.longroad.ac.uk/page/? title=Additional+Learning+Support&pid=56.
If you feel you need help with managing your time, meeting deadlines, planning an assignment, or anything similar, you can book a 1-2-1 with one of our Learning Support Assistants at a time and day that suit you. Scan the QR code or use the below link. https://outlook.office.com/book/BookLSASupport@ longroad.ac.uk/
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🧠 Safeguarding & Wellbeing 🧠 One of our priorities during your time at Long Road is your safety and wellbeing. We have an amazing Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team including Eve, Tapiwa and Jenna, who you can find in the lower C corridor next to Additional Learning Support. They are here to listen and help you with whatever you are going through. The work they do includes supporting students if there are safeguarding concerns, they offer daily wellbeing 1-2-1 support sessions which students can selfbook, and they also run Wellbeing Wednesdays sessions with a range of organisations throughout the year, previously including Centre 33, Kite Trust, Everyone Health, and Therapy Dog Jasper during exam time. They are registered C-Card providers for free condoms, and you can pick up free sexual health screening kits freely available. We also have Health Assured, which is the wellbeing provider that Long Road has partnered with. This is available 24/7, 365 days a year via the phone, website, or app. You can speak to a trained counsellor for a one-off conversation or access 6 free counselling sessions via telephone or video. Students can access this service for free using the code on the poster on the following page.
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Finance
👩💻
Our finance department are based in the Student C Centre and are always happy to help you with with whatever queries you might have. Whether you need help with paying for a trip, bursaries, travel, books, ParentPay, free college meals, or anything else, nothing is too much trouble. If they are busy or you are not in college, you can always email them at finance@longroad.ac.uk.
Careers
🔧
The careers team are based in the LRC, and are committed to helping you explore and discover the best career path for you. They run a number of events throughout the year, including: Careers fair Degree apprenticeship workshops Marketing challenges CV clinics University drop-ins VR sessions They also post work and career opportunities regularly on CareersSpace. If you would like personalised advice you can book a 1-2-1 meeting with qualified careers adviser via https://outlook.office365.com/book/ CareersGuidance@longroad.ac.uk/.
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The Extra Mile
🏀
College life is about more than just studying—it’s your chance to meet new people and try new things. Long Road The Extra Mile offers a wide range of student-led clubs and activities to help you build skills, boost confidence, and have fun. Your wellbeing matters, so take a break and get involved in something you enjoy! Long Road - The Extra Mile really goes a step further with our Youth Social Action programme. Last year our students helped secure funding for another year of the £1 Tiger Pass, working with Mayor Paul Bristow and other members of the local authority. This has positively impacted around 60,000 young people in Cambridge and Peterborough who have a Tiger Buss Pass. Have an idea for a club you'd love to see at college? We'd love to hear it! Whether it's based around a hobby, sport, creative activity, academic interest, or something completely unique, this form is the first step towards bringing your idea to life. You don't need to have every detail planned—we'll work with you to develop your idea, find a staff supervisor if needed, and help you recruit members. Please complete the form below and we'll be in touch as soon as possible. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/4P0RByHuf3
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👩💻 Study Areas 👩💻 The Breakout The Breakout is relatively new to Long Road. It was finished in November 2023, and is one of the most modern study spaces available. This communal work area has USB chargers, booths, printers, and a laptop locker. Location: K Block
Noise levels: Low
Student Centre The Student Centre is one of the most popular areas of the college for studying. With enough seating for close to 100 students, this is a great place to come and work on team projects, and is perfect for those who like a bit of background noise whilst they are working. Location: E Block Noise levels: Medium
Additional Learning Support Additional Learning Support is designed to help students who may be facing additional challenges. They have a number of work spaces available, including low-sensory rooms, with 121 help from a learning support assistant available. Location: C Block
Noise levels: Low
Plus Time Sessions Plus Time Sessions are organised by teachers for their specific course subjects on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 14:40 - 16:10. Speak to your teacher for more info and get 121 help. Location: Various
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Noise levels: Low
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The LRC The LRC has recently been renovated and with a new layout and new furniture. USB and USB-C charging ports are available, and you can borrow a laptop with your ID at the desk. There is also a separate study area, a computer room, printers, and of course lots of reading materials. Location: B Block
Noise levels: Silent
📚 Also Available in the LRC 📚
It seems obvious to point out, but there are a great many books available to borrow from the LRC. From Shirley Jackson’s hopelessly bleak The Haunting of Hill House to Matt Haig’s life-affirming The Midnight Library, as well as lots of textbooks and reference works, you have a world of literature at your fingertips. You can have a look in person or click here to search the catalogue online.
There is also a big selection of films available to borrow, some of which I’m sure will be helpful for your courses, and some of which I’m sure will be purely for entertainment purposes. A couple of cool picks I found included Hidden Figures, a biographical drama about 3 AfricanAmerican mathematicians who worked at NASA during the 50's and 60's, probably my second favourite Christopher Nolan film Interstellar, a film that I believeNis part of the French A Level course, La Haine, and of course plenty more. If you have any questions, you can always speak to our friendly LRC Manager Karen at the front desk.
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My Experience As a Level 2 Student
By Jenna Bourhani Over the past year, I have been retaking Maths GCSE at Long Road as a result of not having enough subjects passed to qualify for Level 3. Alongside this, I am also taking Media Level 2 which is an entirely coursework-based course. Although it meant that I needed to do an extra year at Long Road before doing the subjects I wanted, I think that my extra year retaking has worked wonders for me in other ways that most people would not imagine.
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First of all, doing an additional year has given me extra time to focus on passions of mine outside of academia that I never would have imagined to sign up for had I been doing my initial A Levels. I couldn’t have done the newsletter writing that I did, which allowed me to learn more about article writing (I usually write fictional stories or other things) and I would like to give a massive thanks to Connor, who created the entire Newsletter Saga, and who is also very sweet and friendly, as I have been allowed to express my creativity, despite the fact I never did English at college, and he gave me more confidence in my non-fiction writing abilities and my ideas! I have also had the time to be a student ambassador activities with Charlotte Smith which I never would have otherwise pursued. I got to use my voice to raise awareness and speak out for other students that don’t feel comfortable doing the same. It has allowed me to become more confident, and I have also made friends that way.
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Another good thing about doing an extra year at Long Road, is how I found myself settling in easier than I would have if I just went straight into my two years. I found myself talking more openly about my experience than I otherwise would have if I didn’t have the chance to reflect on the past year. My mental health would not be as good if I had to jump straight into my A Levels, because it would be like opening a Pandora’s Box of chaotic mania all at once. I have helped people who were new to the college (on the Open Days) and I have shared my positive experience with Long Road’s academic support (to a potential future Long Road Student.) Because of the fact that I have gained an extra year of insight at Long Road and I have had more time to think about my social life, I have made more friends than I have at any other point in my life. Previously, it was hard for me, but at the welcoming environment that is Long Road Sixth Form College, I believe it is possible to become a good communicator and a social person, even if I started off awkwardly... I hope I am no longer as awkward as a result of learning how to grow into myself, as I also find my mindset keeps on changing for the better! I would now consider Long Road Sixth Form College my second home! And this is coming from somebody who was petrified to come that first year. I love it, and I also love the welcoming staff and how all the students from d
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different walks of life come together, as a team, on days like Culture Day which again, I’d never seen anything like this before as an enrichment opportunity. So I would advise anyone who is doing a bonus year at Long Road to not despair: I am one of the eldest in my year, and it doesn’t feel that way with each day that passes with my peers and friends at Long! College just feels like fun for me on most days and the safeguarding and wellbeing team will help you with any moments where life just gets too tough! Another great thing about adhering to a retake year is that you will get a lovely long Summer holiday! Overall, however disappointed and ashamed I was initially with my GCSE results at first, the year I spent at Long Road has me stood corrected, because my ultimate first year was the year I met amazing people and had a time so good, I would not go back to my GCSE days to change the outcome. It’s funny how things work out in ways you don’t always expect them to.
If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present. Roy T. Bennett
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The Student Council is a group of elected students who represent the views, ideas, and experiences of the wider student body. The council works alongside staff, senior leaders, and governors to ensure that student voice is at the heart of college decision-making. Student Council members work together to identify areas for improvement, organise activities and campaigns, and create positive change across the college community. The Student Council exists to: Represent student voice. Bring student views to the Senior Leadership Team and Governors. Gather student opinions through surveys, listening campaigns, and focus groups. Help create a positive and inclusive learning environment. Organise events, fundraisers, awareness campaigns, and activities. If you are interested in joining student council, please scan the QR code and complete the following form to register your interest. You will then be contacted about an information session where you can find out more. Additionally, if you have any comment, concerns, or suggestions for the current student council, please use our digital suggestion box to leave any thoughts. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/xdPbwtYPgX
University: FAQs with Chloe Jack During the summer break, I sat down with UCAS Co-Ordinator Chloe Jack to talk everything university. We hope that this article will be helpful for both year 1 and year 2 students who are thinking about this pathway, whether you’re deadset or still undecided.
How do I decide if university is right for me? There are a lot of different things to take into account, university will not be the right choice for everyone. There are many pros and cons, and it’s a very personal decision. In the 2026 UCAS webinar we did (linked on the page 13) we go over the reasons which might persuade or disuade someone from going to university. It’s also worth exploring other options, such as degree apprenticeships, apprenticeships, jobs, etc. You can speak to your progress coach or book a 1-2-1 session with the careers team via the link below for advice. https://outlook.office365.com/book/ CareersGuidance@longroad.ac.uk/
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How do I decide what I want to study? Lots of education providers use UniFrog.org, and one of the reasons we use it is because students can use it to explore university options and support their applications. All students will have access to this whilst they’re at Long Road and up to 3 years after leaving college, as long as they change their email address to their personal one. Unifrog can be really helpful for doing that research, they have some great resources around specific subject areas, so the Read Watch and Listen section has videos and tasks for the related area they’d like to study. It helps give them an idea of if the subject they would like to study is right for them.
How do I decide which university to go to? Unifrog has a search function for UK and international universities, and students can research universities and courses based on their grades. You can also create lists, so an aspirational list, a safelist, fallback options. There’s also university open days, and students can u PAGE 13
use OpenDays.com to look at a list of upcoming dates. And of course you could also use the below website from the Complete University Guide, which ranks universities based on things like student satisfaction, research quality, graduate prospects, and more. https://www.thecompleteuniversityguid e.co.uk/league-tables/rankings
Other useful resources:
Are there any deadlines I need to be aware of?
Dates:
In short, yes there absolutely is! Below is a list of our internal deadlines. The reason we have these is because we have well over 2,500 students. We know they will not all be applying to university, but it is a lot of work for the progress coaches to check all the personal statements individually. So please make sure you meet these deadlines!
Websites: UCAS: How to write your personal statement: 2026 entry onwards UCAS Checklist (in reports) Long Road: Applying To University In Your Gap Year (including buzzword)
UCAS Drop-Ins: weekly Tuesday and Wednesday Plustime after the October half-term break Aim Higher (year 1s): February/ March
Personal statement first draft: Wednesday 21st October 2026 Finished application before Christmas: Friday 20th November 2026 Finished application before UCAS deadline: Friday 4th December 2026
When will I learn about university applications? They are covered in tutorial. If you are in year 1, you will have tutorial every week. If you are in year 2, you will have them every other week. You can view your timetable live via the below link and then clicking reports. https://promonitor.longroad.ac.uk/ProPortal
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*Subject to change, for an up-to-date timetable please email enrichment@longroad.ac.uk
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🏃♀️ Clubs & Society Start Dates 🏃♀️
At the start of the year, it can take a few weeks before clubs get up-and-running. Please be patient as staff and students adjust to being back from a long break, and if you have any questions please email enrichment@longroad.ac.uk.
🎬 The Long Lens 🎬
Long Road’s multi-media magazine co-created by students and staff, The Long Lens was originally started in 2020 by students. It’s an amazing and evergrowing project that allows students to express themselves, be creative, and learn about everything media related. Issue 14 was released back in July, and it is the publications first ever sequel with a second part on the theme of animation. It’s also the first edition to feature the new logo, which I think looks great (amazing job, Shannon!). You can read it here: https://issuu.com/longroadsixthformcollege/docs/the _long_lens_issue_14 Rather fittingly, the next issue will be all about sequels, prequels, requels, and reboots. If this all sounds very exciting and you’d like to get involved, you can! On Wednesday 16th September there will be an editorial meeting where you can get to know everyone, bounce ideas off one another, and just discuss cinema and media with other passionate people. Go to G116 at 14:40, or for more information email the very friendly team at thelonglens@longroad.ac.uk.
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🦺 Careers In Sustainability Challenge 🦺
Sign up for the Careers in Sustainability Challenge now and find out about green careers! Led by environmental advisors from Skanska, a major company working on large scale projects around the world, find out about green careers and how massive projects meet sustainability goals. Open to all students but students studying STEM subjects may find it particularly relevant. Take part in interactive activities on: Carbon Impact Green Energy Social Value and Working with Communities. If you’re interested in taking part, sign-up here. Spaces are limited: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Y227w6gVeS THE EXTRA MILE
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Extras 🛍️ The Grand Arcade Student Night 🛍️
Every year The Grand Arcade do a student night event that includes massive discounts, freebies, live music, and more. They often take place during the first week of October. Check their website below for updates. https://www.grandarcade.co.uk/our-events/
Clickview As a student of Long Road, you will have free access to ClickView. What is that I hear you ask? ClickView contains videos on a whole host of topics, from Sports and Nutrition, English Literature, Psychology, Film and Media, and more. There are also videos on exam and revision techniques, which may come in useful a little later in the year. And of course, there are films and television for you to watch ad-free. Whether it’s Disney or the Alien franchise you’re after, it’s on there! Use your Long Road email address to log into the website https://www.clickview.net/.
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🏛️ Museum Events 🏛️
There are a number of free museum-organised events coming up this month and next thar students might find interesting. The events I’ve found cover a variety of topics including science, sociology, geography, history, and of course Black History Month. Black History of Science Tour - Whipple Museum of the History of Science African Legacies in Cambridge Museums Tour LGBTQ+ Tours at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences From Darwin to Dodos: Guided Tour at the Museum of Zoology
Bangor University Lectures Bangor University in Wales offer free online webinars on a variety of subjects for prospective students. The upcoming webinars include: How Physical Literacy Will influence the teaching of PE in Schools Reverse Engineering the Brain and Mind The Biology of the Force Would You Survive Victorian Medicine?
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📖 Black History Month This October 📖
October 2026 marks 100 years since the first celebration of Black History Month. Concurrently, the UK’s Department For Education has designated 2026 as the National Year of Reading. So obviously, at least in my brain, a great way to celebrate is to read some books by black authors. Every single book below is available to borrow from the LRC, with the exception of Talia Hibbert’s Take a Hint, Dani Brown. I chose to include it because the 2023 film adaptation starring David Jonsson is absolutely fantastic!
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The Ha Ang te U
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by P Girl A d o Go Barack Obama ed g le Al ey n ffn a o f o aG
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5
What is the capital city of Kenya?
a. Algiers b. Nairobi c. Lagos
6
Who was the first black person to play football at international level back bin 1881 with Scotland?
1
In 1948 the British government invited hundreds of black men and w from the Caribbean to come women and work in the UK, but what was the name of the ship they travelled on? a. Windrush b. Mary Rose c. Boaty McBoatFace
2
In 2021 Amanda Gorman rose to fame after performing her poem “The “ Hill We Climb” at which US President’s inauguration? a. Barrack Obama b. Joe Biden c. Zohran Mamdani
a. Weapons b. Together c. Sinners
8
Which 2016 film follows three African-American mathematicians, K Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, all working at NASA in the 50s and 60s? a. Hidden Figures b. Get On Up c. Rustin
9
Berbers are indigenous to which part of Africa?
a. South b. West c. North
a. 1926 b. 1936 c. 1946 In which year did Nigeria gain independence from the UK?
a. SZA b. RZA c. GZA
answers
a. 1920 b. 1940 c. 1960
10
What is the stage name of R&B singer Solána Imani Rowe?
2. b 3. a 4. c
4
7
Miles Caton had his breakout role in which 2025 horror film?
1. a
3
In which year did the first Black History Month take place?
a. Dixie Dean b. Andrew Watson c. Fergus Suter
5. b 6. b 7. c
8. a 9. c 10. a
Sports Trials Reminder The deadline to sign up for trials for sports teams has passed, so this is just a reminder to those who have signed up that they are very soon! See the details below and email mpayne@longroad.ac.uk if you have any questions. Women’s Basketball: 8th Sept 2:45 - 4.00pm Men’s Football: 8th Sept 2:45 - 4:15pm Women’s Football: 9th Sept 1:00 - 2:30pm Mixed Hockey: 9th Sept 1:00 - 2:30pm Women’s Netball: 9th Sept 1:00 - 2:30pm Men’s Rugby: 9th Sept 1:00 - 2:30pm Women’s Rugby: 9th Sept 2:30 - 3:30pm
Cambridge Wellness Festival 2026
The Cambridge Biomedical Campus runs this event every year, and it takes place just around the corner from us. Happening between 11am - 6pm on Tuesday 8th September, it includes stands, workshops, activities, and more. Check out their website for more information on what to expect. https://cambridge-biomedical.com/event/cambridge-wellness-festival-26/
🗳️ Newsletter Suggestions & Submissions 🗳️
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! What would you like to see in The Extra Mile Newsletter? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please click here to provide some suggestions so we can improve your reading experience, or submit an article for us for future volumes.
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Long Road Sixth Form College @lr6fc_extramile @lr6fc Long Road Sixth Form College www.longroad.ac.uk castran@longroad.ac.uk