Linking London Uni Connect Update - April 2026
April 2026 update from Uni Connect.
Our pilot BTEC project, supporting students’ transition to higher education, is now well underway. This academic year, Birkbeck University, North-Eastern University, and St Mary’s University have successfully delivered all scheduled in-college sessions. The University of East London will deliver their final session to BTEC TV and Film students this Thursday.
The next stage of the project will be the campus visits which also begins this week and will continue through the end of May. As this is a pilot project, participating universities and colleges are coming together at key points to reflect, share insights, and collaboratively plan how best to support students as we move into the second phase in their second year.
On Tuesday 19th March, Year 9 students from Ark Academy Putney participated in a campus day at Birkbeck University. Students delivered their final presentations, enjoyed a campus tour, and took part in a law taster session.
Our Kick Start Sports programme continues to engage students through interactive sports-based learning. Barnet and Southgate will visit UEL on 30 April, while NCC Havering will visit West London, including campus tours and sessions on careers in sport.
Our collaborative Uni Connect webinar series continues this month. A recent webinar on Creative Industries featured speakers from the Courtauld Institute, UAL, and freelance professionals from the film and art sectors, exploring the realities of freelancing.
Upcoming webinars include Funding Your Future with Student Finance England, aimed at clarifying the media and misconceptions surrounding student loans, and a Next Steps session in April for Year 13 students. Delivered in partnership with Middlesex University, this webinar will provide guidance on offers, clearing, and essential next steps in the transition to higher education.