Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre, City of London Academy
326 Barking Road, East Ham, London, E6 2BB
02030114114
ncs-data@ncs6.org
Extra-curricular
What is polish? Why does it matter? As with the hidden social and corporate codes we study as part of our code breakers course, employers also place a high value on recruiting candidates that exhibit a sense of “polish”. What exactly is polish? It refers to your overall demeanour, character, behaviour and personal presentation. This will include your ability to: Communicate your ideas in a clear, articulate and confident manner. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills in both client facing and social situations. Maintain professional appearance and body language. In essence it’s your ability to navigate formal settings of business and the workplace with ease. Polish is a highly sought after value employers seek for high ranking positions.
At The NCS, we help you become the best version of yourself, equipping you with the skills and knowledge for university and leadership roles. Our programmes, including the Emerging Talent Programme, soft skills workshops, and BMAT/UCAT prep, ensure over 95% of our students receive offers from Russell Group Universities. Many also aim for Oxbridge and Ivy League schools. We offer comprehensive support through our Elite University Preparation Programme, covering applications to top universities and professional schools. We provide resources and guidance to help you explore higher education options and prepare strong applications. Our goal is to assist you in achieving your next step, whether it’s a top university or a global work placement. The NCS is here to help you realise your ambitions.
At Newham Collegiate, we offer a holistic A-Level education that goes beyond the syllabus and grades. Our approach helps students become top candidates for competitive university spots and careers. We provide industry experiences and teach essential skills like corporate etiquette. Our goal is to prepare you for leadership roles and to inspire future generations. Our holistic education significantly impacts social mobility and life chances. Learn-Prepare-Develop-Experience-Succeed.
Our teachers are all passionate about the subjects they teach. Their expertise will guide you through the A-Level. curriculum… and beyond! Our vision and aim at the NCS is clear and specific; “to inspire students to do what inspires them; empowering all to make a positive and lasting contribution to society”
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Newham |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Mixed |
| Address | 326 Barking Road, East Ham, London, E6 2BB |
FAQs
A strong personal statement highlights your interests, goals, and alignment with the sixth form’s values. For tips, visit our personal statement guide. https://sixthform.london/personal-statement-tips-2026/
For The NCS, your personal statement should be up to 800 words, with an additional 500 words for hobbies and interests.
Applications for sixth forms typically open in January. It’s best to start preparing in the autumn term by researching institutions and gathering required documents an information. At The NCS applications will open on January 1st 2026 and close at 18:00 on 13th February 2026.
You’ll need to meet our general and subject-specific entry requirements. Visit our entry requirements page for details. https://sixthform.london/ncs-entry-requirements/
You can apply to multiple sixth forms, but tailor each application to show why you’re a good fit for that institution.
A strong application demonstrates your academic ability, personal interests, and enthusiasm for your chosen subjects. Tailor your personal statement to align with The NCS’ ethos.
You’ll need the following: Your personal email address (not a school email). If you don’t have one, you can easily setup a free account with Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, etc. Your parent / guardian contact details. Predicted grades and Unique Learner Number (ULN). A completed personal statement. Referee details (typically your Head of Year). SEND students with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC) should provide it in the relevant section of the application form.
No, so ensure everything is accurate before submission.
No. You can save your progress and return to the form at a later point. This will allow you to complete it at your own pace and check the contents. However, you must submit your completed form by the deadline.
No! You gain no advantage from being the first to submit your form. We’d much rather you spent the time checking the content and making sure you submit the best application possible. However, you must submit your form by the deadline.
Yes. You will need to provide details of a teacher at your current school. This is usually your year head. You will need to provide their email address.
We try to confirm references as quickly as possible. However, do not panic if we don’t contact referees to check your statement and predicted grades are accurate immediately. We received over 4000 applications last year and it takes some time to contact every single referee.
We aim to notify all applicants by 31st May. Please do not contact us before this date.
Yes. There’s a reason why it’s called a personal statement. Ensure you use your own words, character, ambitions, skills, and experience to tell us why you want to study with us and are a great candidate for the subjects chosen. Read our guide on writing personal statements to get a full idea of what will make you stand out from the crowd, Our application system uses detection software to quickly identify statements that have been written by (in part or full) AI language models and/or have been plagiarised. Any detected use of AI or plagiarised content may invalidate a student’s application to join us.