They really need to start thinking now about where they may want to apply, as there are some open days before they break up for the summer and it is a good idea to go and see a campus/facilities. For example, Mountview have Open Days in Feb and April. Chichester and GSA June.
UCAS applications have to be in by end of January the year you would start. Some colleges don’t go via UCAS, you apply direct, but only a few. You can apply for conservatoires on UCAS too, so you get extra choices.
There is some debate on whether it’s better to get auditions in early, and some like Conti get back quickly and you may know by Christmas, whilst some others (LIPA in our experience) will still make you wait, months, which is maddening.
My dd has only just started auditions now, where some of her cohort have already had theirs, she still has to submit a tape too, so the process can be a long one. At least her waiting might be shorter. Last year Mountview didn’t hold some auditions until middle of June and lots of people had already accepted offers, so were cancelling (my dd didn’t go to her recall).
This is our third year now as dd got two offers her first year, decided to defer, take a year out, decided she didn’t want the deferred place and reauditioned, turning down two BA offers to do a a foundation! I just go with the flow now and no longer get worked up by it all! It’s a brutal process.