National Marine Week runs from 25th July to 9th August and celebrates the over 30,000 species that call the seas around the UK home. Marine ‘week’ takes place over 15 days to allow for the different tidal patterns around the country, and whilst it is slightly different this year due to Covid-19, there are still […]
Joe
Bouncing back and moving forwards: how NEC can help with home education in an uncertain world
The National Extension College was founded by Michael Young and Brian Jackson as an educational charity in 1963 to widen participation in education, and to promote lifelong learning. Michael Young, wrote: “we were searching for education without institution, learning while earning, courses which people of all ages could take in their own time, at their […]
Getting back into maths and English with Functional Skills
Want to learn more about improving English and maths skills as an adult? Catherine Paulson-Ellis discusses the advantages of gaining Functional Skills qualifications. Just about everyone in the UK has heard of GCSEs. After all, most children in England do them at school and employers often include them in job requirements, not unreasonably – anyone […]
How can studying a management qualification online set you off down a new path?
In a time where many peoples’ job situations are changing, whether they are furloughed, have lost their jobs, or are adapting to the new normal of working from home, a qualification in management can help you to set off down a new path. For many people they now have more time at home due to […]
Should I be more productive in lockdown?
This week’s post is written by Christine Cox, one of our expert GCSE and A level English Language tutors. Lockdown inertia Time flies … spring has disappeared and it looks like perhaps June too will be another month of waiting and wondering when this pandemic will end. Since 23rd March, time as we know it, […]
How can studying biology help you understand coronavirus?
Written by NEC biology tutor Josie Briggs, learn about how studying biology can help during this time. Trial vaccine for COVID-19 coronavirus Most people know by now what the virus that causes COVID-19 looks like, with pictures of it every time we watch the news on TV. This tiny pathogen is essentially a sphere with […]
Where can I access art online?
In the first of a new series, NEC student Fleur talks about her experience studying A level History of Art during the coronavirus lockdown, and where you can access great works of art online. What I think about when I think about art “(…) For the first time ever, images of art have become ephemeral, […]
What are people studying during lockdown?
Right now, as many of us are stuck at home and social distancing, we are all looking for ways to use the time well – to improve our health, to complete all those jobs that have been on the to-do list for ages or try something new and improve our minds. We have seen a […]
Why study astronomy?
Whether you’ve been captivated by the recent solar storms or the flyovers of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites, astronomy has provided a fascinating distraction during challenging times. The great news is, you don’t need a fancy observatory or a university lab to study the stars. Whether you have a garden, a balcony, or even a small […]
How do you maintain your motivation to study?
How do you find and keep up your motivation to study? The value of education has never been greater; it opens doors to everything that is important in life. This has been highlighted by the recent cancellation of the GCSE and A level exams this summer. and students’ reactions to it. The impact of coronavirus […]