Guest Blogs

General, Guest Blogs, Our Courses, SFT

Passion and Academics: How Izzy Balances Full-time Musical Theatre Studies with Studying A level Physics

Earlier this year we introduced Izzy who was embarking on a journey to fast-track her A level Physics studies with NEC. In the second…
Guest Blogs

My Experience as a Marketing Intern with the National Extension College

As an intern with the marketing team at the National Extension College (NEC), I had the chance to dive into a variety of tasks,…
General, Guest Blogs, Our Courses

The economics of political parties

By Roy Bowden Roy, a tutor on NEC’s A level Economics explains how A level Economics students can use the manifestos of political parties…
Guest Blogs, SFT, Student Stories

Embarking on a journey: My decision to ‘Fast-Track’ A level Physics with NEC

We’re delighted to share the first in a series of guest posts by Izzy an NEC learner who is sharing her learning journey with…
Guest Blogs, Home Schooling, Student Stories

Homeschooler Andrew’s experience of studying IGCSE Chemistry

Last year, we shared Andrew’s experience of how homeschooling was helping him to balance education and family commitments. We caught up with Andrew to…
General, Guest Blogs

National Extension College: Bringing education to you

For over 60 years, National Extension College (NEC) has worked towards the goal of transforming lives and opening up new educational possibilities for people…
General, Guest Blogs, Policy and Campaigns

Why study Classics as a teacher?

The Classical Association is offering five bursaries for state sector teachers to study A level Classical Civilisation flexibly with NEC. Bursary recipients will be…
General, Guest Blogs, Policy and Campaigns

The benefits of offering Classics to your students

The Classical Association is offering five bursaries for state sector teachers to study A level Classical Civilisation flexibly with NEC. Bursary recipients will be…
Guest Blogs, Lifelong Learning, Policy and Campaigns

Is education the answer to social mobility? The contribution of the National Extension College.

All political parties talk loudly about their commitment to social mobility and levelling up, but progress over the last decades has been dire and…
Guest Blogs, Our Courses

Why study A level Geography?

To celebrate the launch of NEC’s online interactive A level Geography, we spoke to lead tutor Alison Leadbetter about why she loves the subject…
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Other articles...

General

Celebrating 50 years of the OU

Above: NEC Chief Executive Dr Ros Morpeth showing support for the Open University  Yesterday evening a distinguished crowd gathered at the House of Lords…
General

Can you do an A level in a year?

One of our most frequently asked questions, especially at this time of year, is whether you can be ready for an A level within…
General

How I learnt to love learning

Today’s guest blog is written by Chris Holligan, Professor of Education at The University of The West of Scotland. Chris details how his life…
Home Schooling, Student Stories

A home educator’s journey – Part 8: Studying GCSE Maths

Anna and Lucy are a mother and daughter who are sharing their experiences of online distance learning and home education. In this edition of…
General

A brief history of NEC and broadcasting

Tonight (April 25th) at 9pm, BBC 4 will be broadcasting a new hour long documentary ‘Happy Birthday OU: 50 Years of The Open University’….
General

Happy 50th Birthday OU!

‘We are thinking rather of the people who cannot turn up regularly for ordinary classes, above all of married women housebound by their children,…
General

English Language Day 2019

23rd April has special resonance in England. It’s St George’s Day (England’s patron saint) as well as the traditional date on which to celebrate…
Home Schooling, Student Stories

A home educator’s journey – Part 7: GCSE Revision at home

This post was originally published on April 17th 2019 and updated on March 23rd 2020. Anna and Lucy are a mother and daughter who…
General

How to study maths

What is Maths? People often talk about maths as if it were a great mystery. ‘I can never understand maths.’ ‘You can do maths!…
General

Second-chance learning in prison

About the author: David Breakspear was released from prison in June 2017. While there, with the help of funding through organisations like The Prisoners’…
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