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Experiencing Mount Etna: A Journey of Natural Wonders and Learning

Written by NEC Chief Executive Esther Chesterman As the CEO of the National Extension College, I often find myself engrossed in the world of…
General, Our Courses

Are GCSE Resits Beneficial?

Written by NEC Chief Executive Esther Chesterman – explaining the benefits of GCSE resits. If your exams haven’t quite gone to plan and you…
General, Our Courses

Why study Politics?

There are many reasons why studying politics is beneficial to students. With talk around general elections, it’s no wonder that politics is a common…
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…
General, Our Courses, Results Day

Navigating Your Post-Exam Options: Advice for Students

By Esther Chesterman &  Kirsten Butler NEC Chief Executive Esther Chesterman and our UCAS Expert Kirsten Butler explain the options open to you if…
General, Our Courses

Expanding Horizons: The Case for Modern Language Studies in Gifted Education (GCSE and A Level)

In the dynamic landscape of education, providing diverse and enriching learning experiences is crucial, especially for gifted and talented students. These exceptional learners often…
General, Our Courses, SFT

Can you gain an A level within a year?

Complete an A level in one year with NEC’s online Structured Fast Track A levels. We understand that some goals and deadlines can’t wait…
General, Our Courses

What is the difference between GCSEs and IGCSEs?

When it comes to navigating education systems as a traditional student, distance learner or parent, there are many terms and qualifications that can cause…
General, Home Schooling, Our Courses

Why Study an AS Level?

An AS level (Advanced Subsidiary level) acts as a great stepping stone between GCSEs and higher education. Yes, A levels are typically more well…
General, Our Courses

Demystifying the Exam Booking Process with NEC: Everything You Need to Know

Explore the essentials of booking exams with our latest ‘long-read’ blog, complementing our well-received webinar on the topic. We also address some thought-provoking questions…
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General

How will I get my A level results?

The summer holidays are a time to kick back and relax. Until this week, that is, if you’re waiting for A level results! A…
Home Schooling, Student Stories

A home-educator’s journey, part 1: selecting our course provider

This post was originally published on May 31st 2018 and updated on March 23rd 2020. Today’s post is both a guest blog and an…
General

NEC’s Art Techniques course

This post was originally published on Friday, 4 May 2018 and updated on Friday, 29 March 2019. This week’s blog is written by Jane…
General

Getting it right on exam day

You’ve spent months preparing for exam day and it’s almost here. We’ve put together some top tips on how to approach these final hours…
General

Writing the perfect essay

The word ‘essay’ is also a verb meaning ‘to attempt’. It still retains something of that meaning in it’s commoner sense of ‘a piece…
General

Who are the science and technology stars of tomorrow?

For years employers have warned that the UK faces a skills shortage in many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) roles. For example, EngineeringUK…
General

Get ready for exam success

This post was originally published on Friday, 17 February 2017 and updated on Friday, 10 May 2019. It’s exam season! Maybe you have meticulously planned and…
General

‘Teachers shouldn’t confiscate pupils’ phones: they’re vital for learning.’

This week’s blogger is former NEC GCSE English student Naila Din. Now a freelance arts advisor and business coach, Naila turned to teaching as…
General

A lesson in innovation: Ángela Ruiz Robles

“Ángela Ruiz Robles with her Mechanical Encylopedia” by ITU Pictures / License: CC BY 2.0 As a distance learning provider, the NEC was founded on the…
General

What can we learn from Finland?

A Finnish Education No inspections, no tests, no uniforms and no fees. A valued teaching profession, shorter school days and starting school at seven….
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