Lesley took early retirement in April 2020 and moved to Italy. Prior to that she had worked as an engineer for about 30 years in the UK and Azerbaijan. With a passion for art history and having completed a course in Art Appreciation with the Art Institute, Lesley was searching for A level History of […]
Tag: adult education
Making a difference on this International Day of Charity
Did you know that Sunday, 5th September is the International Day of Charity? Established by the United Nations in 2015 to mark the anniversary of the passing of Mother Teresa, the day serves as a reminder of the crucial role of humanitarian work and philanthropy in lifting people out of poverty, crisis and suffering. Here […]
Deepening an interest in history through A level History of Art
NEC student Sarah has always loved studying and education, having taken 3 A levels at school and gone on to study history at University before completing an MPhil. She went on to use her history qualifications in her career, working in history, media and heritage. Sarah now works as an editor for a history website […]
Top marks in GCSE Geography and GCSE Astronomy for retiree
David decided to study GCSE Geography and GCSE Astronomy with NEC during the pandemic as a result of the extra time he had at home. At 67, David has had a long career working in Logistics Management before gaining a PGCE in chemistry at the age of 55 and teaching GCSE and A level Chemistry […]
A level French leads to career progression and a second chance at languages!
NEC student Edda’s story gives insight into the importance of lifelong learning and not letting criticism get you down. Having been told in Year 8 by a French teacher that she was “hopeless at languages”, Edda was not entered by her school for the French O level or CSE (equivalent to foundation GCSE) and believed […]
Is it possible to balance work and study?
You don’t have to have a career in mind to pursue your interests. Nikki was working full-time and had already achieved 10 GCSEs, 4 A levels and a maths degree when she decided to enrol with NEC. Nikki says that it’s her love of history that brought her back into education. “My study is completely […]
How can studying improve your teaching?
As Head of Art at an academy in South East London, Aasha understands how difficult it has been for teachers to adapt to a new way of teaching. In the following article, she explores how studying on NEC’s A level History of Art course has improved her teaching and benefited her students. Why choose A […]
83 year old author and lifelong learning advocate, Diana, used lockdown to pursue her interest in philosophy
When lockdown hit, Diana (83) decided to use her time shielding to pursue a subject that has fascinated her for the last 10 years. Born in 1937, Diana passed the eleven-plus but home life made studying difficult. With parents focused on marriage prospects, she left school at 14 and went out to work. Diana had […]
National Extension College appoints new Chief Executive
The National Extension College (NEC) has appointed Esther Chesterman as its new Chief Executive. She takes over from Ros Morpeth OBE, who led the organisation over three decades. Esther has an impressive track record of leadership in education and training, spanning more than 20 years. She brings to the NEC experience in corporate governance, change […]
Thinking about becoming a teacher?
From the classroom to online lessons almost overnight, teachers have been under an incredible amount of pressure throughout the last year. Teachers have been on the front lines of our children’s education through multiple school closures and exam cancellations. However, 2020 saw a significant increase in teacher training applications. Some have turned to teaching after […]