In our blog post on 13th July 2023, Is education the answer to social mobility? The contribution of the National Extension College, Ros Morpeth, Board of Trustees Member and former CEO of NEC, penned a powerful letter in response to an article by Polly Toynbee (At last, Labour is admitting the defining role of class […]
Tag: distance learning
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 many commentators agree that that social mobility has gone into reverse and is maybe about to get worse. In a recent article in the Guardian, (At last, Labour is admitting the […]
Martin’s story: From no qualifications and working in a factory to a long academic journey and a professional career
With NEC celebrating our 60th birthday in 2023, we have been asking students for their stories of studying with NEC. Throughout our 60 years, we have seen hundreds of thousands of students enrol on NEC courses, all with different goals and reasons for accessing distance learning. One of our central aims since we were founded […]
Tina enrolled with NEC to pursue a teaching career. She enrolled her teenage son for GCSEs.
Tina chose to enrol with NEC in 2016 in order to gain the qualifications needed to access a career in teaching. “I wanted to complete a level 6 diploma to gain entrance to university to become a primary teacher. However to become a teacher I needed a minimum of a science GCSE C grade so […]
NEC moves house: bigger premises and a brighter future
The National Extension College (NEC) is delighted to announce its expansion and relocation to new premises in the village of Sawston, Cambridgeshire. Since its foundation in 1963 by educationalists Michael Young and Brian Jackson, the college has occupied a number of offices in Cambridge, ranging from a humble “wooden hut” to a 19th-century Gothic building […]
Why study A level Economics?
In March 2016, we published a blog post outlining the benefits of studying Economics or Business at A level. The points we made remain relevant, but Economics is a dynamic subject and changes with the times. Five-and-a-half years and one pandemic later, why should you be looking to enrol on an A level Economics course in […]
Common misperceptions of distance learning
One common misperception is that distance learning students teach themselves, simply watching videos online. However, our courses, whilst flexible in the time that you can study them in, include assignments and tutor feedback on all work. This means that students do not simply teach themselves but are guided throughout their courses. “My daughter recently completed […]
A level Biology makes career progression hope a reality
At NEC, we aim to help students achieve their goals. We love to help students to advance their careers by gaining the essential qualifications that they need and which will help them to reach their full potential. One student who studied with us in order to achieve her dream of career progression is Gemma. Working […]
Many students leave school due to ill health. Is distance learning the answer?
Many students who have had to drop out of school due to illness find that distance learning works for them as a flexible alternative that fits with their lifestyle and allows for more independence in learning. Brogan chose to study with NEC after having dropped out from high school due to illness, needing to find […]
How did distance learning students do in A levels and GCSEs compared to those in schools?
NEC students achieved a high overall pass rate of 98.5% in both GCSEs and A levels. Background 2021 saw another year of exam cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government decided in January that with ongoing cases and intermittent lockdowns, results would this time be based on Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs). In comparison to […]