Table of Contents
TLDR
Home-educated student and professional performer Grace needed a flexible route to gain the qualifications she needed for university. After leaving college during her first term, she studied A level English Language and A level English Literature from home with the National Extension College (NEC), completing both courses in one year and achieving two Grade Bs. She is now planning to go to her first-choice university to study Professional Dance and Musical Theatre.
A Different Route From Home Education to Applying to University
For many years, Grace was quite certain that university wasn’t part of her future and she was adamant that she didn’t want to go to university. Her sentiment to the idea of undertaking a university degree was, in her own words, “Over my dead body!”
Grace had been educated at home, an experience she describes as something she has always been “immeasurably grateful for” and says she feels very lucky for her family to have accommodated her.
Alongside her education, Grace had also developed a professional career as a performer – working as a professional actor since the age of 12.
Performing arts has many pathways, and having secured representation from a top agent, Grace played a lead role in BBC television series Nova Jones, has been accepted into the National Youth Theatre, and been cast in the Harry Potter full-cast audiobook recordings.
University simply wasn’t on her radar.
Grace’s Change of Plan: A Performing Arts Degree
But over time Grace’s plans began to change.
She wanted the opportunity to study her technique and disciplines at a much higher level, to see how far she could take her abilities. This led her to realise the invaluable insight, training, contacts and experience a degree in performing arts would offer.
Suddenly, university was something Grace wanted to pursue. But she needed to find the right route to get her there.
Leaving College to Return to Independent Study
With less than two years to prepare for university, Grace initially enrolled to study Dance at her local college. Unfortunately, she found that the culture and working environment was not providing the motivation and training she needed and within the first term Grace had decided to leave.
There was, however, an unexpected positive from her time at college: Grace completed GCSE English Language and in less than a month achieved a Grade 8.
Despite initially dreading the prospect, studying English quickly became one of her favourite parts of her time at college, and changed what she considered her academic ability.
“I was more excited to study papers than to go to dance class! It (studying English) gave me the confidence that I could study academics on my own to achieve the qualifications for university.” – Grace
Achieving a Grade 8 after her short period of study had given Grace confidence that she could study independently and gain the qualifications she needed for university.
Choosing English Language and English Literature A levels
Grace opted to study A level English Language and A level English Literature with the National Extension College (NEC).
Although the qualifications would help her goal of attending university, the two subjects themselves closely reflected her interests.
“Storytelling, social study and communication are my greatest fascinations and passions. I believe they are what our world is built upon and the further we understand them, the better world we will create.” – Grace
As a writer and performer, Grace was particularly drawn to literature.
“I myself am a writer and enjoy literature immensely, so I treasured the opportunity to study some iconic texts and learn about exactly what makes them so relatable and entrancing.” – Grace
Having achieved a grade 8 in GCSE English Language, continuing the subject at A level also felt like a natural choice.
“I was very inclined to pursue it (English Language) at A level, and I’m very glad I did.” – Grace
A Family Connection Going Back to 1997: Why Grace Chose NEC
Grace didn’t discover the National Extension College through an internet search or an advert. Her mother, a previous NEC student, recommended NEC.
“My Mum actually used the NEC for her own studies in 1997, studying IGCSE Physics which she needed to be able to study at the Royal Veterinary College.” – Grace
Nearly three decades later NEC has become part of her learning journey too.
“At an uncertain and quite unpredictable time in my life when I knew I wanted to go to university but wasn’t sure how I was going to get there, after having quit college, the NEC was a true lighthouse.” – Grace
NEC was Grace’s first experience of distance learning, and the support she received while assessing her options helped reassure her that it could work.
“Nothing was too big of an ask, they were so informative while I was enquiring, friendly and approachable as well as accommodating.” – Grace
How Grace Managed Studying A levels Alongside a Professional Acting Career
Grace’s professional life made flexibility a particularly important consideration when choosing her course provider. Having been a professional actor since the age of 12, Grace knew she needed a solution that would fit around not only her performing, but also her need to be available for auditions.
“I have been a professional actor since I was 12 years old. It’s not all about being on set! 99% of an actor’s work happens in the audition room.” – Grace
Grace’s acting work means that an audition request can arrive with a day’s notice. She may then need to memorise an entire script by heart, research, rehearse, record and edit it, and then send it to her agent. At other times, she may be required to travel anywhere in the country in order to attend an audition in person.
“Every aspect of my work is unpredictable and hinges on spontaneous, time-sensitive emails,” says Grace.
This meant that committing to a conventional timetable was extremely difficult for her, and she required a solution that enabled her to study at home, and on the move.
“This unpredictability meant that I needed a great amount of flexibility and tutor support with my studies, especially as many of my other commitments had to be stalled in favour of auditioning. My course had to be as amenable as possible, which is exactly what NEC provided.” – Grace
Completing Two A levels in One Year Through Distance Learning
As her route into university meant she needed to complete two A level courses in just one year, Grace also had another challenge: time.
“As my academic timeline looked quite different from lots of other people, I had to complete two full two-year courses in one year.” – Grace
A task she was able to take on because of the, “incredibly diligent and hard working tutors who were able to give me detailed and thorough feedback within a day of my sending my assignments”, according to Grace.
Describing herself as a “professional performer, home-educated as well as being neurodivergent”, Grace recognises that her academic timeline and pathway has looked quite different to most, and has required her to have quick turn-arounds for exams.
“The courses at NEC have enabled me to take control of my own path and not be left behind and lose out on opportunities simply because of a timeline, while also not forfeiting my passions and work.” – Grace
The flexibility provided by NEC’s distance learning A levels was, for Grace, not simply a matter of convenience, it enabled her to work towards her goal of university at the same time as continuing her work as an actor and performer.
Grace’s A level English Successes
After an intense year of studying for her A levels all of Grace’s hard work and dedication paid off. She achieved a Grade B in both her A level English Language and A level English Literature exams.
Students taking A levels in English Language and/or English Literature are also required to complete a Non-Exam Assessment (NEA). The NEA gives students the opportunity to undertake independent, research-led study on topics and texts that truly interest them and accounts for 20% of the overall A level result.
Grace’s NEA results were good as she achieved:
- A level English Language NEA: 82/100
- A level English Literature NEA: 54/75
Grace credits the combination of independent learning, structured course materials and responsive tutor support with helping her achieve those results.
Opening Up Opportunities With English A levels
Studying English has given Grace more than the qualifications she needed to be accepted at Uni. Her studies introduced her to other areas that she hadn’t previously considered, including journalism.
“The course materials introduced me to a vast range of other studies and interests such as journalism that I never would have considered before, which I am now looking into pursuing alongside my performance career in the future.” – Grace
She is also teaching herself Spanish online and hopes to continue to do this whilst at university.
Creativity Beyond A levels
Storytelling runs through almost everything Grace does.
“I always say that as long as I’m telling a story, I’m there for it.”
“Whether it’s playing music, acting out a scene, singing a song, writing novels, sewing a costume, or prop making – all those different outlets for creativity fuels the imaginative narratives and that is my favourite thing in the world.” – Grace
Away from the storytelling and creative arts, Grace swims, surfs and roller skates, and even does Historical European Martial Arts where she practices German Longsword. “I’m always keeping active. I’m a beach girl through and through,” she says.
It may sound like an eclectic collection of interests, but for Grace they are all connected by her curiosity, creativity and a desire to keep learning.
Grace’s Journey: From Online A levels to a Place at Her First-Choice University
Most importantly, her A levels enabled Grace to take the next step she had been working towards.
She received three university offers. Now she is preparing to start a degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Urdang – a leading performance arts conservatoire and part of, City St George’s, University of London – and her first-choice destination.
“I am moving to London to start my degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Urdang, City St George’s – my top school of the three offers I received.”
“Through NEC’s supportive and thorough courses, I was able to attend my top university.” – Grace
That’s quite a change of plan from the student who once responded to the idea of university with, “Over my dead body!”
Thinking About Studying A levels From Home?
Grace’s journey shows that there isn’t a set educational path that everyone has to follow.
An online distance learning course offers a different option for learners whose education, work, passion, or lifestyle, doesn’t fit neatly around a conventional school or college timetable.
NEC’s online A levels combine flexible independent study with structured course materials, regular assignments and support from specialist subject tutors, enabling you to extend your opportunities.
Explore NEC’s online A level courses today and discover where your interests could take you.
Got a question? Our Friendly Course Advice Team will be happy to help you.
Read Part 2 of Grace’s NEC Story
Discover how Grace managed to complete two online A levels in one year.
She share’s her tips for study techniques and highlights the tutor support that enabled her to obtain the grades she needed to progress to university.
