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Tribute to Hilary Perraton

Hilary Perraton, one of the first members of staff of the National Extension College (NEC), sadly died of cancer on 15th November 2021. (Obituary…

[Closed] Save 15% off all courses until midnight 31st January

It’s the beginning of a new year and time to start work on your New Year’s resolution. So, have you decided to stop doing…

Season’s greetings from NEC!

A message from our CEO Esther Chesterman: “I have been immensely humbled by the collective efforts of our staff, students and college community over…

A gift from NEC this December

Win back your course fee – up to £2,225. Be in with a chance to win back your full course fee when you enrol…

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…

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…

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…

How to stand out on LinkedIn as a student – NEC’s ten-step guide

Logging on to LinkedIn as a student can feel daunting. As the self-described “world’s largest professional network” with over 774 million members dotted across…

Celebrating the power of children’s literature

As he put his hand on the door latch, she said, “If the red blob leads to Kingsbury and the blue blob goes to…

International Literacy Day 2021 – some tips and tricks for Read Hour

How often do you get a chance to settle down with a good book? How long do you actually get to spend with that…

Other articles...

Five study bursaries for state sector teachers to take online A level Classical Civilisation offered by The Classical Association

Learners enrolled on A level Classical Civilisation with NEC study the literature and culture of the ancient world, from epic poetry and ancient comedy,…

Top 10 revision tips for exam success

If you are sitting exams this summer and worried about the amount of revision you’ve done so far don’t panic! It’s never too late…

How to tackle exam stress

There’s no denying that exam revision can be a stressful time. It’s the culmination of all your hard work studying for your A levels…

What do I do if I want a career change?

Making the decision to embark on a new career change can be both exciting and daunting. For many, taking the step towards a new…

A Head Teacher’s Priorities for 2024

Head teachers in secondary schools are steering through an intricate landscape of advanced planning, critical evaluation, and strategic decision-making. This period is pivotal, marking…

University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education offers tuition fee bursary for NEC A level students

Applications open now  Continuing the relationship that began in 2021, the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and NEC are once again collaborating to offer…

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…

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…

What careers can computing lead to?

Does the idea of a career in computing appeal to you? In this post we will be diving into everything you need to know…

Rapid change and the need to upskill and reskill means more of us are likely to be second-chance learners

Traditional providers alone can’t solve inequality “The next government must fully embrace ‘second-chance’ education in the drive to reverse the decline in social mobility.”…