Student Stories

GCSE French leads to a love for the language and an AS level!

Sarah decided to study GCSE French with NEC at the same time that her son was also taking his GCSEs at school. She wanted…

Three A levels alongside full time work allows NEC student to return to university for second degree

NEC students study with us for a variety of reasons, including choosing to take qualifications that will allow them to change career direction.  Yue…

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…

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 alongside full-time performing arts college leads to nursing at University of Southampton

With a part-time job and studying full-time at her local performing arts college, Kayleigh found that distance learning with NEC fit around her other…

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…

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….

Doing A level Biology in a year with NEC leads to medicine at Swansea University

After deciding to return to university to study medicine, Darius considered independently organising and sitting an A level but wasn’t sure where to start….

From the 1960s to today: A levels with NEC lead to dream teaching job

Over the years, we have helped thousands of students gain English language and literature qualifications and achieve their full potential. Patricia first studied with…

International Women’s Day Student Story: The NEC A level English Literature course was my 1970s lifesaver!

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate women, highlight inequality and challenge biases. Dr Jacqueline Jeynes studied with NEC in the 1970s and…

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.”…