Student Stories

A home-educator’s journey, part 1: selecting our course provider

This post was originally published on May 31st 2018 and updated on March 23rd 2020. Today’s post is both a guest blog and an…

Home education paves the way to Russell Group university

Above: NEC learner Kathryn Corrall Kathryn Corrall is on a high. In September, she’s off to King’s College London to study for an English…

Celebrating one of the best creative writers of our time: Roald Dahl

Photo credit: Jan Baldwin Roald Dahl was a children’s author, poet, screenwriter and short story writer. He was famous for writing the popular children’s…

Celebrating success this A level results day

Students up and down the country have received their A level results today. News programmes will be filled with teenagers celebrating the hard work…

International Youth Day – Celebrating our students achievements

International Youth Day is a United Nations event held annually on 12th August to celebrate young people’s success and initiatives in the global society….

An American in Tanzania strides forward in her pre-school career

Far away from the UK, NEC has helped one woman qualify for a second career and start planning a business that will have an…

Turning the tables: from waitress to midwife

Lottie Blunden, a single parent of four, is in her first year at university studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in midwifery. Getting…

Other articles...

The Classical History of the Olympic Games: From Ancient Greece to Paris 2024

Written by NEC Marketing Manager, Amanda Davies The Olympic Games has a rich history dating back to antiquity that offers insights into the culture…

My Journey in Online Learning as a Neurodivergent Student

Written by NEC Pastoral Officer Karyn Nash In 2021, I joined NEC as a Pastoral Officer and returned to education as an online MSc…

Experiencing Mount Etna: A Journey of Natural Wonders and Learning

Written by NEC Chief Executive Esther Chesterman As the CEO of the National Extension College, I often find myself engrossed in the world of…

Are GCSE Resits Beneficial?

Written by NEC Chief Executive Esther Chesterman – explaining the benefits of GCSE resits. If your exams haven’t quite gone to plan and you…

Labour Party’s Education Policies: Transforming Schools and Enhancing Social Mobility

As the CEO of the National Extension College (NEC), I am excited about the Labour Party’s education manifesto becoming a reality under the new…

Labour Party’s Education Policies: Enhancing Social Mobility for Private Candidates, Adult Learners, and Homeschoolers

As the CEO of the National Extension College (NEC), I am thrilled to see the Labour Party’s education manifesto becoming a reality under the…

Why study Politics?

There are many reasons why studying politics is beneficial to students. With talk around general elections, it’s no wonder that politics is a common…

The economics of political parties

By Roy Bowden Roy, a tutor on NEC’s A level Economics explains how A level Economics students can use the manifestos of political parties…

Navigating Your Post-Exam Options: Advice for Students

By Esther Chesterman &  Kirsten Butler NEC Chief Executive Esther Chesterman and our UCAS Expert Kirsten Butler explain the options open to you if…

Expanding Horizons: The Case for Modern Language Studies in Gifted Education (GCSE and A Level)

In the dynamic landscape of education, providing diverse and enriching learning experiences is crucial, especially for gifted and talented students. These exceptional learners often…