Flexible A levels: How Henry Progressed to a Top 10 University

Many students of all ages and different stages of life come to NEC for a fresh start. Whether it’s their first step towards a new career, a chance to re-enter education or just to try something new, the reasons are wide and every student’s story is unique.

Overcoming School Challenges Through Online Study

Before joining NEC, Henry felt he was stuck in a state of limbo and had sadly dealt with years of anxiety leading him to make the decision to leave the traditional school setting. 

“I was stuck in a limbo. Due to years of anxiety and depression which had rendered me unable to attend traditional schooling, I was unable to move forward in my life. Learning virtually allowed me to secure those qualifications and put my life back on track and progress onwards towards what I visualise my life looking like.” – Henry

Previously, Henry had not been so lucky, telling us that the difference in settings from different countries had been difficult.

“I moved back to England after living in Shanghai for several years. I failed to reacclimatise and adjust, and dropped out of school shortly after my GCSEs. The schooling situation was less than ideal, especially compared to my amazing time at a high-level international school in Shanghai.” – Henry

Choosing The Right Subjects For His Path To University

When looking ahead towards plans of higher education, choosing subjects that aligned with both his personal interests and long-term career goals was essential. In order to prepare for his desired degree, Henry chose to study A level Psychology, Philosophy and Classical Civilisation.

“All three were subjects that would further develop skills and/or have relevant knowledge related to my chosen degree at University (Psychology). They were also the three subjects out of all of the A level options that best fit my interests, pre-existing knowledge, and skillset. – Henry

Distance learning offered him a completely fresh approach to education, one that was better matched to his needs as he worked towards his three qualifications. Henry decided that NEC was the right choice due to “The relevant subjects on offer, the nature of the structured support (academic and pastoral), and the impression that the NEC was large enough to matter but small enough to care.” 

The Benefits of Studying Flexible A levels

When asked what he appreciated the most about studying flexible A levels, Henry highlighted the freedom to choose his own study times, stating:

“The ability to go at my own pace. In traditional schooling, there are parts you find yourself slowing down for, and others you wish you could take more time to go over. Due to learning independently, I can speed through the parts I am finding easy, but also have the luxury of slowing down to go over parts I am struggling with as many times as I need to, and can bring in other resources like my tutor for further clarification, wider reading, and alternative mediums like YouTube video essays and tutorials. The way assignments are written and formatted are tailor-made for exam preparation, and the detailed feedback on them has been excellent; as have the course material handouts.” – Henry

He also praised the course materials, expert tutors, and guidance provided for his university application throughout his studies:

“The written handout material was particularly useful. As was the expertise of my tutors, from giving detailed feedback to assignments (which were also incredibly useful and written & formatted in a way that helped prepare me for exam questions), to answering questions on parts I was stuck on. The administrative staff at NEC have also been excellent, as have the NEC guides on matters like applying to university and completing UCAS forms that would usually have been provided by teachers if studying in traditional schools. The same can be said for the service of checking your personal statement.” – Henry

Positive Administrative and Pastoral Support

Outside of coursework, Henry was eager to highlight the help and support given to him behind the scenes that helped him along the way.

“The support staff working behind the scenes, such as (but not limited to) the UCAS and Exam teams. Their degree of care, compassion, and diligent work ethic greatly reduced my stress, knowing that they were working hard on my behalf to handle all of the administrative aspects so that I could focus on studying. In particular, I remember when my mother suddenly passed in the middle of exams; after informing them of this, they let me simply throw everything out of my mind, and took on the burden of handling everything that needed to be handled whilst I grieved.” – Henry

Preparing for a Top 10 University

We are delighted to see Henry achieve his goals. Through hard work and dedication, his efforts have paid off.

“I am days away from attending a top 10 university in the country, where I will be studying Psychology. After which, I will be pursuing postgraduate study.” – Henry

Considering Studying An Online Course?

If you are still unsure if studying through distance learning is for you, here is some advice from Henry to help you make the right choice for you:

“Be kind to yourself – acknowledge that due to having to self motivate and work outside of an academic environment without peers in your day-to-day life, you are going to have times when you feel like you are falling behind. However, there are things you can do to mitigate that, such as adhering to a reasonable, realistic timetable. Break things down into chunks, and focus on one segment at a time to not get overwhelmed. Make use of your tutors, yes, but I would also advise you take the opportunity to first try and resolve whatever you are stuck on yourself so you can immediately move on to the next part without having to wait. That is a vital skill; taking your learning into your own hands. Being able to learn independently and utilise other available resources online or in a library is something that will serve you well going forward – especially if you are progressing to University.” – Henry

You can find our full range of A level courses here.