Supporting Schools, Empowering Success.

Delivering education your way

Established in 1963, the National Extension College (NEC) has pioneered distance learning for over six decades. Our founder, Michael Young, envisioned accessible education for everyone, leading to NEC’s creation.

We have a strong legacy of innovation and inclusivity, transforming the lives of thousands through flexible, supported learning.

As a not-for-profit organisation, our mission remains to provide high-quality education, no matter the student’s background or circumstances.

Here’s how the NEC can help your institution

NEC can offer your school a tailored support package. All our course materials are designed by subject matter experts, and all NEC online courses lead to qualifications from the major UK exam boards.

By partnering with NEC, you can:

  • Challenge gifted and talented students.
  • Support students struggling with regular attendance due to complex issues or long-term illnesses.
  • Accommodate neurodiverse students with alternative learning methods.
  • Broaden subject offerings, including psychology, philosophy, astronomy, and politics.
  • Offer an additional modern language.
  • Offer courses to meet student demand, such as GCSE Computer Science or Level 2 Programming for Beginners with Python.
  • Resolve timetable conflicts and address staff shortages.
  • Complete essential GCSEs, such as English and maths.
  • Develop independent study skills crucial for higher education and employment.

Book a call with our Schools Team

Contact our team to discuss how the NEC can assist in supporting your school

Special Offer

Level 2 Programming with Python

Enrol 5 students in our ‘Level 2 Programming with Python‘ course for free!* Expand your curriculum with minimal cost.

Redeem Your Offer Now

(*£60 certification fee per student applies.)

Stories from our students

We can help your school offer more opportunities for your students

When Kathryn discovered her school’s sixth form didn’t offer A-level Psychology, she turned to NEC. Despite initial concerns about balancing distance learning with her other classroom-based courses, teaching herself a new subject, and being the only psychology student in her school.

Kathryn’s worries were soon put to rest. “I needn’t have worried,” she reflects. She adapted well to the independent study format, appreciating the autonomy it provided. The feedback from her NEC tutor was particularly valuable, offering encouraging, supportive, and constructive insights. This support and flexibility enabled Kathryn to successfully integrate her A-level psychology studies with her existing educational commitments, demonstrating the effectiveness of NEC’s approach to distance learning.

“My school was very supportive, and the NEC course was straightforward, requiring no prior knowledge of psychology.”

Kathryn Tompsett, A level Psychology student
View more student stories

Available courses

Our expert-developed courses ensure that every NEC online programme provides pathways to recognised qualifications from leading UK awarding bodies.

17 subjects

GCSE courses

Perhaps you have a timetable clash or are looking to offer additional subjects to talented students? We have a wide range of GCSE subjects that we can support your school with.

GCSEs
A young student wearing a yellow top smiles while working at a computer in a relaxed home study space, representing the flexibility and independence of online A level learning.
21 subjects

A level courses

Looking to offer a new A level subject but don’t have the teaching capacity or expertise? We can help provided tailored courses from our range of subjects to suit your school.

A levels
Alternative qualifications

Functional skills

Do you have students who are more suited to the practical application of maths and English? Then we can help by providing functional skills courses.

Functional skills
Alternative qualifications

Skills development

These courses provide beginners in teh subject with a basic grounding, before taking you through to more advanced skills. See them as a pre-introduction to GCSEs

Skills development

Tutor support

At NEC, our tutors are more than educators they’re mentors dedicated to your students’ growth. With vast experience and online teaching skills, they offer excellent support, marking assignments thoroughly and providing insightful feedback. All tutors are qualified teachers and many are examiners, all are QTS and DBS checked.

What to know more? Request a call back from our Partnership Consultant

Our partners

A selection of organisations that we work with

What our schools say

With over 20 years’ experience working with schools and colleges, the National Extension College (NEC) has a wealth of expertise in supporting you and your students with flexible learning.
With over 20 years’ experience working with schools and colleges, the National Extension College (NEC) has a wealth of expertise in supporting you and your students with flexible learning.
“NEC’s approach, with personal tuition for every student provided as part of the course, means we don’t have to give a thought to timetabling, teaching time, marking students’ work or preparing them for exams.”
Terry Smith
Specialist music school, UK
“We have been impressed with the service we have had from NEC since using them for the first time this year to enable us to offer A level Spanish. The team are very responsive to any questions, the support of students seems to be strong and they are very willing to provide a bespoke service to suit our needs.”
Paul Jackson
Headteacher

Flexible learning

Our courses are designed to be flexible, allowing students to study at their own pace and convenience. Whether at school, home, or on the move, students can access their courses online, fitting study around existing commitments and your own school timetable.

Your students will receive:

  • Meticulously crafted course materials designed to lead them through subjects, tailored for independent study.
  • Dedicated personal tutors, providing guidance throughout the course, assessing assignments, and offering valuable feedback.
  • Online access to course materials, featuring interactive forums for students to engage with peers enrolled in the same course.

    Additional support offered
by NEC

    • Exams and Non-Exam Assessments (NEA): NEC can support schools by offering students a place at one of our partnership exam centres. As an exam board accredited centre, NEC is able to assess and validate coursework through our exams services. Additionally, we provide suitable venues to facilitate these endorsements.
    • Support for UCAS Applications: As a UCAS centre, NEC offers specialised support for UCAS applications, including predicted grades, references, and personal statement reviews.

    Partner with NEC and let’s unlock the full potential of education together.

    Book a call with our Schools Team

    Frequently asked questions

    Find key details and important information regarding our partnerships with schools and colleges

    Yes! Your school will get access to the Pupil Progress Tracker to stay updated on student progress throughout their course.

    NEC provides a range of UCAS services, ensuring comprehensive support for students. These services include:

    • Confirmation of Predicted Grades: Offering assurance to both students and schools regarding predicted grades, crucial for the UCAS application process.
    • Academic Comments from Course Tutors: Insightful feedback from our experienced tutors to strengthen students’ academic profiles and applications.
    • Personal Statement Reviews: Expert review and refinement of personal statements, enhancing students’ chances of securing admission to their desired institutions. Explore options for ‘live’ tuition for individuals or groups of students.

    If you are interested in this service, please let us know so that we can offer the right package for your school.

    NEC can provide ‘live’ tuition for individuals and groups of students to cater for your schools and students’ individual needs. Let us know what level of tuition you need and we can tailor a package to help support your school.

    Yes! At NEC we offer a selection of A levels designed to be studied in a year, we refer to these as Structured Fast Track A level; a full list of these subjects can be found here: www.nec.ac.uk/courses/structured-fast-track-a-levels/. We would be more than happy to explain in further detail how these work, so don’t hesitate to get in contact with a member of our team.

    NEC supports apprenticeships by offering Functional Skills Level 1 & 2 courses, as well as GCSE Maths and English, to help apprentices meet the essential skills requirements needed for their programmes.

    Yes, we offer courses for teachers too! Teachers aiming to expand their qualifications or teach at a higher level can enrol in courses to gain additional skills. For instance, a teacher currently teaching GCSE Biology can take a course to prepare for teaching A Level Biology.

    Explore our course options here or get in contact with a member of our team to discuss your requirements.

      Ready to take the next step?

      Flexible solutions to support you and your students

      Contact our dedicated Schools Team to learn more and begin your partnership with NEC today.

      Get in touch