About Us
The National Extension College is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1963 by Michael Young (Lord Young of Dartington), to provide a second chance at education for those who either missed out on education the first time round, or need to retrain in order to change careers.
NEC has been providing distance learning courses for 55 years and has helped thousands of learners to achieve their goals. Courses range from GCSEs and A levels, to childcare and management qualifications, and combine personal tutor support and flexibility providing an ideal solution for thousands of learners every year.
Press releases
National Extension College students receive their GCSE exam results
Distance learning students who sit their exams as private candidates are set to take the next step on their academic and career journeys after... read more
24.08.2023 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Cambridge-based educational charity celebrates 60th birthday
The National Extension College (NEC), who are based in Sawston on the outskirts of Cambridge, are reaching a landmark birthday in 2023 as they... read more
02.08.2023 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Workplace returners and adults seeking a change of career can apply for...
Adult learners could get up to £1,000 towards their study with NEC to develop their skills and help them to get back into the workplace or to... read more
27.07.2023 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Comedian Russell Kane and author Kit De Waal launch new scholarship in...
The Russell Kane Scholarship, through the National Extension College, will support 3 learners through their GCSEs and A levels. A new... read more
22.07.2022 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
How ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards Jumped Back into Education
As the Winter Olympics have drawn to a close we find out what happened to second chance learner Eddie the Eagle, the unlikely hero of the 1988... read more
01.03.2022 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
How did distance learning students do in A levels and GCSEs compared to...
NEC students achieved a high overall pass rate of 98.5% in both GCSEs and A levels. Background 2021 saw another year of exam cancellations... read more
20.08.2021 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Cambridge-based National Extension College appoints new Chief Executive
The National Extension College (NEC) – one of the UK’s longest-established providers of distance learning – has appointed Esther Chesterman as its... read more
06.05.2021 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
The National Extension College release A level and GCSE results
“It was impossible to fulfil my dreams without my parent’s and NEC’s patience, support, motivation and 24/7 accessibility to my learning... read more
24.08.2020 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Coronavirus (COVID 19) – important update from The National Extension...
Following the recent government announcement regarding coronavirus, we wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the steps that NEC is... read more
19.03.2020 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
The Future is Digital for A level History of Art
THE FUTURE IS DIGITAL FOR A LEVEL HISTORY OF ART Prospective students of art history can now study the subject wherever they are, thanks to a... read more
13.11.2019 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
NEC launches new IGCSE Double Science
“I have found studying by distance learning a rewarding yet challenging experience. Studying in this way lets you choose your own hours to study... read more
29.08.2019 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Breaking News: GCSE exam results of NEC students released today
"Self-study made me realise that learning never stops. It's not a race, not a sprint, not even a marathon, but it's a lifelong journey." - Natalia... read more
22.08.2019 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Breaking News: A level exam results of NEC students released today
You don’t have to go to school to get an A level. Among the 300,000 students ( BBC, 2019 ) taking A levels each year are thousands of adult and... read more
15.08.2019 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
NEC to offer pioneering Further Maths distance learning course
The National Extension College (NEC), using Mathematics in Education and Industry’s (MEI’s) Integral ® online teaching and learning... read more
11.12.2018 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
External review rates NEC childcare and early years courses as ‘excellent’
The National Extension College (NEC) is committed to delivering quality in distance learning across its diverse course portfolio. An external... read more
08.02.2018 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
NEC pioneers IQA process to ensure quality in distance learning
As a pioneer of distance learning, the National Extension College (NEC) is committed to providing a high-quality learning experience for... read more
01.02.2018 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Adult GCSE and A level students are at risk of falling through the...
Distance learning provider the National Extension College (NEC) warns today that adults who want to improve their qualifications by studying as... read more
01.11.2017 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Publish the exam results of adult A level and GCSE candidates studying...
Now this year’s A level and GCSE results have been published and the detailed analysis of grade trends is well underway, education charity the... read more
21.09.2017 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
OPEN UNIVERSITY RENEWS MOU WITH NATIONAL EXTENSION COLLEGE
The Open University (OU) and the National Extension College (NEC) have agreed a memorandum of understanding to campaign jointly to reverse the... read more
14.09.2017 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Distance learning no barrier to top GCSE grades
Yesterday, schools minister Nick Gibb praised the hard work of ‘hundreds and thousands of 16-year olds’ who received their GCSE grades. But it’s... read more
26.08.2016 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
NEC French A level students go against the national trend of falling...
As teenagers across the country receive their A level results, NEC wants to be a reminder of the other students who also received their results... read more
19.08.2016 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Technology trustee appointment as NEC gears up for new GCSE and A level...
Open and distance learning provider the National Extension College (NEC) has appointed education technology specialist Dick Moore as a trustee.... read more
27.03.2015 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Distance learning students from Essex to Asia awarded A* in English IGCSE
92.3% A*-C pass mark for National Extension College’s distance learning students as grade A*-C passes in English GCSE show historic fall As... read more
22.08.2014 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
National Extension College’s second chance students celebrate A level...
The focus of attention following the publication yesterday of A level results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is on 18 and 19-year-olds who... read more
15.08.2014 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Opportunities for learning at work enhanced through new Unionlearn and...
Unionlearn board chair Dr Mary Bousted and National Extension College Chief Executive Ros Morpeth have signed a memorandum of... read more
23.06.2014 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
National Extension College launches free online learning challenge for...
Online and distance learning provider the National Extension College (NEC) is giving people the chance to improve their knowledge and skills with... read more
11.06.2014 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Solar-powered maths and English GCSEs on the horizon with NEC’s Open...
Some of society’s most vulnerable groups of learners – prisoners, travellers, young people excluded from school, adults struggling with literacy... read more
10.04.2014 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Two new Trustee appointments for national distance learning provider NEC
The Open School Trust has appointed former CACHE (the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education) Chief Executive Richard Dorrance and former... read more
17.01.2014 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Qualifications for homeless people, ex-offenders and refugees thanks to...
Clients of charities working with homeless people, ex-offenders and refugees are learning new skills and working towards qualifications to help... read more
10.12.2013 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)
Outstanding results for distance learning students
The National Extension College (NEC) has some excellent GCSE and IGCSE results today. 74% have received grades A*-C, compared to 68% nationally.... read more
23.08.2013 • By The National Extension College (Part of the Open School Trust)