Author: Open College

When it comes to studying A-Levels outside of traditional school or college, the choices in subjects and awarding bodies is large and can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. In this blog we’re going to look at the main and most important differences between the four main awarding bodies for A-Levels. First, it’s important to highlight that although all the materials and syllabus focus may vary from awarding body to awarding body, the actual value and weight of any A-Level is the same, graded on an A* – E system with the application of UCAS points, if a student holds an A on an AQA course that is viewed the same… Read More

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When you think of studying GCSEs it’s no surprise you think you have to study them at school. But we’re looking at doing GCSEs from home and how it’s perfectly possible for you to study them without the restraints of traditional school or college. GCSEs are one of those qualifications that are often overlooked or neglected. People think that it’s all about A-Levels and degrees, but actually, GCSEs can prove to be very useful and a vital qualification to hold, especially if you’re looking to study Medicine or become a Teacher. What subjects are available? Subjects in GCSEs are wide ranging, even if you’re studying them online. You have the… Read More

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Regardless of what profession you are in, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is vital for keeping your skills up to date and relevant in your working environment. In some professions, CPD is viewed as so important, that it’s actually a requirement to undertake a certain amount of hours of Continuing Professional Development each year. Continuing Professional Development refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work. Although done as part of your working career, the CPD that you choose to undertake doesn’t have to directly relate to your profession. So for example, if you are a Caregiver,… Read More

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Although A-Levels are a UK qualification, they are becoming more and more popular with International Students. A-levels are a great and simple way to ensure you have all the right qualifications to get offered a place at your chosen university. A-Level courses are available from 4 main awarding bodies, AQA, Cambridge (Cambridge International), Pearson Edexcel and OCR. Regardless of which awarding body you gain your A-Levels from, they are all graded and worth the same UCAS points based on the grade you achieve. So whether you achieved an A on an AQA A-Level or an A on an Pearson A-Level, that grade is worth the same amount of UCAS points… Read More

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If you have a child who is unhappy or struggling at school or college, you may be asking yourself ‘when can my child leave school?’. As a parent, your overriding need is to make your children happy and to protect them from anything that brings them distress, so it’s only natural that if your child is unhappy with traditional education you might start to look at what other options you have. It is important to remember that in this day and age, if your child leaves school, it doesn’t mean their education has to stop there. There are many alternate options you can look at, which we will cover later… Read More

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If you’re thinking of studying medicine at university, it’s vital you make sure you have the right qualifications to be accepted. Medical degrees are notoriously hard to get places on, regardless of if you are trying to to get offered a place at Oxford or Cambridge, competition for places is fierce and you need to ensure you are fully prepared. There are several factors that make studying medicine harder than doing other degrees. Aside from the length of the degrees (medical degrees are at least six years in length), the entry steps and requirements are also harder. Firstly, you need to get your UCAS application in earlier than the standard… Read More

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Teaching really is one of those wonderful careers where you get to feel like you’re really making a difference with your work. Unlike in previous years where the only options for becoming a teacher involved getting a degree and then completing a PGCE, there are now lots of different routes into teaching and lots of different fields of teaching where you get to help students of all ages and levels. With the rise in vocational subjects and courses, there is a huge demand at the moment for teachers and teaching assistants to help students achieve their educational goals. With this in mind, the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning… Read More

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Being caught up in a lockdown doesn’t have to be a bad thing! If you use your time wisely, you can actually be really productive and get lots of things done or ticked off your todo list. So, we’re going to try and help inspire you to get going with our top 10 things to do in a lockdown! Obviously, this list of top 10 things isn’t going to be a fits all solution for everyone, but it should help to inspire you and get you thinking of positive things you can do instead of just binge watching Netflix or non top browsing of Amazon. Top 10 things to do… Read More

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Working in Childcare can be a very rewarding and fun career to have. With the number of parents now having to work to support their families, the demand for people working in childcare is growing quickly. When thinking of working in Childcare, you may only think of the obvious options such as working within a nursery or school, but there really are many other choices available, from being your own boss as a Childminder through to being a Nanny or Au Pair, there are plenty of options. Once you have decided on the area of Childcare that you would like to work in, you’re next step is to find out… Read More

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Are you someone who cares and wants to make a difference? Then becoming a nurse might just be the perfect career for you. Imagine being that person who helps and supports a patient all the way through from when they first need help and assistance until they are fully healed. Usually, when you think of working in medicine or healthcare, thinking about becoming a nurse might not be your first thought. But nursing really is one of the most rewarding and versatile careers out there! There are so many areas of medicine and healthcare where you can do your bit and be a nurse, from children’s nursing to adult nursing… Read More

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