At Pearson, we value protecting the integrity of our qualifications and assessments for our learners. Our centres have a shared responsibility to help us do this through reporting and managing possible conflicts of interest that may arise relating to our qualification assessments.

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Submitting a conflict of interest assessment declaration to Pearson

Under the JCQ General Regulations for Approved Centres (section 5.3 j), you must tell Pearson about: 

  • Any members of centre staff who are taking qualifications at their own centre which include internally assessed components/units. 
  • Any members of centre staff who are teaching and preparing members of their family (including step-family, foster family, and similar close relationships) or close friends and their immediate family (e.g., son/daughter) for qualifications that include internally assessed components/units. 

(Please also see JCQ Instructions for Conducting Coursework 2026–2027 (section 8.2).

  • This requirement also extends to centre staff conducting internally assessed or externally assessed Speaking, Listening or Oracy components/units.

Under the JCQ High-level principles for the conducting MFL and Irish Speaking assessments, section 2, such assessments must be conducted by the teacher-examiner. They cannot be conducted by a relative of the candidate unless the relative is a member of teaching staff. If this is the case, you must notify Pearson of the potential conflict of interest. 

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When to submit a declaration 

If any of the situations above apply to your centre, complete our declaration of interest form. 

Centre Declaration of Interest form

For general qualifications, tell us about a conflict of interest before the published entry deadline for the relevant exam series, or as soon as the conflict becomes apparent. 

For vocational qualifications, tell us as soon as you register the learner, or as soon as the conflict becomes apparent. 

NOTE: It is important that the deadline for submitting a declaration of interest is adhered to especially where the internally assessed component requires a visit from an examiner for moderation, for example for the subject Physical Education. You will find entry deadline dates in the Key Dates calendar on our website here.

Please note, when entering members of centre staff for qualifications with internally assessed components at their own centre, this must be as a last resort in cases where the member of centre staff is unable to find an alternative centre.  

Full details of the regulations can be found in (section 5.3j) and  JCQ Instructions for Conducting Coursework 2026-2027 (section 8.2).

Keeping internal records of conflicts of interest related to assessments

You must also keep clear internal records where: 

  • Exams office staff have members of their family (including step-family, foster family and similar close relationships), or close friends and their immediate family, being entered for examinations and assessments either at your centre or another centre. 
  • Centre staff are taking qualifications at their own centre that do not include internally assessed components or units.
  • Centre staff are taking qualifications at other centres. 

If you're unsure whether a situation needs to be declared, please contact us through the Pearson Support Portal.

Thank you for helping us protect the integrity of Pearson qualifications and assessments.