T Levels April 2026 update
Welcome to April's T Level update. This month's update includes news on our key dates schedules, new specifications, new support videos and your usual sector updates.
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Things to do this month
We recently wrote to providers to let you know about a correction to our key dates schedule and timetable that impacts the summer 2026 employer set projects for:
- Digital Infrastructure/Network Cabling
- Digital Support
- Cyber Security
The notice corrects the Task 2 timing in the key dates schedule.
What was wrong: Task 2 incorrectly shown as a window.
Correct approach: Task 2 is on a Pearson-set date and must be before Task 3
Confirmed date: Friday 15 May 2026
Materials released: Wednesday 13 May 2026 (two working days prior)
Submission date: Monday 18 May 2026.
We understand this change may cause disruption and we’re sorry for the mistake. The updated key dates schedule is available to download now from our admin support page.
The updated key dates schedule for Media is available to download now from our admin support page, so please make sure you’re using the latest version.
The time for Events and Venue Technician Task 2b has been amended from 3 hours to 2 hours. Please ensure that you are using the updated version.
We’ll publish our draft key dates schedules for 2026/27 and 2027/28 to the admin support page on 26 April, and we'll want your feedback.
Once the draft schedules are available, we ask that you complete this short form by 15 May to share your feedback.
The updated specifications for the 2026–2027 academic year are now available for all our contracts in live delivery, excluding the T Levels in Health and Science. You’ll find the new specifications on each Technical Qualification’s landing page.
As part of this annual update, we've removed all the generic administration information from the specifications and created a single document applicable to all Pearson T Levels.
Download the new assessment delivery and administration guide from our admin support page.
We’ve updated and added to our Keeping it Simple on-demand training. These short videos are perfect for getting to know the basics about T Levels; use them with colleagues new to T Levels, prospective students and their parents/guardians, or with your employers offering industry placements. The series includes:
- Introducing the T Level
- Introducing the Core Component
- Introducing the Occupational Specialism
- Introducing our Provider Support Offer
The entry window for core assessments for the summer 2026 series is open. You must make an entry for every student wishing to enter the assessment.
If you are making resit entries, make sure you’re familiar with the resit rules, which you can find in the specification or watch our ‘assessment, results and resits video’ on the admin support page.
If you’re currently delivering any of the following T Levels, we’d love to hear your views and collaborate with you.
- Accounting
- Management and Administration
- Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
- Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
- Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
Joining our provider panel means you can help shape the new Technical Qualifications, with access to draft specifications and assessment materials as they’re developed.
We're also looking for employers to join our employer panels, especially those that have given placements to T level students.
Contact Andrew Hambelton at at andrew.hambelton@pearson.com or tlevelsemployers@pearson.com to get involved.
The window for providers to apply for approval to start delivery in September 2026 is now open. You must gain approval for each Technical Qualification you want to deliver.
Watch our provider approval video before starting your application.
You can find all the support documents and approval forms you'll need on our training and admin support page. Simply start with the Guide to Provider Approval document and follow the instructions from there.
Find everything you need for your provider approval
If you’re starting delivery of the T Level in Health or the T Level in Science with Pearson in September 2026, you can’t apply for approval until the Generation 2 Technical Qualifications have been approved by DfE. We’re expecting this to happen in April, and we’ll let you know once they’ve been approved. From there, you’ll have until 28 June to apply for approval to deliver these T Levels starting in September 2026.
Sector updates
As this summer is the first moderation window for the Craft and Design and Media, Broadcast and Production occupational specialisms, we’ve put together a range of materials to help you with moderation and delivery.
You’ll find the admin support guides and moderation forms and guidance on our admin support page.
We’ve put together a playlist of moderation training covering the SAMs, AdSAMs and GSEMs on Youtube.
Watch the T Level Moderation Training playlist
Mark schemes, core content teaching guides, student exemplar responses and occupational specialism delivery guides (Craft and Design only) are on each qualification’s course materials page:
The admin support guide for the Project Delivery for Construction and the Built Environment occupational specialism is now available to download from the admin support page.
Help your students shine with our principal examiner deep-dive sessions
Want practical tips to boost your students’ performance? Our principal examiner has created an on-demand session packed with insights to help you guide learners through the core exam.
Watch the principal examiner core exam deep-dive session
Autumn 2025 Series papers, mark schemes and examiner reports are now available on the course materials page.
ESP tracking sheets available
We’ve created tracking sheets for all employer set projects to help you mark and track students in any mocks you run. You can download these from each qualification’s course materials page.
Download your admin support guides
The admin support guides are now available for all employer set projects ahead of the summer series. Make sure you read these and the relevant key dates schedules before you start assessments. You’ll find the admin support guides and key dates schedules on our admin support page.
Watch our Getting Ready to Teach videos
Playlists of our Getting Ready to Teach bitesize videos are now live for you to watch on our YouTube channel for each of the Digital T Levels:
Good news! We have approval from DfE and Ofqual
The T Level Technical Qualifications in Health and Science have been approved by the DfE and Ofqual. We’re in the process of regulating the qualifications, which will generate the QAN we need to progress your provider approval applications.
Remember, you'll need to apply for provider approval if you’re delivering in September 2026; see the provider approval section above for more details.
The specification and specimen assessment materials should be published by the end of this term. We’ve previously shared the pre-publication version with providers who joined our validation panel. If you weren’t on the panel but would like a copy, contact andrew.hambelton@pearson.com.
Bookmark the T Level Health and Science pages so you can keep up to date:
Explore our industry partner support
Don’t forget, our professional body partnerships are here to support you. Explore all our professional body and employee partners to see what they can offer you and your T Level students.
A reminder that we’ve published new resources for the core component and the occupational specialism on the course materials page, under ‘teaching and learning materials’.
Download new Marketing teaching and learning materials
CIM opportunity for T Level Marketing students
Pearson and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) have partnered to give your T Level Marketing students a new way to work towards a professional marketing qualification alongside their studies.
To find out more or discuss how this could work for your college, contact Rachel.thomas@cim.co.uk.
Need help?
Our training and admin support hub makes it easier for you to find the help you need when you need it. You can find admin documents and support, on-demand and live training resources, our training archive, provider FAQs, support from industry professionals and more, all in one place.
Some support materials are padlocked, meaning you'll need to have an Edexcel Online account to download them. If you don't have Edexcel Online access, please speak to your centre exams officer.
Need support? Our subject advisors are ready to help with your questions. Book a 15-minute one-to-one call and get personalised advice and guidance for your subject.
