Vocational Qualifications Bulletin July 2026
Welcome to your Vocational Qualifications Bulletin for July 2026. This update covers preparing for results, digital credentials, funding changes and your usual qualification and quality assurance news.
Welcome to your July edition
With many of you heading into your summer break, this is the last update before results are released in August.
I want to take a moment to thank you for everything you’ve done this year to support your students and help them achieve the qualifications they’ve worked so hard for.
Thank you also for submitting your BTEC claims by 5 July. We know how much work goes into this, and it means we now have everything we need to make sure your students get their results on time in August.
This will be the first summer that BTEC students can receive a digital credential alongside their results. Make sure your students don’t miss out, so they can easily share a verifiable record of their achievement with future employers and education providers.
If you need any support between now and results day, we’re here to help. You can find guidance in our online resources or get in touch with us via the Pearson support portal.
Best wishes,
Hayley White
Vice President Assessment, Standards and Services
Dates for your diary
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|
| 5 July | BTEC claim deadline for students expecting a summer 2026 result.
|
| 5 August | BTEC Level 3 National results released to centres under embargo |
| 13 August | BTEC Level 3 National results released to students |
| 14 August | BTEC Level 1/2 Firsts, Level 2 Technicals and BTEC Tech Award results released to centres under embargo |
| 20 August | BTEC Level 1/2 Firsts, Level 2 Technicals and BTEC Tech Award results released to students |
In this month's update
Thank you for all your hard work leading up to the 5 July claim deadline. We’ve received the vast majority of claims for BTEC students expecting results this summer, and we’re working closely with centres who need extra support.
Keep monitoring your summer 2026 cohort in the VQ Learner Tracker between now and results in case any new actions appear.
How did it go?
If you’ve got a minute, your feedback on the 5 July deadline will help us improve the process for next year.
Need to amend any claims?
If you've spotted any mistakes after submitting your BTEC National, First or L2 Technical full award claims, use our new online claim amendment form to send us the amendment.
You can also use the form if you haven’t submitted a full award claim but need to change a grade to a higher one.
You’ll find the new form on the BTEC & Functional Skills landing screen in Edexcel Online.
You’ll receive your Level 3 BTEC results under embargo on 5 August, giving you time to check everything before releasing results to students on 13 August.
Level 2 BTEC results will follow under embargo on 14 August, ahead of release to students on 20 August.
Join a results webinar
We’re running a results webinar covering what to check before results day, what to expect on the day, and what you may need to do afterwards.
Results readiness webinar, 3 August, 2–3pm | Register
If you can’t attend, we’ll publish the recordings in the Pearson Development Hub. We’ve also compiled all our results support articles in one place so you can find them easily.
Students receiving some vocational qualifications this summer can also receive a digital credential; a verified, shareable online record of their achievement.
To make sure eligible students receive their digital credential, you need to add student email addresses in Edexcel Online before results day.
What you need to do now
Add a centre email address for each student in Edexcel Online, and you can do this in bulk. If you don’t add an email address in time, we won’t be able to issue the digital credential.
If you’ve missed our earlier update, read the full email for details, including eligibility, FAQs and step‑by‑step guidance for you and your students.
If you deliver programmes where learners start on a smaller qualification and progress to a larger one in year 2, you may need to review your plans for learners starting in September 2026.
Some qualifications will lose funding in England from August 2027 as part of post‑16 reform. These include:
- Level 3 Extended Diplomas in Agriculture, Animal Management, Business, Digital, Enterprise, Engineering, Horticulture and Forestry, Marketing, Media, and Science, where T Level alternatives are available
- Level 3 qualifications in Digital and Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Education and Early Years, where reformed qualifications will be available from 2027.
If you currently use any of these qualifications as a progression from a smaller size, you’ll need to register learners on the larger qualification from the start of their programme in September 2026. This helps make sure learners are registered before funding is withdrawn and avoids disruption part‑way through their course.
Check you're approved to deliver T Levels from September 2026
If you’re planning to deliver T Levels with Pearson from September 2026, make sure you’re approved for every subject on your curriculum. If you’re not approved, you won’t be able to deliver those qualifications.
If you still need to apply, you can find everything you need on our admin support page, including application forms and guidance to help you get set up.
If you have any questions or need support with your application, contact us via the Pearson support portal so we can help.
Visit the T Level admin support page
Catch up on all the news
Read July's T Level update for all the latest news, key dates and sector updates.
Missing out? Sign up to T Level updates to get the latest news to your inbox each month.
Ffion Williams has joined the VQAM team and will support centres across Wales and the North West.
You can check the updated VQAM map to see who covers your area.
See which VQAM covers your area
Meet your VQAM
Book a short Teams call with your vocational quality assurance manager if you have a quick question or want one-to-one support.
Choose a 15‑minute slot at a time that suits you to talk through issues, sense‑check your approach or get reassurance on next steps.
Updated Business specification available
Version 6 of the Higher Nationals in Business specification is now available. This latest version includes content updates to keep the qualifications and your delivery current. You can see a full summary of changes at the start of the specification.
Outstanding samples: get set up in SharePoint
Level 1 and 2 Speaking and Listening, Entry Level Functional Skills, ESOL, EDSQ and ESW
To avoid delays with standards verification sampling, make sure everyone involved has accepted their Microsoft invitation and can access the SharePoint site before you upload evidence for your virtual visit.
It’s worth testing access early and checking you can upload files. Last‑minute access requests can delay sampling and the release of certificates.
If you’re missing SharePoint links or having trouble accessing or uploading files, contact us as soon as possible so you have time to resolve this before your sampling date.
Join our Functional Skills, ESOL and EDSQ Facebook group
You can now join a dedicated Facebook group for teachers and managers delivering Functional Skills, ESOL and EDSQ, giving you a place to get quick updates, resources and share best practice.
Quality assurance dates for your diary
- Standards verification activity: November 2025 – July 2026 (although timings may vary by programme)
- Lead standards verifier reviews (if applicable): dates agreed directly with your centre
Not sure if you’re in scope for a lead standards verifier review? See pages 51–55 of the Work Based Learning Centre Guide to Quality Assurance 2025–2026 handbook.
Summer results
To avoid delays to your learners’ certification, check that the estimated completion dates in Edexcel Online are correct for learners expecting results this summer. If you run into any issues updating these, contact us so we can look into it and help resolve any problems quickly.
Standards verification
To avoid delays to your learners’ certification, complete any remaining standards verifier and lead standards verifier (where applicable) activity before the end of the academic year.
If you run into any issues, contact us via the Pearson support portal so we can help resolve them quickly.
Reasonable adjustments and extenuating circumstances requests
Submit any reasonable adjustment or extenuating circumstance requests as early as possible, so your apprentices get the support they need in time. You can only raise extenuating circumstance requests after Gateway has been approved.
Some requests need additional evidence or specific forms. You can find guidance on what to provide on the JCQ website and in our end-point assessment support articles.
Submitting reasonable adjustment requests
Submitting extenuating circumstance requests
We aim to process requests within five working days. Delays can happen if evidence is missing or the wrong form is submitted. Providing the right information first time helps us review your request quickly and put the right arrangements in place for your learners.
We have a range of recruitment opportunities available to our existing associates across all vocational qualifications, including BTEC, Functional Skills, End Point Assessments and T Levels. Whether you’re looking to expand your experience, take on new responsibilities or get involved in different areas of assessment, there are a variety of roles to suit your skills and interests.
