October 2025 Teaching Science update

Timetables can be viewed on the website.

We are excited to announce a regional Hub meeting in Bristol for the Autumn term. The meeting will be open to all science teachers across all exam boards with an opportunity to: 

• collaborate and share best practices
• participate in expert-led professional development sessions to enhance your knowledge of current issues, skills, and resources

Join us for an insightful session focused on 'Supporting Learners with Lower Prior Attainment' and a  ‘Think Science! Think Differently' workshop.

The 'Think Science! Think Differently' workshop is dedicated to exploring the future of GCSE Science education. This is your opportunity to be part of a transformative conversation on GCSE Science curriculum, assessment and help build key skills for the future STEM workforce. Let's think science, think differently, and shape the future together!

Venue Details: Bristol Regional Network 22 October 2025 at 2-4 pm CLF Institute City Academy Bristol (Sports Centre Site) Russell Town Ave Redfield Bristol BS5 9JH

• Register here

Dates of upcoming GCSE Science Summer 2025 exam insight events

• GCSE Combined Science Chemistry: 06 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
• GCSE Combined Science Physics: 08 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
• GCSE Chemistry: 09 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
• GCSE Physics: 13 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
• GCSE Biology:  14 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT

These training events are for teachers of Pearson Edexcel GCSE Sciences and provide feedback and insights on the summer 2025 exam series.

The sessions identify key observations related to candidate performance highlighted in the examiner report and provides strategies to help with your planning for the year ahead.

You will:

• look at candidate performance from the summer 2025 exam series
• review key observations and trends identified in the examiner reports
• explore these key observations in more detail using annotated exemplars
• discover teaching and learning strategies to address challenges identified.

Please note: A recording of the event will be accessible exclusively to attendees within three days following the event. Subsequently, the recording will be added to the past training content area of the qualification website, secured behind a padlock, later in the term.

• Book via the science training events page

A free online event, delivered by one of our credible specialists, has been designed to support teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel GCSE Science qualifications. The training will offer an opportunity to review a variety of exam questions from past papers and examine student exemplars. Participants will learn how to credit these exemplars correctly using guidance from examiners. You will:

• discuss the different approaches to running, marking and moderating mock exams• look at a variety of sample assessment questions and discuss marking
• discuss marked exemplars of exam responses.

A recording of the event will be available to attendees only. Subsequently, the recording will be added to the qualification website, secured behind a padlock later in the term. 

• Register onto the event
  13 November 2025 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT |Free| Pearson Event Code 1SC0-25O4/01

22 January 2026 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT

We will be hosting a free online event to support teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel GCSE Science qualifications. The training offers a chance to network with fellow teachers and explore ideas and suggestions on how you, as a classroom teacher, can better support students who find the subject more challenging.  You will:

• discuss strategies used in the classroom to help students develop skills that many struggle with
• observe the live-marking of responses, focusing on how the analysis and evaluation skills are awarded
• be provided with suggestions as to how to improve student responses that lack context. 

A recording of the event will be available to attendees only.

• Register here

Dates of A level Science Summer 2025 Exam Insight training events

• A Level Physics: Exam Insights: 07 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
  
• A Level Chemistry: Exam Insights 16 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
• A Level Biology B  Exam Insights 16 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
• A Level Biology A: Exam Insights 21 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT 

These training events are for teachers of Pearson Edexcel A Level Sciences and provide feedback and insights on the summer 2025 exam series. The sessions identify  key observations related to candidate performance highlighted in the examiner report and provide strategies to help with your planning for the year ahead.

You will:

• look at candidate performance from the summer 2025 exam series
• review key observations and trends identified in the examiner reports
• explore these key observations in more detail using annotated exemplars
• discover teaching and learning strategies to address challenges identified.

Please note: A recording of the event will be accessible exclusively to attendees. Subsequently, the recording will be added to the past training content area of the qualification website, secured behind a padlock, later in the term.

• Book via the training events page

7 and 15 October 2025 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT.

To help you prepare to deliver the new BTEC National AAQ (2025) in Applied Science qualification this Autumn we will be hosting a 'Getting Started' event.

The events are aimed at UK based teachers and the live sessions will meet the following objectives:

• Centres can confidently plan the delivery of the new qualifications at Level 3, based on their and their learners' needs.
• Centres have a clear view on the underpinning knowledge required to deliver the units.
• Centres identify how to use internal assessment support materials to inform teaching and learning and understand the standard. 

The training will provide a general run-through of internal and external assessment. These areas will be covered in greater detail in our BTEC National (2025) ‘Getting Ready to Assess Internal Units’ and ‘Preparing Your Learners for External Assessment’ events. 

You can register for the events from the training page or the events page.

There will be more events taking place in November.

• Register via the training page
• Register on our events page

20 October 2025 at 15:30 - 17:00 GMT

Get ready for internal assessment in ​BTEC National (AAQ) in Applied Science (2025) by registering for events this Autumn. These events are suitable for centres in England and will cover a minimum of one mandatory unit plus another unit where applicable. Delegates will:

• Review the QA process for the BTEC National Level 3 qualifications
• Explore the assessment criteria and requirements for internal assessment.
• Look at some examples of assessment materials. 
• Address common issues and frequently asked questions. 

More events will also take place in November.

• Register via the training page
• Register on our events page

Dates: Oct 7 & Nov 24. Events will take place 4-5pm.

This session is an excellent CPD opportunity aimed at new and experienced Lead
Internal Verifiers (LIVs). The session will take you through the key roles and responsibilities over the academic year with reference to the BTEC Entry/Level 1 to Level 3 annual quality assurance model. The event will cover team standardisation, the importance of assessment planning, internal verification planning, resubmissions and retakes and standards verification. It will also cover the quality assurance monitoring responsibilities as a Lead IV.

You can register from the quality assurance events and support page below and also view other training available.

• Register from the Quality Assurance Events and support page

If you offer post-16 Level 2 study programmes at your centre, you might be interested in joining our webinar, where we’ll walk you through the current BTEC portfolio and the potential changes as post-16 qualification reforms continue. We will explore Pearson’s post 16 Level 2 offer for qualifications from 2025:

• Level 2 Technical
• BTEC Firsts
• Level 2 Academic progression
• Level 2 Technical progression

• Register webinar on post 16 Level 2 BTEC Landscape for 2025 onwards
  14 October 2025 at 15:30 - 16:30 GMT | Free | Select BTEC Technicals using the filter to bring up the event

We provide centre-based training opportunities. If this is something you would like to explore, please visit our training page below.

• Go to the training page to explore centre-based training options

On our Professional Development Academy training page you can watch pre-recorded events, such as 'New to Edexcel'. You can also book onto training and look out for new events.

• Go to the Professional Development Academy page

In case you missed the news, we have a new set of Maths in Science papers featuring questions sourced from the 2024 GCSE Combined Science papers. You can access these papers in the 'Maths Support' section of the GCSE Science qualification page.

On our general qualifications assessment support page, you can find news, information and updates from Ofqual, the DfE, JCQ and Pearson relating to exams and assessments for our GCSE, AS and A level qualifications.

• Go to the assessment support page

New tools are available in ResultsPlus which will allow users to benchmark students BTEC National results against national statistics, at both unit and qualification levels.
A communication has been sent to centres which outlines guidance on how users can use the new features.

• Read the communication and find out more

The PSAB (Pearson Set Assignment Brief) documents have recently been updated. Find out more from the news item below.

• Read the news item and find out more

Teaching support materials are available to support you with delivering the new AAQ BTEC National in Applied Science for first teaching from September 2025. They can be found on the science qualification page. Links to some of these materials are provided below.

L3 AAQ BTEC Nat App Sci Ext Cert Spec Issue 4 2.4 MB pdf /content/dam/pdf/btec-aaqs/applied-science/2025/specification-and-sample-assessments/btec-national-in-applied-science-specification.pdf false 2025-10-15T15:16:29.767Z Planning and Teaching Guide 2.1 MB pdf /content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/Applied-Science/2025/applied-science-planning-and-teaching-guide.pdf false 2025-06-05T15:50:19.611Z Unit Guides 1.3 MB zip /content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/Applied-Science/2025/delivery-guide-units.zip false 2025-06-05T15:50:19.533Z Scheme of Work 1.0 MB pdf /content/dam/pdf/btec-aaqs/applied-science/2025/teaching-and-learning-materials/applied-science-aaq-scheme-of-work.pdf false 2025-09-18T15:07:47.115Z Applied Science Transition Guide 1.1 MB pdf /content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/applied-science-transition-guide.pdf false 2025-09-09T16:21:50.389Z

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Level 3 AAQ BTEC National Specification Supplementary Information 317.4 KB pdf /content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/btec-spec-supp-info.pdf false 2025-08-29T14:55:59.758Z Centre Guide Quality Assurance Level 3 BTEC Nationals from 2025 (AAQs) 809.4 KB pdf /content/dam/pdf/Support/Quality Assurance/centre-guide-to-quality-assurance-btec-nationals-from-2025-aaq.pdf false 2025-06-12T12:25:53.249Z

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Centre standardisation materials are also available on the qualification page.

Go to the centre standardisation materials section of the AAQ Applied Science qualification page

Published resources to support the new BTEC National AAQs are also available. You can find the links below. Please note that there is no compulsory requirement to purchase or use Pearson's paid resources.

• Explore published resources for the BTEC National AAQ (2025) in Applied Science (Extended Certificate)
• View Level 3 BTEC National 2025 Samples

We have available informal online Quality Assurance Catch-ups where you can get a quick reminder of where you and your staff should be in the quality assurance calendar.  You can register via links provided in the document below.

Quality Assurance catch up dates 89.1 KB pdf /content/dam/pdf/Support/Quality Assurance/quality-assurance-catch-up-dates.pdf false 2025-03-12T09:43:59.644Z

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A community group is available that covers everything Quality Assurance related for all our vocational and technical qualifications. It's run by Pearson's team of Vocational Quality Assurance Managers and is a quick and easy way to ask questions directly or collaborate with your colleagues in centres.

• Go to the quality assurance group

We have a BTEC Teaching, Learning and Assessment for page with the most up-to-date information and key dates for vocational assessment for this academic year. 

• Visit our Teaching, Learning and Assessment page

Our new Investigative Science HPQ topic pathway is designed to enhance the practical skills and the independent investigative skills of students taking GCSE Science. It also allows students to explore areas of science that interest them.

• Find out more about the Project Qualification Investigative Science pathway

The Department for Education has confirmed that AAQ outcomes will now be included in the 16–18 performance measures for the 2026/27 reporting year, rather than 2027/28 as previously indicated. This change ensures that outcomes for all learners studying AAQs - including those starting in 2025/26 - are captured in published performance data.

• View the updated DfE list

We invite you to participate in a brief survey about your centre’s use of digital systems, IT infrastructure, and assessment documentation management for BTECs, Functional Skills Qualifications, and other Vocational Qualifications.

Your feedback will help us tailor future developments to better meet your needs.
The survey should take around 5 minutes to complete. 

All information will be kept confidential and used solely for this research. You may remain anonymous or provide your details if you wish to be contacted about your responses.

Deadline for completion is 7 October.

• Go to survey

​​A new Level 3 BTEC National AAQ certificate-size (180 GLH) in Applied Science from Pearson has been approved for funding and will be available for first teaching in England from September 2026.

• Read the news
• Find out more from our guide

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In December the DfE published the outcome of their review of post-16 qualification reform. The aim of the review was to determine which qualifications will be funded for 16-19 learners in England for the 2025/26 academic year.  You can read about BTEC reform news via our dedicated webpage.

• Level 3 reform news

Our BTEC level 3 funding guide provides details of funding arrangements for all level 3 BTECs:

Level 3 qualifications funding guide - England 306.4 KB pdf /content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/btec-level-3-funding-guide.pdf false 2024-12-13T09:49:21.752Z

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A generation 2 T Level in Science will be delivered by Pearson from September 2026. Find out more from our recent update.

• Read the September T Level Update

You can keep up-to-date on BTEC L2 reform news from the web page below.

• Level 2 reform news

We send out regular Vocational Qualification Bulletins to keep centres informed of our support and services. You can sign-up for these and read previous bulletins on our website.

Sign-up to receive regular vocational qualification bulletins 

Pearson general qualifications bulletins are sent regularly providing you with key information and updates on our qualifications and assessments for both UK and International centres. You can sign-up to receive these from the link below.

• Read and sign-up to Pearson Qualification bulletins