Welcome to the April 2026 update from your Subject Advisor
This month’s update brings together the materials and guidance you’ll need across our Art qualifications as you prepare for internal assessment and standardisation, moderation, and external assessment submissions.
To view the latest updates for your qualification, just click the section that matches what you teach.
We know the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to affect students, families and centres in very real ways.
This page brings together the latest guidance and support available for students whose learning and assessments have been disrupted, with any new updates added here as the situation continues to evolve.
Ofqual has published a new blog highlighting the importance of open, honest conversations with students about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coursework.
AI tools are now part of everyday life for many young people. But it’s important that students understand where the boundaries are. Using AI to generate coursework without proper disclosure is cheating, and the consequences can be serious - including the loss of a qualification.
The blog is designed to help you start those conversations with confidence. It includes:
Together, these resources can help ensure students are informed, supported and clear about expectations - before assessment pressures begin.
Alongside this, Pearson have also published clear, practical AI guidance for Art and Design to support teachers and students across our creative qualifications. We’ve also explored this in practice through our AI in Art and Design training event, discussing real classroom scenarios, risks, and opportunities for creative subjects.
We know many of our centres and students use the UCAS application service, when applying to Higher Education in the UK. We wanted to let you know that UCAS are currently consulting on the operation of the UCAS undergraduate admissions cycle, including:
This is an opportunity for you to have your say. You can find out further details about the consultation and respond on the UCAS website.
The deadline to respond is 18:00 (UK time) on 22 April 2026.
Last month, we let you know about the important changes to how centres submit marks and student work for moderated components, which applies to GCSE, A Level, and BTEC Tech Awards Art and Design qualifications.
We’re now sharing a few additional updates to help you prepare for this series.
These include:
Please note that the deadline for submitting marks for Art qualifications has not changed. Any references to a 15 May deadline relate to other subject areas that already followed that timeline.
Art and Design mark submission deadlines:
| Date | Mark Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| 48 hours prior to moderation visit |
GCSE and A Level Art and Design Component 1 and 2 visiting moderation
BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice Component 1 visiting moderation
|
| 31 May 2026 |
International centres only:
GCSE and A Level Art and Design digital moderation
|
| Date | GCSE and A Level Art and Design |
|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Start of moderator visits |
| 48 hours prior to moderation visit |
Deadline to submit marks on Edexcel Online for visiting moderation |
| 31 May 2026 | International centres only: Deadline to submit marks on Edexcel Online for digital moderation Sampled work submitted on Learner Work Transfer |
| 26 June 2026 | End of moderator visits |
| 13 August 2026 | A Level Results day |
| 20 August 2026 | GCSE Results day |
Do you teach GCSE or A level Art and Design?
Then this group was made for you. It’s a friendly, professional space where you can share ideas, swap tips, and ask those everyday teaching questions.
Whether you're after inspiration or support, this is a great place to collaborate with others and get the latest news.
Are you looking to strengthen your understanding of the assessment objectives and improve consistency of your internal marking?
This free online coursework marking training supports confident application of the assessment grids for Components 1 and 2.
Work through the content at your own pace and revisit key guidance as needed.
Our support guides for centres cover a range of topics to help you feel confident as you plan for this time of year.
Here you can find all the materials necessary for GCSE Art and Design internal assessment and standardisation as you prepare for moderation.
Administrative Support Guide
This guide outlines key information for visiting moderation as well as other administrative details.
Assessment Grid
One grid must be completed for each candidate, which records the marks for both components.
Authentication Form
This form must be signed by each candidate and the teacher. You may use one form per learner if you write both Component 1 and 2 in the relevant field.
Taxonomy
This assessment resource is helpful to include for each candidate, if possible, to assist the moderator with understanding your assessment decisions.
Exemplar Gallery
Use the exemplars alongside the Assessment Grid and Taxonomy to internally assess and standardise.
Bitesize Videos
Our bitesize videos will help you with assessing the assessment objectives holistically.
New Exemplars
Download the 2025-2026 training exemplars to support internal assessment.
Assessment of Component 2 Bitesize Video
For support with assessing Component 2, watch our bitesize video.
Here you can find all the materials necessary for A Level Art and Design internal assessment and standardisation as you prepare for moderation.
Administrative Support Guide
This guide outlines key information for visiting moderation as well as other administrative details.
Assessment Grid
One grid must be completed for each candidate, which records the marks for both components.
Authentication Form
This form must be signed by each candidate and the teacher. You may use one form per learner if you write both Component 1 and 2 in the relevant field.
Performance Calculators
This assessment resource is helpful to include for each candidate, if possible, to assist the moderator with understanding your assessment decisions.
Exemplar Gallery
Use the exemplars alongside the Assessment Grid and Performance Calculators to internally assess and standardise.
Bitesize Videos
Our bitesize videos will help you with assessing the assessment objectives holistically.
New Exemplars
Download the 2025-2026 training exemplars to support internal assessment.
Assessment of Component 2 Bitesize Video
For support with assessing Component 2, watch our bitesize video.
| Date | International GCSE Art and Design |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2026 | Online release of the Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) |
| 21 March 2026 | Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date |
| 31 May 2026 | All work submitted digitally on Learner Work Transfer for external assessment |
| 20 August 2026 | International GCSE Results day |
Do you teach International GCSE Art and Design?
Then this group was made for you. It’s a friendly, professional space where you can share ideas, swap tips, and ask those everyday teaching questions.
Whether you're after inspiration or support, this is a great place to collaborate with others and get the latest news.
Upcoming live events include:
New International GCSE Art and Design exemplars!
We’ve added a range of new exemplars to the Exemplar Gallery, and they’re now even easier to find. The refreshed gallery includes a clear NEW flag, helping you quickly spot recently added exemplars.
These exemplars can be used to support submission choices and develop understanding of the mark standard.
Our support guides for centres cover a range of topics to help you feel confident as you plan for this time of year.
We’ve developed a new attendance register template to support centres in meeting the requirements set out in the Administrative Support Guide.
This register confirms whether candidates completed the centre-timetabled 10-hour period of sustained focus under examination conditions.
Centres must upload an attendance register to Learner Work Transfer (LWT) under Administration Material when portfolios are submitted for external assessment. This template may be used, or centres may upload their own document as Word, Excel, or PDF.
Here you can find all the materials necessary for digital submission and external assessment.
Administrative Support Guide
This guide outlines the digital submission guidance and use of Learner Work Transfer as well as key information for administration of the qualification.
Authentication Form
This form must be signed by each candidate and the teacher. You may use one form per learner if you write both Component 1 and 2 in the relevant field.
Essential Guide to Component 1
This guide explains submission requirements for Component 1 to support selection of work. Students submit one project only.
Component 2 Attendance Register
This template can be used to confirm attendance for the 10-hour sustained focus period, or centres can upload their own.
Exemplar Gallery
Use the Exemplar Materials to support selection of work for digital submission and external assessment.
Bitesize Videos
Our bitesize videos will help you understand how the assessment objectives are externally assessed holistically.
Watch the International GCSE Art and Design bitesize video playlist
| Date | A Level History of Art |
|---|---|
| 18 May 2026 | Paper 1: Visual analysis and themes (PM) |
| 2 June 2026 | Paper 2: Periods (AM) |
| 13 August 2026 | A Level Results day |
Watch the recordings from our Paper 1 and Paper 2 training events to support your exam preparation.
Art History Conference
8-10 April 2026
The Association for Art History's annual conference brings together new research, ideas and conversations shaping the subject today. It’s a valuable opportunity to engage with current thinking, connect with the wider art history community and take fresh perspectives back into teaching and learning.
A great read on why art history matters now more than ever.
This article explores the skills, perspectives and understanding art history gives young people, from critical thinking to cultural awareness, and why it continues to play a vital role in education today.
| May/June Series | BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2026 | Start of moderator visits |
| 13 April 2026 | Learner Work Transfer (LWT) available |
| 15 May 2026 | Deadline to upload Component 2 work on LWT for external assessment |
| 48 hours prior to moderation visit | Deadline to submit Component 1 marks on Edexcel Online for visiting moderation |
| 15 June 2025 | End of moderator visits |
| 26 June 2022 | Deadline for amending marks following moderator feedback where necessary for internal assessments (optional) |
| 14 August 2026 | Restricted release of results to centres |
| 20 August 2026 | Release of results to learners |
| May/June Series | BTEC L3 Nationals and L2 Skills |
|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Deadline for Standards Verification sampling |
| 15 June 2026 | Deadline for Standards Verification additional sampling (if applicable) |
| 5 July 2026 | Deadline to submit results for certification on August results days |
| 5 August 2026 | Restricted release of results to centres |
| 13 August 2026 | Release of results to learners |
| May/June Series | BTEC International |
|---|---|
| within 60 days of enrolment at the centre | Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date |
| June 2025 | Release of Pearson-set Assignments (PSA) - valid for 1 year after publish date |
| 5 July 2026 | Deadline to submit results for certification on August results days (ie. for learners applying to HEIs via UCAS) |
| Immediately after completion | Deadline to submit results for certification for non-UK-academic year programmes |
| May/June Series | BTEC Higher Nationals |
|---|---|
| May - July 2026 | External Examination sampling - completed by 30 July |
| August 2026 | Students receive qualification |
In March, the Department for Education published the outcome of its consultation on post-16 level 3 and below pathways in England, along with decisions on future qualification funding.
We know you’ll have questions about what this means for you, your students, and the future of vocational and technical education. To support you, we’ve now published our full response to the consultation outcome, outlining the key changes and what they mean for colleges and schools.
Sign up to one of our upcoming briefings where we will bring you up to date with the recent government announcements on Post-16 Vocational reform at Levels 2 and 3 in Art and Design and Creative Media:
You'll learn more about government decisions on what new qualifications will look like, when each subject area will transition, and what this means for funding of current qualifications.
Do you teach BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice?
Then check out our new Facebook group, a friendly, professional space where you can share ideas, swap tips, and ask those everyday teaching questions.
Whether you're after inspiration or support, this is a great place to collaborate with others and get the latest news.
Moderators will begin contacting centres to arrange visits 1 April - 15 June 2026.
Here you can find all the materials necessary for Component 1 internal assessment and standardisation as you prepare for moderation.
Administrative Support Guide
This Component 1 guide outlines key information for visiting moderation as well as other administrative details.
Candidate Assessment Record
A Component 1 assessment record must be completed for each candidate. You can use our template or generate these automatically using the Assessment Tracker tool.
Pearson Set Assignment (PSA)
Please ensure you have used the correct Component 1 PSA for the 2026 assessment series.
Exemplar Standardisation Materials
The Component 1 Exemplar Standardisation Materials support accuracy of internal assessment and standardisation.
Exemplar Gallery
Use the exemplars alongside the Assessment Record and Exemplar Standardisation Materials to internally assess and standardise.
View the BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice Exemplar Gallery
Bitesize Videos
Our bitesize videos will help you with assessing Component 1, including a demonstration for using the Assessment Tracker tool.
Here you can find all the materials necessary for Component 2 submission and external assessment.
Administrative Support Guide
This guide outlines the digital submission guidance and use of Learner Work Transfer as well as key information for administration of the qualification.
Authentication Form
This form must be signed by each candidate and the teacher. It must be kept securely by the centre until after post-results deadline dates.
Externally-Set Task
Please ensure you have used the correct Component 2 externally-set task for the 2026 assessment series. These are gold padlocked and accessed by Exams Officers only.
Sample Marked Learner Work
The Component 2 Sample Marked Learner Work supports understanding of the mark standard and submission for external assessment.
Our annual BTEC Higher Nationals Student Survey is live! We encourage all students to get involved and have their say as their responses will influence the future design of our qualifications.
Plus, two lucky students will be selected at random to win a £100 Amazon voucher!
Stay up to date with the latest news for BTEC qualifications.
AUEA (Aston University Engineering Academy) are currently running the T level in Jewellery.
So far they have linked up with three other colleges and are very interested in collaborating with any provider that is running or thinking of running the course.
If you are interested please contact andrew.hambelton@pearson.com and he will pass on your details.
Check out the latest updates on T Levels and sign up for future updates.
Entries are open for The Foundation Art Prize
Deadline 1 May 2026
The Northern School of Art's competition has just launched, inviting creative talent ages 14-16 and 16-18 to submit work and gain national recognition. The prize celebrates innovation and ambition, offering a platform to showcase new ideas and take the next step in an artistic journey.
Rebuilding Art & Design Curricula That Last
The KS3 Trap: Coverage vs Coherence
This article explores why lasting Art and Design curricula are built through clear sequencing and purposeful design, not more projects, highlighting how coherence and decision‑making help students develop confidence and independence over time.
Do you know a young person who loves art and enjoys writing?
Take part in Write on Art, the national writing programme by Art UK and Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art for young people (13–19 years old).
Twelve successful applicants will be invited to attend a day-long Young Art Writers Workshop at Royal College of Art in Autumn 2026 and have their work published.
Young people are invited to write 400–600 words about an artwork of their choice on Art UK’s website.
Applications close 10 am on 21 July.
Choose from one of three categories:
✍️ Creative writing – an imaginative and expressive response to an artwork
💬 Review – a critical commentary about an artwork or installation
📝 Essay – a critical analysis of an artwork supported by evidence
I hope you found this update useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the contact details below.
You can also sign up to get these Subject Advisor updates straight to your inbox every month.
