Welcome to the December 2025 update from your Subject Advisor
As 2026 draws nearer, this update shares our recommendations for cultivating a creative curriculum, along with guidance on accessing secure components and external units, training opportunities, and teaching support.
To view the latest updates for your qualification, just click the section that matches what you teach.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review is an important milestone for education and skills in the UK – and it’s just the beginning.
We welcome the Review’s support for many of the recommendations we shared. All of these have been inspired by our work with schools and colleges across the country. And we’ll keep working to build an education system that empowers students, champions teachers, and drives the UK’s long-term success.
As we now move from ideas into further action, we’ll keep collaborating with educators, students, partners, sector experts to drive manageable and truly impactful change.
We’ve already started to do this and would love for you to join us in our next steps.
From the January 2026 series, we’ll be asking you to submit a slightly larger sample size for moderation in Project qualifications and BTEC Tech Awards.
From June 2026, this approach will also apply to GCSE, International GCSE, A level and Entry Level Certificate qualifications.
This change is designed to make moderation smoother and reduce the need for additional sample requests later in the year.
Join the final January Challenge!
Pearson is proud to partner with 64 Million Artists for the last-ever January Challenge – a free programme of daily creative prompts throughout January. Perfect for classrooms, staff rooms, and whole-school activities.
This year the theme is ‘Courageous Change’ with each of the prompts designed to help us get a new perspective, build our courage and helpus collaborate so that we can be more prepared for this ever changing world.
At Pearson, we've helped create the schools resource pack again this year and two prompts were written by your Subject Advisors!
To get involved, you can:
Last year 360,000 people took part and we’re hoping to make the last one the biggest and best. There’s no better time to make change than now, so sign up and take part, and we’ll see you there!
Do you teach GCSE, International 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.
| Date | GCSE and A Level Art and Design |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2026 | Release of the GCSE Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) |
| 1 February 2026 | Release of the A Level Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) |
| 21 February 2026 | Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date (international centre entry deadline is 21 March) |
| 15 May 2026 | Start of moderator visits |
| 48 hours prior to moderation visit |
Marks submitted on Edexcel Online for visiting moderation |
| 31 May 2026 | International centres only: Marks submitted 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 |
Check out our free face-to-face coursework marking training for GCSE and A Level Art and Design.
This year, based on your feedback, we’ve extended the training to a full-day event. That means more time to:
Whether you're new to marking or looking to refine your approach, this is a brilliant opportunity to build confidence and share best practice.
And if you can’t make it in person—no worries!
We’ve recorded the first face-to-face events for GCSE and A Level, so you’ll be able to experience the training in a new, immersive way. Plus, we’re creating on-demand, interactive training you can access anytime so watch this space.
Check out our free online training for GCSE and A Level Art and Design.
Choose from:
Upcoming live events include:
On demand training includes:
For help with assessment objectives and teaching ideas, check out our bitesize video playlists.
What can we learn from the May/June 2025 assessment series?
Watch the recordings from our GCSE and A Level Art and Design Assessment Insights events.
You’ll:
This is a great opportunity to reflect, refine, and continue to plan for a successful 2026 series.
How can digital tools transform creativity in Graphic Communication?
This month, we delivered an inspiring training session led by our credible specialist in Graphic Communication, designed to empower teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel GCSE and International GCSE Art and Design.
This recorded event covers:
The Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA) is released on:
Hard copies of the paper will be sent to centres with previous entries / estimated entries and must be kept secure until this date.
Electronic versions of the paper are available via secure download on the course materials page under 'June 2026' from this date.
The Component 2 ESA download is a secure material which requires an Edexcel Online account to access. These are managed by the centre's Exams Officer and you should speak to them for support.
As an additional step for securing customer and learner data, we are now enhancing our systems by introducing the Pearson Authenticator app.
If these steps do not resolve any issues, please get in touch via the Pearson Support Portal.
We have a range of resources available to support your planning and delivery of the Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA).
| 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 |
Check out our free online training for International GCSE Art and Design.
Choose from:
Upcoming live events include:
On demand training includes:
For help with assessment objectives and teaching ideas, check out our bitesize video playlist.
Do you teach International GCSE Art and Design online?
We’ve just released fresh guidance to support online teaching, plus new training opportunities to help you feel confident and connected.
Take a look at what’s available in our latest announcement.
What can we learn from the May/June 2025 assessment series?
Watched the recording from our International GCSE Art and Design Assessment Insights event.
You’ll:
This is a great opportunity to reflect, refine, and continue to plan for a successful 2026 series.
How can digital tools transform creativity in Graphic Communication?
This month, we delivered an inspiring training session led by our credible specialist in Graphic Communication, designed to empower teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel GCSE and International GCSE Art and Design.
This recorded event covers:
The Component 2 Externally Set Assignment is released on 2 January.
Electronic versions of the paper are available via secure download on the course materials page under 'June 2026' from this date.
The Component 2 ESA download is a secure material which requires an Edexcel Online account to access. These are managed by the centre's Exams Officer and you should speak to them for support.
As an additional step for securing customer and learner data, we are now enhancing our systems by introducing the Pearson Authenticator app.
If these steps do not resolve any issues, please get in touch via the Pearson Support Portal.
We have a range of resources available to support your planning and delivery of the Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA).
| Date | A Level History of Art |
|---|---|
| 21 February 2026 | Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date |
| 18 May 2026 | Paper 1: Visual analysis and themes (PM) |
| 2 June 2026 | Paper 2: Periods (AM) |
| 13 August 2026 | A Level Results day |
Free online event on 6 December 2025
A morning of free, online careers advice and information from art market professionals aimed at A-Level students and undergraduates, hosted by the Association for Art History.
This event offers an overview of art market careers and provides insights into the sector, from art galleries to auction houses and art fairs.
A panel of specially invited speakers will provide information and advice for A Level and undergraduate students considering employment opportunities in this diverse field.
On 25 February 2026, we will host live online Paper 2 training.
This free online event supports teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel A Level History of Art. The training focuses specifically on Paper 2 and meeting the Assessment Objectives under timed conditions.
You will:
For help with Paper 1, watch the 'Tackling Visual Analysis in Paper 1' recording.
For other support, check out the past training content and video resources on the course materials page.
This month we spotlight Art UKs location tool!
Explore thousands of venues with art collections close to you.
Click on the map markers to discover incredible art all across the country.
If you’ve got something that’s working well in your classroom for future spotlights, we’d love to hear from you – drop us a line at TeachingArtandDesign@Pearson.com.
| May/June Series | BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2025 | Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date |
| 12 January 2026 | Release of Component 2 externally assessed task |
| 21 February 2026 | Deadline for Component 1 and 2 entries - late entry fees after this date |
| 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2025 | Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date |
| 20 March 2026 | Deadline for June 2026 entries of Units 1, 2, 6, and 7 for BTEC L3 Nationals in Art and Design (2016) - late entry fees after this date |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 15 November 2025 | Deadline for registrations |
| November 2025 | Allocation of External Examiner (EE) |
| November 2025 - February 2026 |
Contact made with your EE |
| November 2025 - March 2026 |
Two assignment briefs sent to your EE for review |
| May - July 2026 | External Examination sampling - completed by 30 July |
| August 2026 | Students receive qualification |
Your first term-time checkpoint is now open
The BTEC cohort declaration for summer 2026, your first term-time checkpoint, is now open to complete by 30 January 2026. Although your exams officer and quality nominee will be leading this activity, your support can make all the difference. They’ll be checking which students are expected to complete this summer so results can be issued smoothly in August.
Be ready to share what you know about your students’ progress. This helps us build an accurate picture of who’s on track for summer completion and helps prevent delays later on. When we get this right now, we’re setting students up for a better results experience. It’s one of the simplest ways to support them long before results day.
On 20 October the government published its Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. We know you'll have questions about what this means for you and your students. Pearson want to provide you with clear information and reassurance.
Most importantly, you should continue to register your learners and deliver your programmes as planned for 2025/26. There are no immediate changes to your current provision, and BTECs continue to provide excellent outcomes for the thousands of students who choose vocational pathways each year.
As soon as we have full details about the funding arrangements for 2026/27, we’ll share them with you straight away, so you can plan with confidence.
Looking for a summary of the key proposals from the Government Post 16 and Skills White Paper, the CAR report and funding guidance?
Here's your invitation to the Pearson BTEC Level 3 briefing sessions for schools and colleges.
To give you more flexibility to arrange your moderation visit, we’ll open the moderation window to centres with entries for BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice BAD01_01 from 1 April 2026. The window end date of 15 June 2026 will remain the same.
That means moderators will potentially begin reaching out to you from 1 April to arrange their visit at a time that’s convenient to you.
As always, once you’ve arranged your visit, make sure you’ve entered all your centre marks at least 48 hours before the visit takes place and that your full cohort of students will be available for moderation on the arranged date.
If you have any questions, you can contact your allocated moderator or reach out to us via the Pearson support portal.
View our bitesize videos and recorded training to support your planning and delivery, including our new Getting Ready: Ways to Teach and Assess recording.
All externally assessed units and components will be available on the relevant qualification Secure Tests site on the dates outlined in the Key Dates section.
Please note that these materials are gold padlocked secure materials so can only be downloaded by Exams Officers.
Stay up to date with the latest news for BTEC qualifications.
A new opportunity is opening up for teachers and curriculum leads delivering T Levels. Gatsby’s Technical Education Networks (TEN) programme is expanding — and in partnership with the Association of Colleges (AoC), it’s launching route-specific Communities of Practice for specialist T Level teachers across the country.
These new groups will connect educators teaching the same T Level routes, offering a space to share ideas, collaborate on resources, and shape the future of technical education.
Members of the Communities of Practice will:
Each Community of Practice will meet four times a year — three times online and once at a national in-person exchange event. Task and finish groups will also be formed to develop practical tools and resources, with input from teachers, employers, awarding bodies and professional organisations.
This initiative is part of Gatsby’s TEN programme, which supports teachers in delivering an enriched curriculum by bridging the gap between industry and the classroom.
Check out our guidance for the Occupational Specialisms to support your planning and delivery.
Check out our recorded training for the Occupational Specialisms.
More OS bitesize videos coming soon!
Check out our deep dive into the examiner report for core exams and our bitesize playlist to support your planning and delivery.
Check out the latest updates on T Levels and sign up for future updates.
You told us that there needs to be more emphasis on creativity in the curriculum to enable all students to develop and thrive.
We listened and we are working to make the creative curriculum more inclusive and authentic for all students.
We’ve spoken to talented people in a range of careers to find out how creativity has impacted and continues to shape their lives and careers.
We offer a variety of different resources to support our Creative qualifications, including a recycled art guide for teachers and students.
If you want to find out more and join the conversations on the future of the Creative Curriculum, please register and we'll keep you up to date.
Celebrating Excellence in Teaching
The Pearson National Teaching Awards honour teachers who inspire creativity and change lives.
Know someone who deserves recognition? Nominate them today!
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.
