I hope you had a well-deserved week's break at half-term.
The second half of this term is always busy on the lead up to Christmas.
Click on the qualifications you teach below for any updates regarding resources and training:
Media November update
Mon Nov 03 14:57:00 UTC 2025
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Welcome to the November update from your Subject Advisor.
Post-16 Education and the Governments White Paper update
Pearson's Initial Response to the Government Skills White Paper
We are still awaiting on the Governments Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) report to be published and this will help us to understand the governments vision for the future of Vocational Qualifications.
Centre Assessment & Technology Practices Survey for BTECs and Functional Skills
Tell us about your technology and assessment practices for vocational qualifications.
We’d love to hear how your centre uses digital tools, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), and how you manage assessment for BTECs and Functional Skills Qualifications.
It helps us understand what works best for you today, and make sure future developments are designed around your needs.
The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and every response helps shape what comes next.
Deadline 30th November 2025.
1st November - Deadline for registrations - late registration fee after this date.
Coursework sample size change:
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.
Read our email about changes to sample sizes
All of the Tech Awards (2022) key dates can be found in the 2025-2026 key dates schedule.
Please note, due to the terminal assessment rules, the externally assessed component must be sat during the same assessment series in which certification for the qualification is requested.
We are committed to continuously improving the BTEC Tech Awards to give you and your students the best possible experience. The feedback we have received since launching the 2022 series has helped to shape real, practical improvements in line with standards set by the Department for Education.
End of academic year: BTEC Tech Award feedback
The Principal Examiner and Moderator reports discuss the quality of work submitted in each assessment series, including helpful feedback and recommendations for future series.
You will need an Edexcel Online login to access any padlocked secure materials and these are managed by your Exams Officer.
Check out our free online training which is available on demand as well as through live virtual sessions.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan this school year.
Check out the BTEC Bitesize series for BTEC Tech Awards (2022) in Art and Design Practice and Creative Media Production, designed to support your planning and delivery.
Check out the latest updates on Tech Awards (2022) and sign up for future updates.
BTEC Level 2 Skills - Creative Media Skills Update
1st November - Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date.
Getting Started: Ways to Teach and Assess
Walkthough of the Level 2 Skills Qualification
BTEC key dates and term-time checkpoints:
We recently published the BTEC key dates and term-time checkpoints for 2025/26.
While your exams officers will take the lead on most of these activities, your support will be important to help meet these deadlines, so it’s useful to be aware of what is required and when.
Find out more about term-time checkpoints here:
Explore our key dates and term-time checkpoint guide here:
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/btec-generic/btec-uk-key-dates-2025-26.pdf
The Examiner reports discuss the quality of work submitted for externally assessed units in each assessment series, including helpful feedback and recommendations for future series.
You will need an Edexcel Online login to access any padlocked secure materials and these are managed by your Exams Officer.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan this school year.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan this school year.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan this school year.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan this school year.
With our quality assurance process for all BTEC higher-level programmes we can be sure our centres are meeting national standards.
Our enhanced quality assurance (QA) processes are in place for all Pearson BTEC Higher National qualifications. The enhanced processes embed specific higher education expectations alongside Pearson’s QA expectations for its other BTEC qualifications. This enables us to work with approved centres to ensure that our qualifications are delivered to the required, UK Higher Education, national standards.
15th November - Deadline for registrations
November - Allocation of External Examiner (EE)
We launched our new BTEC Higher Nationals qualifications for Art, Design and Media in September 2023 alongside our existing qualifications. Our aim is to give you more flexibility and scope when designing your curriculum so we hope you enjoy our new titles.
Resources for these qualifications can be accessed through HN Global.
T Level Autumn 2025 Exam Timetable
T Level Community of Practice – Sign-Up Survey
We’re pleased to announce a new opportunity to make your mark in shaping the teaching of T Levels.
Gatsby’s Technical Education Networks (TEN) programme is expanding and invites teachers, and curriculum leads from your organisation to join our route specific national T Level Specialist Communities of Practices, delivered in partnership with AoC.
This is a unique chance to:
· Connect nationally with peers teaching your specific T Level
· Share knowledge and experience with sector specialists and explore innovative teaching and assessment practices
· Collaborate on the creation of teaching and learning resources tailored to your specific T Level(s)
· Share and refine examination techniques to strengthen learner outcomes· Be the first to hear about the latest updates on T Levels
· Shape the focus areas for the CoP going forward, and ensure your voice is heard nationally. Each Community of Practice will meet four times across the academic year
– three online sessions and one in-person national exchange event – with task and finish groups focusing on areas determined by the CoP and developing practical resources alongside key stakeholders.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan for next school year, including new support materials that have been recently added!
Catch up on all the T Level news
We send out a monthly newsletter to all T Level providers.
Are you missing out on these updates? Make sure you receive the latest news and updates about T Levels directly to your inbox by signing up.
This session is aimed at UK teachers who are currently teaching or internally verifying the BTEC Level 1 Introductory qualification.
This live session will take you through:
- Methods of meeting the criteria: ways in which learner work could be evidenced.
- How to assess work: how to assess the BTEC Level 1 Introductory qualifications effectively.
- Opportunity for questions: opportunity to ask the trainer about any assessment or assessment evidence questions you might have.
This training provides an opportunity to learn more about how to assess learner work accurately on the full suite of BTEC Level 1 Introductory qualifications.
Book Getting Assessment Right: Assessing BTEC Level 1 Intro qualifications effectively in your classroom 12th November 4-5pm
A group for teachers of BTEC level 1 introductory, Entry Level and BTEC Workskills and BTEC personal growth and wellbeing to share best practice and to seek information about the courses on offer.
Here are some helpful resources to help you plan this school year.
Check out the latest newsletter for BTEC Level 1 and below and sign up for future updates.
ScreenSkills
ScreenSkills Trainee Finder 2026/27 is an entry-level placement programme that places trainees on children’s, film and high-end TV productions across the UK (including Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) to ensure a continued supply of talent, capable of making world-class creative content. Participants become part of an industry-recognised group of trainees and receive exclusive access to training placements across the UK.
In previous years trainees have been placed on productions including Snow White, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Roses, The Thursday Murder Club, Adolescence, Black Doves, The Gentlemen, Waterlook and Outlander:Blood of My Blood.
ScreenSkills Trainee Finder is looking for trainees who are keen to pursue a career in the following departments:
- Accounts
- Art department
- Assistant director/ floor runner
- Camera
- Costume
- Edit
- Hair and Make-up
- Locations
- Production Office
- Sound
- Video Assist and DIT
To find out more about these trainee roles and others, please explore the ScreenSkills Job Profiles and our Skills Checklists. If you are unsure about which department to apply to we recommend that you complete this e-learning module, How to identify the right role for you in the screen industries.
SceenSkills Training:-
- Leadership and management essentials for high-end television freelancers training (5th November, 2-5:30pm)
- The AI shift for post in high-end TV (11th November, 10-5pm)
- The AI Shift for VFX in high-end TV (12th November, 10-5pm)
- Encouraging good working in HETV, film and unscripted (17th November, 8-10am)
- Get the Knowledge: Writing for Children's TV (20th November, 11-12:45)
Teaching Film Series
Into Film, the UK's leading charity for film in education, have launched their Teaching Film series, a collection of bitesize courses focused on short film production. The course has been designed specifically for educators delivering film qualifications to young people aged 14-19.
Thank you!
I hope you found this update useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me and the team using the contact details below.
You can also sign up to get Media updates straight to your inbox every month.
Subject advisor
Sarah Fearnley
Media
Email :
Phone :
+44 (0) 344 463 2535
(Teaching Services team | Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm GMT )
