Welcome to the September 2025 update from your Subject Advisor
This month, we’ve got you covered with planning resources, training, and support to kick off the year with confidence.
Need help with results? My August Results Day update has everything in one handy place.
To jump straight to the latest updates for your qualification, just click the section that matches what you teach.
Now that the May/June 2025 assessment series has wrapped up, this is your final chance to share your thoughts before the feedback survey closes 25 September.
If your students took part in our qualifications, we’d love to hear how it went. Your feedback goes directly to our subject teams and senior moderators and examiners—so it really does make a difference.
It only takes a few minutes to complete.
Thanks for helping us shape the future of assessment.
Explore our practical guidance on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creative assessments, designed to support and build on the JCQ’s official guidance for AI use in assessments.
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 |
What can we learn from the May/June 2025 assessment series?
Join a focused session on 21 October (GCSE) and 23 October (A Level) packed with practical insights from the 2025 series.
You’ll:
This is a great opportunity to reflect, refine, and get ready for a successful year ahead.
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.
Check out our free online training for GCSE and A Level Art and Design.
Choose from:
Plan and deliver GCSE and A Level Art and Design with teaching and learning resources on our qualification course materials pages.
For help with assessment objectives and teaching ideas, check out our bitesize video playlists.
Moderator Reports provide feedback on the accuracy of internal assessment at your centre and advise you on suggested improvements. You’ll find these reports on Edexcel Online.
To support, I’ve created a bitesize video to help you understand and make the most of the feedback in your centre’s moderation report.
The Principal 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.
| 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 |
What can we learn from the May/June 2025 exam series?
Join a focused session on 19 November packed with practical insights from the 2025 series.
You’ll:
This is a great opportunity to reflect, refine, and get ready for a successful year ahead.
Check out our free online training for International GCSE Art and Design.
Choose from:
Plan and deliver International GCSE Art and Design with teaching and learning resources on our qualification course materials page.
For help with assessment objectives and teaching ideas, check out our bitesize video playlist.
The Principal Examiner 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.
| 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 |
Art and Nature
15–21 September 2025
This year’s Art History Festival, run by the Association for Art History, explores the deep connection between art, nature, and wellbeing. From ancient Chinese calligraphy to modern eco-art, the festival celebrates how artists across cultures and eras have drawn inspiration from the natural world.
Take part in their mix of free events—online and in-person—designed to help you relax, reflect, and reconnect.
Plan and deliver A Level History of Art with teaching and learning resources on our qualification course materials page.
Need help with visual analysis for Paper 1?
Watch our recorded training from last year – full of practical tips to support your delivery.
Since starting this role, I’ve been inspired by the brilliant exchange of ideas between teachers. So I’m introducing a new section to spotlight resources that are working well in classrooms.
This month, teachers have highlighted 'Composition' by Michael Archer (Ilex Press, 2023).
They say it offers clear, engaging analysis of key artworks, linking composition with wider political and cultural context. It's helping students strengthen written responses and deepen their understanding of modern art.
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.
The Principal Examiner 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.
| May/June Series | BTEC L2 Tech Award Art and Design Practice |
|---|---|
| 1 September 2025 | Release of Component 1 Pearson-set Assignment (PSA) |
| 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 2026 | 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 |
All BTEC Tech Awards dates can be found in the 2025-2026 key dates schedule.
| May/June Series | BTEC L3 Nationals and L2 Skills |
|---|---|
| 17 October 2025 | Deadline for January 2026 entries of Units 2 and 6 for BTEC L3 Nationals in Art and Design (2016) - late entry fees after this date |
| 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 |
You’ll find the dates for external assessments of BTEC L3 Nationals in Art and Design (2016) in the Pearson exam timetables.
View the Exam Timetables for 2025-2026
For quality assurance guidance and support, head to the BTEC Quality Assurance page.
| 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 |
For quality assurance guidance and support, head to the BTEC International Quality Assurance page.
| 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 |
For quality assurance guidance and support, head to the BTEC Higher Nationals (HN) Quality Assurance page.
Plan and deliver BTEC Art and Design qualifications with teaching and learning resources on our qualification course materials pages.
For BTEC Higher National qualifications, please visit HN Global to view our Art, Design and Media resources.
Live training is available to book now for the qualifications listed below.
BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice
BTEC International Art and Design
BTEC L1-3 Quality Assurance
BTEC Higher Nationals
For others qualifications, head to the relevant course materials page (linked in the Planning Resources section above) to access recorded and past training materials.
You can also browse our on-demand training options anytime on the training website.
BTEC Tech Award moderator reports provide feedback on the accuracy of internal assessment at your centre and advise you on suggested improvements. You’ll find these reports on Edexcel Online.
To support, we've created a bitesize video to help you understand and make the most of the feedback in your centre’s moderation report.
Examiner reports discuss the quality of work submitted for external assessment in each 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.
Stay up to date with the latest news for BTEC qualifications.
Getting Ready to Teach T level Craft and Design is available to book for 18 September 2025.
View our recorded training to support your planning and delivery.
COMING SOON:
Occupational Specialism training
Plan and deliver T Level Craft and Design with teaching and learning resources on our qualification course materials pages.
Check out the latest updates on T Levels and sign up for future updates.
The Association for Art History’s annual Art History Festival is a free, national event for the public which celebrates and explores the histories of art, design and architecture showing how these subjects help us to better understand the world around us. The programme consists of in-person and online events 15 - 21 September 2025.
‘How Artists Use Their Sketchbooks’ is a growing collection by Access Art designed to help you and your learners build understanding as to what a sketchbook is and can be, straight from the perspective of practising artists.
Free teaching resources from Art UK that seek to transform the visual literacy skills of children, taking the world of art and images as its starting point.
Free online resources for Art & Design and History through the world’s largest collection of portraits. It includes more than 150 specially produced learning resources and videos, all linked to the National Curriculum, and developed by teachers, artists, historians and education experts.
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.
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