May 2026 Business update
Welcome to this May update!
In this month’s Latest News section, you’ll find:
• helpful guidance for centres in the Middle East
• two short surveys—one on the International GCSE Business qualification and one on the GCSE Business textbook—so you can share your feedback
• the latest news on A level Business
The update also includes our regular features on all four qualifications.
I hope the exam season goes smoothly for you and your students.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 23 June | GCSE Business network event |
| 1 July | A level Business network event |
| 13 August | Results Day for A levels and IAL |
| 20 August | Results Day for International GCSE |
We know many centres are experiencing disruption due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to stay informed.
Exams are cancelled in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Centres should follow the process outlined by Pearson for exams in these countries.
Our support page brings together the latest updates and guidance to help you navigate upcoming teaching, learning and assessment activity.
We’ll continue to contact you directly if anything changes that affects your centre, but you can always check back here for the most up-to-date information.
We’re reviewing our International GCSE Business qualification (4BS1) and would be grateful if you could complete this short survey below by Friday 29th May. The survey is for teachers who deliver IG Business with us, as well as those using other awarding bodies.
Your feedback will help us understand how the qualification is taught in schools and inform future improvements.
Thank you for your time and valuable input.
What do you value most in a student book? Now is your chance to say! Pearson are doing some research into the resources you use for Edexcel GCSE Business, so that we can give you and your students the best support.
It would be a great help if you take 5-6 minutes to answer the questions in this survey. A link to the survey is below. Many thanks in advance!
Supporting you through ongoing change
We recognise that the release of the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR), along with the Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper and the introduction of V Levels, has created a period of change and uncertainty for schools and colleges. At times like these, our focus is on supporting you in a way that feels clear, manageable, and respectful of workload.
In this context, learners beginning the course in September 2026 will continue to follow the current established specification. We believe that maintaining stability is the most helpful option for schools and colleges while the wider landscape continues to evolve.
However, we remain attentive to developments in business and will consider minor amendments to ensure that the specification continues to be relevant, stays up to date and supports confident teaching and meaningful learning..
Confidence in a qualification that continues to deliver
With Pearson’s long‑standing commitment to quality and consistency, you can feel confident that you are offering a relevant, reliable qualification that continues to meet the needs of learners, schools and colleges.
We value your feedback
We will continue to review the qualification and consider feedback from educators and students to identify opportunities for improvement, as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous enhancement. If you would like to share any feedback or discuss your needs, please contact me via teachingbusiness@pearson.com.
| GCSE Business |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Delivery support focuses on free support materials, networking and both free and paid-for resources. There are links to Pearson, Hodder and other publishers.
| International GCSE Business |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Assessment support focuses on assessment news and tools, support in understanding the command verbs, and information about grade boundaries and statistics.
For GCSE Business, following a season of targeted support, we’re now offering a session for teachers who are new to delivering the Pearson Edexcel GCSE specification. This session will give you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the structure of the specification and the examination papers. Please feel free to share the details with any colleagues who may find this session useful.
GCSE Business
After each event, a zipped file is uploaded to the qualification page. The zipped file includes the materials used in the event and a link to the recording.
| GCSE Business | |
|---|---|
| 23 June 16.00-17.00 |
New to Edexcel GCSE Business |
The GCSE Business You Tube Channel includes recordings of events from previous years.
A recording of the recent March meeting on 2- and 3- Mark questions:
GCSE Case studies from the FT
| Case study | Theme 1 | Theme 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Greggs | 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business 1.2.1 Customer needs 1.2.4 The competitive environment 1.3.1 Business aims and objectives 1.4.3 The marketing mix |
2.1.1 Business growth 2.2.1 Product 2.2.3 Promotion 2.2.5 Using the marketing mix to make business decisions 2.4.2 Understanding business performance |
| 44 | Milk | 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business 1.2.1 Customer needs 1.2.3 Market segmentation 1.2.4 The competitive environment |
2.2.1 Product 2.2.5 Using the marketing mix to make business decisions |
| 45 | Next | 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business 1.1.3 The role of business enterprise 1.2.3 Market segmentation 1.4.3 The marketing mix |
2.2.1 Product 2.2.5 Using the marketing mix to make business decisions 2.3.3 Managing quality |
| 46 | Asda | 1.1.3 The role of business enterprise 1.2.4 The competitive environment 1.3.1 Business aims and objectives 1.5.1 Business stakeholders |
2.5.1 Organisational structures 2.5.2 Effective recruitment 2.5.3 Effective training and development |
| 47 | Disney | 1.1.2 Risk and reward |
2.4.2 Understanding business performance |
| 48 | Minecraft | 1.2.3 Market segmentation 1.4.2 Business location 1.5.2 Technology and business |
2.1.1 Business growth 2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives 2.1.3 Business and globalisation |
| 49 | Jo Malone | 1.2.3 Market segmentation 1.2.4 The competitive environment 1.4.2 Business location 1.4.3 The marketing mix |
2.1.1 Business growth 2.2.4 Place |
| 50 | Aviva takes over Direct Line | 1.1.2 Risk and reward | 2.1.1 Business growth 2.5.1 Organisational structures 2.5.4 Motivation |
| 51 | Talk Talk | 1.3.3 Cash and cash-flow | 2.3.2 Working with suppliers 2.4.2 Understanding business performance |
| 52 | Kingsmill | 1.2.1 Customer needs 1.2.3 Market segmentation |
2.1.1 Business growth 2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives 2.2.1 Product |
The FT case studies are appropriate for both GCSE and International GCSE. The mapping in the table (and in the case studies themselves) is to the GCSE specification.
International GCSE Business teachers may find it useful to observe that GCSE Theme 1 looks at small businesses (the focus of Paper 1 on the International GCSE), and that GCSE Theme 2 looks at larger businesses (the focus of Paper 2 on the International GCSE).
The two most recent case studies are:
There are two Facebook groups, one for each qualification. They are private groups and applicants are checked to confirm that they have an Edexcel Online account.
The GCSE group has over 3,000 members. The International GCSE group is much smaller.
There is also a Pearson Edexcel Facebook page designed to help and support you with the teaching and delivery of our UK qualifications. You can find the latest news, updates and information about our support services across subjects. From our own news to updates from Ofqual and JCQ, follow us on @PearsonEdexcel on Facebook to stay up to date.
GCSE Business Summer 2026 timetable
Summer 2027 Provisional Timetable - GCSE Business
International GCSE Business Summer 2026 timetable
International GCSE Business November 2026 timetable
Summer 2027 Provisional Timetable - International GCSE Business
After a successful trial in summer 2025, Year 11 students in England will be able to view their GCSE results on their phones for the first time from results day 2026.
The new app will allow students to view their results and store a digital record of those results for future use, such as when applying for jobs or further education, without the need to find a paper certificate that can easily get lost.
Schools are being encouraged to sign up so pupils can download and set up the app before the summer results day.
| A level Business |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Delivery support focuses on free support materials, networking and both free and paid-for resources. There are links to Pearson, Hodder and other publishers.
| IAL Business |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Assessment support focuses on assessment news and tools, support in understanding the command verbs, and information about grade boundaries and statistics.
This live CPD event provides a helpful introduction for those new to delivering the Pearson Edexcel A Level Business qualification.
| A Level Business | |
|---|---|
| 1 July 16.00-17.00 | New to Edexcel A level Business |
A level Business
After each event, a zipped file is uploaded to the qualification page. The zipped file includes the materials used in the event and a link to the recording.
The A level Business You Tube Channel includes recordings of events from previous years.
A new case study (number 58) has been added to the 2025-2026 collection.
| Number | Title | Specification references | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | Apple | 1.2.3 Markets 1.2.4 Price elasticity of demand 1.1.2 Market research 1.3.3 Pricing strategies |
|
| 53 | On the beach | 2.2.1 Sales forecasting 2.2.2 Sales, revenue and costs 2.5.3 The competitive environment 3.1.2 SWOT analysis |
|
| 54 | Strava | 1.2.1 Demand 2.1.2 External finance 2.5.3 The competitive environment 3.2.3 Organic growth |
|
| 55 | IKEA | 4.1.4 Protectionism 4.2.3 Assessment of a country as a production location 4.3.3 Cultural/social factors |
|
| 56 | Apple | 1.1.2 Market research 3.6.1 Cause and effects of change 3.6.3 Scenario planning |
|
| 57 | Nestle | 1.4.1 Approaches to staffing 1.4.3 Organisational design 3.1.3 SWOT analysis 3.4.2 Corporate culture |
|
| 58 | Airlines | 1.2.3 Markets 1.5.1 Role of an entrepreneur 2.2.2 Sales, revenue and costs 3.6.3 Scenario planning |
There are two Facebook groups, one for each qualification. They are private groups and applicants are checked to confirm that they have an Edexcel Online account.
The A level group has over 2,000 members. The IAL group is much smaller.
There is also a Pearson Edexcel Facebook page designed to help and support you with the teaching and delivery of our UK qualifications. You can find the latest news, updates and information about our support services across subjects. From our own news to updates from Ofqual and JCQ, follow us on @PearsonEdexcel on Facebook to stay up to date.
An A level Business teacher has created aTikTok account for his students which he has shared here.
A level Business: Summer 2026 Timetable
Summer 2027 Provisional Timetable - GCE Business
IAL Business Summer 2026 Timetable
IAL Business October 2026 Timetable
IAL Business January 2027 timetable
Summer 2027 Provisional Timetable - IAL Business
Subject advisor
Colin Leith
Business
