November 2026 Business update
Welcome to the November 2026 update!
This month's update leads with four items in our 'Latest news' section: Pitch It!, an enterprise competition that may interest your students; an A level business simulation from The Business School that you may wish to try; an after-school event introducing the role of examiner, for anyone considering examining next summer; and our survey seeking feedback on a potential Level 3 Financial Literacy qualification.
As usual, there are sections covering each of our four qualifications, plus two after-school events this month: one for A level and one for GCSE. The final November 2027 IAL exam timetable has also been published.
The last item provides information about forthcoming changes to vocational Business qualifications, which may complement or compete with the GCSE and A level Business qualifications in your centre.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 4 November | A level Business event |
| 9 November | GCSE Business event |
| 18 November | 'Become an examiner!' event |
| 1 December | A level Business event |
| 11 December | Last date to use the Access To Scripts service via Script Viewer. |
| 18 January | GCSE Business event |
Pitch It: a free online entrepreneurship competition for Years 10–13
Pitch It gives students aged 14–18 the chance to develop a business idea and pitch it to a panel of industry judges, including Anthony Rose, founder and CEO of SeedLegals, and Dr Kristen Weatherby, founder of Breakthrough Labs.
It’s free, fully online, and open to all secondary schools, online schools and homeschooling students. Teams can have one to four students, with up to four teams per school.
Teams submit a two-minute video pitch by 11 December 2026. The strongest entries go through to a live online semi-final in the week of 8 March, where they get coaching from an industry expert. Four finalists then pitch to the full panel on 17 March 2027.
The competition guidance is now available and you can watch the recording of the launch webinar, The Art of the Pitch, hosted by Martin Begley (Highgrove Online School) and Anthony Rose for more information.
| Key dates | Key events |
|---|---|
| September-November 2026 | Applications and guidance |
| 11 December 2026 | Video submission deadline |
| End of January 2027 | Semi-finalists announced |
| Week of 8 March 2027 | Semi-finals |
| 17 March 2027 | Live final |
For any questions contact Martin Begley at: pitchit@highgroveeducation.com
We're hosting this event to recruit new examiners. This will be a subject-agnostic event, aimed at teachers who are not currently examiners, providing an opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask questions.
The Business School is a browser-based live business simulation for the classroom.
Students work in teams to run competing car dealerships. Each firm makes shared decisions about stock, pricing, marketing, staffing, borrowing and investment, then negotiates face to face with other firms to buy and sell vehicles. Firms also compete for larger fleet deals, so students need to make decisions together.
Sessions last 30–75 minutes. Teachers can follow the firms’ results live and receive a class report afterwards, while students receive a short personal report. Students join with a PIN; nothing needs to be installed.
You can request a trial using the link below.
For questions and/or feedback please email: support@thebusiness.school
We are seeking feedback on a potential qualification in Financial Literacy, aimed primarily at KS5 learners. The qualification could be taken to gain additional UCAS points or as a part-time enrichment activity.
Please answer based on your current understanding and circumstances, recognising that your centre strategy may change as reforms are introduced next year. Many thanks for your feedback.
| 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.
We’re delighted to announce a new International GCSE Business qualification for first teaching from September 2027. Designed to be clearer and more relevant for today's learners, the qualification has a modular content structure, offering a choice of both modular and linear assessment pathways.
Updated content includes contemporary business practices, the growing role of technology and AI, and enhanced support for students using English as an additional language. Brand-new Student Books will also be available, featuring internationally relevant case studies and built-in exam practice material.
| Date | Transition |
|---|---|
| September 2027 | First teaching of new International GCSE Business |
| May/June 2028 | First assessment of new International GCSE Business |
| November 2028 | Last assessment of the current International GCSE Business |
| May/June 2029 | First certification of new International GCSE Business |
-
Go to the new qualification page
The specification and Sample Assessment Materials will be available in Spring 2027.
Please note that modular qualifications are only available to schools outside the UK.
| GCSE Business | |
|---|---|
| 9 November 16.30-17.30 | GCSE Business: Exam Insights Summer 2026 (Paper 2) |
| 18 January 16.30-17.30 | GCSE Business: Marking Live |
| 1 February 16.30-17.30 | GCSE Business: Supporting Lower-Attaining Learners with 9- and 12-Mark Questions |
| 8 March 16.30-17.30 | GCSE Business: Supporting Higher-Attaining Students |
| 27 June 16.30-17.30 | GCSE Business: Deep Dive into Production Processes and Centralisation |
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 GCSE Business You Tube Channel includes recordings of events from previous years.
Key past recordings:
We’ll be implementing a minor change to Pearson Edexcel GCSE and A Level Business examinations from summer 2027 onwards.
Where examination materials have previously referred to small or medium-sized businesses by their real names, they will now be given substitute names to preserve their anonymity. Any supporting business data may also be adapted where necessary. This approach enables us to continue using authentic business scenarios whilst maintaining the validity and authenticity of assessment materials.
This change will have no impact on the knowledge, understanding or skills being assessed and students will not be advantaged or disadvantaged.
Importantly, examinations will continue to be firmly rooted in real-world business contexts and scenarios. We will continue to name larger, well-known businesses where appropriate. Assessment materials will therefore continue to reflect real business activity and contemporary business issues.
This change is intended solely to support the responsible use of business case material within assessments and will have no impact on specification content or assessment requirements.
GCSE Case studies from the FT
| Case study | Theme 1 | Theme 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 53 | Air BnB | 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business 1.1.2 Risk and reward 1.2.1 Customer needs 1.2.3 Market segmentation 1.2.4 The competitive environment 1.5.5 External influences |
2.1.1 Business growth |
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 most recent case study is:
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 3,400 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.
Summer 2027 - GCSE Business
International GCSE Business November 2026 timetable
Summer 2027 - International GCSE Business
| 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.
| 2026 - 2027 | A Level Business |
|---|---|
| 4 November 16.30-17.30 | A Level Business: Exam Insights Summer 2026 (Paper 2) |
| 1 December 16.30-17.30 | A Level Business: Exam Insights Summer 2026 (Paper 3) |
| 12 January 16.30-17.30 | A Level Business: Marking Live |
| 2 March 16.30-17.30 | A Level Business: Deep Dive into Themes 1 and 4 Using Contemporary Business Examples |
| 29 June 16.30-17.30 | A Level Business: Deep Dive into Themes 2 and 3 Using Contemporary Business Examples |
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.
Key past recordings:
The IAL Business You Tube Channel includes recordings of
- Getting Ready To Teach Pearson Edexcel IAL Business (Modules 1 and 2)
- An exam Insights event
| Number | Title | Specification references | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
| 59 | Protein | 1.2.1 Demand 1.3.5 Marketing strategy (Boston Matrix) 3.1.2 Theories of corporate strategy (Ansoff’s Matrix) 3.1.4 Impact of external influences (Porter’s Five Forces) |
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 2,300 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.
Summer 2027 - GCE Business
IAL Business January 2027 timetable
Summer 2027 - IAL Business
IAL Business October 2027 Timetable
Post 16 qualification reform: New V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates in development for first teach September 2027. Explore our new qualifications
A two year 360glh vocational course and an alternative to A levels.
A one year vocational course with a focus on applied learning.
A two year occupation-specific course.
Subject advisor
Colin Leith
Business
