January 2026 BTEC Performing Arts update
Happy New Year! In this January newsletter you will find all the latest news on our BTEC Performing Arts qualifications.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions using my details below.
In this update you will find information on:
- Tech Award Component 3 brief 2026
- BTEC key dates
- Tech Award C1 and C2 results January 2026 series
- Tech Award training events this term
- Nationals Unit 3 Sample Marked Learner Work
- BTEC Performing Arts Sharing Best Practice Facebook page
- Music and Drama Education EXPO 2026
- January Challenge 2026
- Support and Contact
Tech Award Component 3 brief 2026
The brief for the externally assessed component 3 - Responding to a Brief will be released on 12 January. This is under a gold padlock in the 'Secure Tests' area of the website. This means only your Exams Officer can access it and they will then need to share it with you.
Tech Award results for January series
If you submitted your sample and marks by 15 December 2025, you should receive the draft moderation report by 16 January 2026.
Based on the feedback in the draft report, you are able to make adjustments to the marks initially submitted if you choose by 23 January.
The final results for the January series of internally assessed components for the BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts / Dance approach will be released to centres on 18 March with results being released to learners on 19 March.
| Date | Qual and Unit | Event |
| 5 Jan | Nationals, Unit 3 | External task released |
| 12 Jan | Tech Award, C3 | External task released |
| 9 March | Nationals, Unit 5 | External task released |
| 11 March | Nationals, Unit 7 | External task released |
| 16 March | Nationals, Unit 1 | Part A released |
| 30 April | Nationals Unit 1 | Part B completed |
| Getting Started: Ways to Teach and Assess BTEC Tech Award (2022) in Performing Arts | 13 January 2026 | 16:00 - 18:00 GMT | Register now | |
| Getting Started: Ways to Teach and Assess BTEC Tech Award (2022) in Performing Arts | 21 January 2026 | 16:00 - 18:00 GMT | Register now | |
| BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts (2022): Marking and moderation for Internally Assessed Components- Component 1 | 12 February 2026 | 16:00 - 18:00 GMT | Register now | |
| BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts (2022): Marking and moderation for Internally Assessed Components- Component 2 | 24 February 2026 | 16:00 - 18:00 GMT | Register now | |
BTEC Tech Award (2022) in Performing Arts: Preparing for External Assessment
|
26 February 2026 | 16:00 - 18:00 GMT | Register now |
Do you teach any of our BTEC Performing Arts or Production Arts courses?
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.
The 2026 Music and Drama Education EXPO takes place on 12 and 13 February in the Business Design Centre in London.
Both days are free and there are tons of workshops, talks, seminars and opportunities to learn about what's happening in the world of performing arts, music and drama education.
On Thursday at 1015 in the Exhibitor Showcase Theatre myself and the Subject Advisor for Music, Jeff Hole, will be leading a session on the future of Key Stage 4 and 5 qualifications in Music, Drama and Performing Arts. We will be discussing our perspective on the future of Key Stage 4 and 5 qualifications in Music, Drama and Performing Arts, sharing research findings, priorities from teachers and students, and what the future holds for these subjects.
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:
- Sign up to receive daily creative prompts in January
- Download the schools pack
- Use the schools pack to help your school get creative and make change
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!
Subject advisor
Paul Webster
Drama, Theatre and Performing Arts
