BTEC Nationals December Update
As we near the end of term, thank you for your continued hard work. This update shares key dates, subject news, and resources to support your planning. The Christmas break is almost here, but if you need anything before then, please get in touch.
Curriculum and Assessment Review and White Paper
📢 Calling all Level 3 educators 📢
Looking for a summary of the key proposals from the Government White Paper, the CAR report and funding guidance? Here's your invitation to the @Pearson briefing sessions for schools and colleges.
School educators: 10 December: 4 - 5pm
College educators: 11 December: 4 - 5pm
Looking for Exam Dates
Introducing your new BTEC external assessment overview tool
If you’re running BTEC external assessments, you want to find everything you need to know quickly and easily so that everything runs smoothly. We’ve made a new tool to help you do exactly that.
BTEC National Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs)
We have listened carefully and decided that we can improve the experience for teachers and learners by re publishing new improved versions of the PSABs for Unit 4.
The new PSABs will provide raw data for Task 2 and 3 as well as form templates that will help clarify what is expected of the learner when undertaking these PSABs.
Frequently asked questions
We have created a FAQ document that will continue to be updated as we capture and answer more questions. This repository will be a valuable source of information and can be the first port of call whenever you are looking for guidance for AAQ IT Unit 3 or Unit 4 questions.
New Certificate-size (180 GLH) Level 3 BTEC National AAQs have been approved for funding and will be available for first teaching in England from September 2026.
At 180 guided learning hours, these smaller qualifications are equivalent in size to one AS level (half an A level). These give students the option of qualifications with an applied and practical focus to complement A levels as part of a mixed programme of learning, helping to bring theoretical learning to life. The Certificate qualifications in Computing & Information Technology contain a subset of units which are shared with the Extended Certificate.
Alternative Academic Qualification (AAQ) Availablility
Our BTEC Nationals Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) are approved and will be open for registrations for your September 2025 cohort:
Alternative Academic Qualification (AAQ)
AAQ Getting Started events
Getting Started events will cover ways to Plan and Teach BTEC National AAQ in Computing and Information Technology.
Links to recordings of these events can be found below.
| Qualification |
Date | Time | Recording/ Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computing | 19 May 2025 | 16:00 - 17:00 | Recording |
| Information Technology | 12 May 2025 | 16:00 - 17:00 | Recording |
| Computing | 4 Nov 2025 | 16:00 - 17:00 | Register |
Getting ready for Internal Assessmant
These events are aimed at UK based teachers preparing to deliver the new BTEC Level 3 qualifications.
| Qualification |
Date | Time | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | 11 Nov 2025 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Information Technology | 2 Dec 2025 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Information Technology | 3 Feb 2026 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Information Technology | 3 Mar 2026 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Computing | 18 Nov 2025 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Computing | 25 Nov 2025 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Computing | 10 Feb 2026 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
| Computing | 10 Mar 2026 | 16:00 - 17:30 | Register |
Getting ready for External Assessmant
These events are aimed at UK based teachers preparing to deliver the new BTEC Level 3 qualifications.
Information Technology
For Information Technology AAQ we have the 'Student Book', 'Student eBook' and 'Complete Package' are all available now
Computing
For Computing AAQ we have the 'Student Book', 'Student eBook' and 'Complete Package' are all available now
Information Technology AAQ
Planning and Teaching Guide, Unit guides and Transferrable Skills Framework and Transition guide.
Pearson Set Assignments for the two internally assessed units, 4 for Unit 3 and 3 for Unit 4
Computing AAQ
Planning and Teaching Guide, Unit guides and Transferrable Skills Framework and Transition Guide.
Pearson Set Assignments for the two internally assessed units, 4 for Unit 3 and 4 for Unit 4
BTEC Nationals (RQF)
Important considerations
You can find the dates for all externally assessed units here:
Internally assessed units continue to follow the standard quality assurance process for the RQF suite and this starts with the submission of an assessment plan.
Remember in England the September 2025 cohort represent the final registrations on these qualifications. They will remain funded through to certification which would normally be Summer 2027 for two year programs.
Qualification pages for these quals are shown below:
In Northern Ireland (NI) and Wales you can continue to offer the BTEC Nationals RQF at all sizes and we have some dedicated pages to help you find information and support as things change we will keep this page updated as developments occur.
Funding clarification is here:
BTEC Level 3 Funding Guide for 16-19 year olds in Wales
BTEC Level 3 Funding Guide for 16-19 year olds in Northern Ireland
Subject advisor
Tim Brady
Computer Science and ICT Subject Advisor
