February 2026 Languages Update
Welcome to the January 2026 Languages update.
Quick links
In this update you will find:
- Languages qualifications support contacts
- Digital Sequencing Tool (GCSE French, German and Spanish 2024)
- Support for the speaking exams (All languages qualifications)
- Home, Heritage and Community Languages
- A Level Chinese Updates
- International GCSE English as a Second Language (2017 specification)
- On Screen Assessment in International GCSE English as a Second Language (2023)
- Summer 2026 Entry Deadline
- Ofqual consultation or on-screen assessment
- Summer 2027 Provisional Timetables
- Permission to Speak
- Assessment Associate Vacancies
- Upcoming training
- Recorded training
- Languages teachers Facebook group
If you’re new to Pearson Edexcel Languages qualifications, hi! I’m Rebecca Waker, your Subject Advisor for Languages. My job is to support you in delivering our qualifications — whether that’s GCSE, A Level, International GCSE or International A Level
I create these monthly updates, run our Facebook group, and share resources to make your life easier. Before this role, I taught Spanish and French for nearly 10 years, so I know the joys (and the challenges!) of languages teaching. I use that experience every day to help improve yours.
Here’s how to reach out:
• 📧 Email me at teachinglanguages@pearson.com
• 📅 Book a 1:1 Teams meeting — perfect for personalised support
• 📞 Call our Teaching Services team on +44 (0)344 463 2535
• 💡 Visit our Support Portal for quick answers
🎯 Digital Sequencing Tool (Demo) for GCSE French, German and Spanish (2024)
For summer 2026, we’re replacing the sequencing grids with a new interactive digital sequencing tool. It cuts admin for teachers and exams officers and makes setting up assessments more efficient from start to finish.
Here’s a checklist, followed by simple instructions on what you need to do - to help make sure everything runs smoothly:
Make sure your MFA is working so you can access the MFL Sequencing Tools in the Pearson Portal.
Important: The Pearson Portal is your gateway to Edexcel Online and ResultsPlus. If you can already get into those systems, you’re all set - you’ll be able to access the Pearson Portal using MFA.
Once you’ve logged into the Pearson Portal, the next step is to make sure you have the correct Edexcel Online (EOL) permissions in place to access the Sequencing Tools. If you need help checking you’ve got the right permissions to access the tools, please speak to your Exams Officer The permission required for the demo tool is: Sequencing Tool (demo version).
In the Sequencing Tool (Demo Version) you’ll be able to see how the tool works and practise using it in a low stakes environment, where you can reset the data and try using the system as many times as you want.
All teachers should practise using the Sequencing Tool (Demo Version) prior to the Speaking assessment in 2026 to ensure they know how to generate their students’ individual allocation of speaking cards when using the live version from 19 March – 2 April 2026.
All the information and support you need about this tool can be found in our User Guide
Speaking exams sit right at the top of the to do list for most of our language qualifications at this time of year. In this update, I’m sharing the key links and information you might need as you get everything ready.
Our Administrative Support Guides for these exams will be published shortly. You’ll find them on the relevant qualification page, in the Forms and Administration section of the Course Materials.
These guides bring together everything you already know from our specifications, training and support materials. They’re there to help you feel confident that your speaking exams run exactly as they should.
Does your centre offer candidates the opportunity to enter for exams which are not usually taught in the centre? We have this one-stop guide to our support.
If you offer A Level Chinese in your centre, we recently announced some updates to the assessment from June 2026.
Materials for the International GCSE English as a Second Language (2017) specification will be removed from the website in March. This change is designed to keep the experience clear for teachers and students accessing the most up to date resources. If there are materials you wish to continue using, please download them before they are taken down.
Our onscreen assessments are the same as the paper-based assessments. The questions are the same and the exams are taken at the same time - the only difference is the format.
Students will take their assessments at a centre, under exam conditions, working on devices.
You can find our onscreen assessment roadmap on our website: Onscreen Assessment
Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs) for subjects that we currently deliver onscreen are available for you, your teachers, your students and their parents/guardians/carers to look at within our Sandbox environment.
It gives the opportunity to experience the platform and the functionalities available*.
To set up an account:
• go to the Sandbox environment
• click on ‘Don’t have an account’
• enter your email address as your UserID
• wait for an automatic email to confirm your email address
• proceed to log in.
*Any responses submitted within the Sandbox are not saved.
There is a guided tour video that demonstrates how students interact with the onscreen platform and you can also view support videos for specific tools available.
If you need any help getting started with the onscreen platform, our Onscreen Assessment Team is here to support you – just email internationalonscreen@pearson.com.
We're here to help with any general onscreen queries you may have, so please feel free to join our friendly drop-in sessions. Just remember to sign up in advance—we look forward to seeing you there!
Wednesday 25th February 4pm - 5pm (GMT)
Wednesday 11th March 8am - 9am (GMT)
Don't forget to make your summer 2026 entries for GCSE and A level Languages by 21 February 2026. Late entries will be charged from 22 February, so make sure that you don't miss this deadline.
The entry deadline for International GCSEs and A Levels is 21 March 2026.
Ofqual has launched a consultation on proposals for how on-screen assessment should be regulated in GCSEs, AS and A levels in England. Whilst they propose a controlled introduction of on-screen assessment, pen-and-paper will remain central to most exams.
As teachers working directly with students, you understand their needs and the challenges this proposal may present.
Your opinion counts. The consultation closes on 5 March 2026.
The Provisional timetables for Summer 2027 will be available on our Provisional timetables web page from Monday 2nd February. The feedback window will run until Friday 20th March.
Please send any feedback to timetables@pearson.com
We’re pleased to let you know that our Permission to Speak resources are now available, just in a new home. Please save this new link for future reference.
Examiner Vacancies – Be Part of the Team That Shapes Language Learning
We’re currently recruiting for some exciting roles in our Languages examiner team, and we’d love you to consider joining us.
These roles are a chance to:
✔️ Make a real impact – Your insights help shape assessments that reflect what learners know and can do.
✔️ Grow professionally – You’ll deepen your understanding of assessment and gain valuable experience.
✔️ Join a supportive network – Work alongside experienced colleagues who care about language education as much as you do.
✔️ Fit it around your teaching – Many of our examiners teach full-time and find the role complements their classroom work brilliantly.
Whether you’re ready to step into a senior role or want to build your experience as an examiner, we’d love to hear from you.
Upcoming training
If you’re in need of support with our Languages qualifications, as well as getting in touch with me and joining our Facebook group we have a wide range of training on offer via our Pearson Professional Development Academy.
Whether you're new Pearson Edexcel or looking to deepen your practice, these online courses are designed to support your teaching.
We also have monthly drop-in sessions for GCSE (2024) where you can have your questions answered live by our qualification experts.
🎥 Recorded Training – Available Anytime on YouTube
If you’ve missed a live session or want to revisit key topics, our Pearson Edexcel Languages YouTube playlists are packed with free, high-quality recorded training. These include full-length webinars and CPD sessions covering the 2024 GCSE French, German and Spanish specifications, as well as International GCSE and A Level MFL.
International GCSE and A Level
International GCSE English as a Second Language
GCSE French, German and Spanish (2024)
👋 New to Pearson Edexcel? Join Our Languages Teachers Facebook Group
If you’ve just started teaching our qualifications, there’s a brilliant space waiting for you.
Our Languages Facebook group is a friendly, professional community where teachers share ideas, swap tips, and support each other — all year round.
Here’s how to join: Just answer the automatic joining questions when you request access. It helps us keep the group a safe and focused space for teachers like you.
We’d love to welcome you in.
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
