April 2026 PE and Sport Update | Pearson qualifications

April 2026 PE and Sport update

13 April 2026

Welcome to the April 2026 update from your Subject Advisor

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This month brings an update on the Curriculum and Assessment Review for BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications; an invitation to a Sport and Physical Activity Sector update; how to become involved with the re development of the BTEC Level 2 and 3 qualifications; how to become a member of the PE and Sport facebook group, as well as upcoming dates and deadlines, resources, and delivery support to prepare for this term.

To view the latest updates for your qualification, just click the section that matches what you teach.

This update covers:
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General Updates

Curriculum and Assessment Review

The ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review represents an exciting moment of transition and opportunity across education. Following recent announcements on funding extensions, we are moving into the next phase of qualification development. Our commitment remains clear: to design best‑in‑class qualifications that truly support provider needs, that teachers are proud to deliver, and that learners are motivated and inspired to study.

 Funding Update

We are also pleased to confirm that funding for the current Sport qualification suite has now been released, providing reassurance that centres can continue to deliver the existing qualifications for a further year. This stability offers valuable continuity while we prepare for the next generation of qualifications.

Level 2 Funding Guide

Level 3 Funding Guide

Sport and Physical Activity Sector Briefing

To ensure you remain fully informed, we will be hosting a Sport and Physical Activity Sector Update on Tuesday 28 April, 16.00 - 17.00. This session will outline the current picture and what these reforms mean for future qualification pathways at both Level 2 and Level 3.

Book a place

 

 

Would you like to be involved with the re-development of the Level 2 and Level 3 qualification suites?

As part of our collaborative approach, we invite you to work with us on shaping the new qualification suites. If you would like to collaborate with us on the development of the new Level 2 and Level 3 qualification suites, please register your interest to join the Qualification Reform Community – Sport and Physical Activity. This is voluntary group that we will collaborate with to shape the future qualification design. 

Register your interest

 

 

Key dates

BTEC Tech Award in Sport (2022) and BTEC Nationals in Sport and S&ES

Date Description
21 February Entry deadline for May/June internal and external assessment entries. Late fees will apply to all entries after this date*
18 March Restricted release of results to centres (Jan series)
19 March Release of results to learners (Jan series)
19 March- 16 April Late certification window (self-serve via Edexcel Online) Window for Review of Marking or Moderation (RoMMs) for internal and external assessments

GCSE and GCE PE
Date Description
21 February Entry deadline for Summer 2026. Late fees will apply to all entries after this date
Mid February Moderators will begin contacting centresrequesting the Initial Contact Questionnaire (ICQ) form to commence the moderation process
1 March - 5 May

Moderation window. Centres must ensure all final total marks are submitted on EdexcelOnline and PE2MS for each candidate in the cohort 15 days prior to moderation day.

A selection of sampled candidates by the moderator will be confirmed between 7 and 10 days prior to moderation day

Initial Contact Questionnaire (ICQ)

PE2MS form (up to 60 learners)

PE2MS form (up to 150 learners)
BTEC Quality Assurance

BTEC Quality Assurance

The VQAM (Vocational Quality Assurance Managers) team continues to offer support toy our quality nominee and lead IV colleagues through a range of online events and on-demand CPD.

Quality Assurance - Events and Support | Pearson qualifications

Standards verification is about to launch for the BTEC Firsts and BTEC Nationals, so please look out for the introductory emails from your standards verifiers. You can access all the information you need about the process in the Centre Guide to Standards Verification.

Guide to Standards Verification

Remember, if you have got any questions about quality assurance, you can book a one-to-one Teams meeting with your VQAM for dedicated personal support.

Meet your VQAM
 

 
Pearson Edexcel PE and Sport Facebook Group
Pearson Edexcel PE and Sport teacher group for GCSE and A Level PE teachers. Run by your Subject Advisor Penny Lewis


Do you teach GCSE PE, A level PE, BTEC Tech Award in Sport or BTEC Nationals in Sport?

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.

Join the Pearson Edexcel PE and Sport Facebook Group
BTEC Tech Award in Sport (2022) - No changes to the moderation process

I wanted to share with you that there are no changes to the submission process for Components 1 and 2 of the BTEC Tech Award in Sport. Due to the video recording requirements of these assessments, a sample will not be generated by the system.

Subject -specific guidance for changes to mark submission for moderated work

GCSE and GCE PE - minor changes to the moderation process

There are no changes to the submission process for Component 3 on the Pearson GCSE and A level Physical Education. Due to the moderation process, a sample will not be generated by the system and the sample is agreed with the moderator in advance.

For Component 4, your moderation sample will only be confirmed once your marks have been formally submitted, and the sample will now always include the highest and lowest marked candidates.

Subject-specific guidance for changes to mark submission for moderated work

 

 

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 GCSE and A Level PE

Key Dates
Date GCSE and A PE
21 February 2026 Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date
(international centre entry deadline is 21 March)
Mid February Moderators contact centres
1 March 2026 Start of moderator visits
1 March-5 May Submission of centre marks and moderation samples
5 May 2026 End of moderation window
13 August 2026 A Level Results day
20 August 2026 GCSE Results day


View the Instructions for the Conduct of NEA for GCSE PE


View the Instructions for the Conduct on NEA for A level PE
Special Consideration for GCSE PE

Special consideration for GCSE PE – Component 3

For Practical Performance, if the centre has formally assessed the candidate(s) and awarded the mark during the course of study it is not required for candidate(s) to apply for special consideration. You must inform the moderator that you have formally assessed the learner in all activities, and is now injured and cannot be part of the sample. You should then submit the marks in exactly the same way as you do for every other learner.

However, if the candidate(s) has never been formally assessed in one or more activity during the whole course of study, then they should apply for special consideration.

If the candidate(s) has failed to participate in an assessment/examination without valid reason, it is expected that they will be awarded the mark of absent and special consideration cannot be requested.

For further guidance see page 28 in the Instructions for the Conduct of NEA

Instructions for the Conduct of Non Examined Assessment (NEA) - Summer 2026

Centres will need to fill in two forms:

• JCQ’s Form 10 

• Pearson’s Form 10 (for practical performance)

Applications for special consideration along with the appropriate documentation, such as a medical certificate, should be sent to uk.special.requirements@ pearson.com

Special consideration

JCQ form 10 (PDF|101.0 KB)

Pearson Form 10
New material added to the Exemplar library for GCSE Component 4: PEP

I am delighted to announce that there are a few new exemplars for Component 4: PEP, including new exemplars on swimming, handball,  athletics, gaelic footbal, netball, trampolining, climbing and netball

 

Explore component 4 exemplars
Free Online Training

 Check out our free on demand recorded training courses  GCSE and A Level PE

A Level PE

  • Exam Insights Summer 2025
  • Preparing for Moderation
  • Preparing for the Summer Exam

GCSE PE

  • Exam Insights Summer 2025
  • Mocks Marking Training 2025
  • Preparing for Moderation
  • Preparing for the Summer Exam


Explore online training for GCSE and A Level PE
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BTEC Sport and Sport and Exercise Science

Key Dates


BTEC Key Dates and Term-Time Checkpoints

We recently published the BTEC key dates and term-time checkpoints for 2025/26. While your exams officers will take the lead on most of these activities, your support will be important to help meet these deadlines, so it’s useful to be aware of what is required and when.
pdf
Explore our key dates & term-time checkpoint guide (pdf | 408.3 KB)

Find out more about term-time checkpoints


BTEC Tech Awards
May/June Series BTEC Tech Award in Sport
1 September 2025 PSA release for Component 1 and Component 2 for Summer 2026
1 November 2025 Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date
21 February 2026 Deadline for entries for summer 2026 series - late entry fees after this date
13 April 2026 Learner Work Transfer (LWT) available
7 May 2026 Component 3: Developing Fitness to Improve Other Participants Performance in Sport - exam (BSP03/01)
15 May 2026 Deadline to upload Component 1 and/or Component 2 work on LWT
26 June 2022 Deadline for amending marks following moderator feedback where necessary for internal assessments (optional)
14 August 2026 Restricted release of results to centres
20 August 2026 Release of results to learners
pdf
Tech Awards key dates 2025-2026 (pdf | 467.3 KB)

View the BTEC Tech Award Quality Assurance page


BTEC L3 Nationals in Sport and Sport and Exercise Science
May/June Series BTEC L3 Nationals
1 November 2025 Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date
15 May 2026 Deadline for Standards Verification sampling 
15 June 2026 Deadline for Standards Verification additional sampling (if applicable)
5 July 2026 Deadline to submit results for certification on August results days
5 August 2026 Restricted release of results to centres
13 August 2026 Release of results to learners

View 2025/26 exam timetables for external units

View the BTEC Quality Assurance page 


BTEC International
May/June Series BTEC International
within 60 days of enrolment at the centre Deadline for registrations - late registration fees after this date
June 2025 Release of Pearson-set Assignments (PSA) - valid for 1 year after publish date
5 July 2026 Deadline to submit results for certification on August results days (ie. for learners applying to HEIs via UCAS)
Immediately after completion Deadline to submit results for certification for non-UK-academic year programmes
pdf
BTEC International Key Dates 2025 - 2026 (pdf | 65.5 KB)

View the BTEC International Quality Assurance page


BTEC Higher Nationals
May/June Series BTEC Higher Nationals
15 November 2025 Deadline for registrations 
November 2025 Allocation of External Examiner (EE)
November 2025
- February 2026		 Contact made with your EE
November 2025
- March 2026		 Two assignment briefs sent to your EE for review 
May - July 2026 External Examination sampling - completed by 30 July
August 2026 Students receive qualification

View the BTEC Higher Nationals Quality Assurance page
Live Online Training


BTEC L1-3 Quality Assurance
  • Roles and Responsibilities of the Quality Nominee (UK centres) - 9 December

Book BTEC Quality Assurance training


BTEC International
  • Internal Verification and preparing for the EE for BTEC International Level 2 and 3 qualifications - 6 April
  • An Introduction to the Principles of Quality Assurance BTEC International Level 2 and Level 3 Qualifications - 13 April
  • An Introduction to the Principles of Quality Assurance BTEC International Level 2 and Level 3 Qualifications - 20 April

Book BTEC International training


BTEC Higher Nationals

Book Higher Nationals training
BTEC Newsletters


Stay up to date with the latest news for BTEC qualifications.

Sign up for BTEC Tech Award updates

Sign up for BTEC Broadcast newsletters  
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 Helpful Resources and Inspiration

Pearson National Teaching Awards


Celebrating Excellence in Teaching

The Pearson National Teaching Awards honour teachers who inspire creativity and change lives.

Know someone who deserves recognition? Nominate them today!

Make a nomination for the Pearson National Teaching Awards 2026
Pearson National Teaching Awards

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Thank you!

I hope you found this update useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the contact details below. 

You can also sign up to get these Subject Advisor updates straight to your inbox every month.

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Subject advisor

Penny Lewis

Physical Education and Sport

Email :
teachingpeandsport@pearson.com
Phone :
+44 (0) 344 463 2535 (Teaching Services team | Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm GMT)
Sign up for subject advisor updates Visit the customer support portal Visit your BTEC Sport community page Visit your A level PE community page Visit your GCSE PE community page Book an appointment with your Subject Advisor
Penny Lewis, Physical Education and Sport subject advisor
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