Welcome to the March 2026 update from your Subject Advisor
This month brings information on how to have your say in the future of the GCSE PE qualification; confirmation of the moderation process for BTEC Tech Award in Sport and GCSE/GCE PE; preparation for the upcoming BTEC results day; 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.
I would like to invite you to join myself and my colleague for a 1-hour online conversation about the future of GCSE PE. This is an opportunity to influence what the qualification could look like going forward and to share what really matters in physical education.
Grab a coffee and join us for an informal discussion all things GCSE PE— what works, what needs to change, and what you’d like to see in the future. Your insights will help shape what comes next, and we’d love to hear them.
These conversations will be from 16:30 to 17:30 on the following dates.
12 March
25 March
26 March
It would be great to hear your views so please do join us
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
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
With the March BTEC Tech Award results days approaching, here are a few important reminders and some good news about extra support we’re adding this series.
New enhanced principal moderator reports with exemplar work
From the March results day, we’re introducing a more detailed principal moderator report for BTEC Tech Awards, designed to give you clearer insight into performance and standards.
You can now expect:
This report also includes the exemplar standardisation materials, so you get them earlier and can see how they link to the themes of the report.
You’ll be able to download the Principal Moderator Reports and exemplars from the relevant qualification page on our website on 18 March results day. We hope these richer insights make it easier for you and your teams to support students and prepare future cohorts.
The terminal assessment rule means students have to take their external assessment at the end of their qualification; i.e., the same series in which they'll certificate. This means students must sit their internal assessments either before or in the same series as the external assessment.
Understanding the terminal rule
Cash in for January results
If you have students who sat their terminal assessment in
January and don’t want to resit in the summer, don’t forget to submit a cash in
for them on Edexcel Online to claim their certification, if you haven’t
already.
Understanding your results
Want to know more about how BTEC Tech Award results are awarded? Our understanding results page goes through how results are calculated, how components contribute to the final qualification result, and where to find further support if you need to query or review a result.
Understanding BTEC Tech Award results
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 |
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.
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.
| 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 |
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
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
Check out our free on demand recorded training courses GCSE and A Level PE
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Stay up to date with the latest news for BTEC qualifications.
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