Security update - April 2026
The 2026 April security update contains news, updates and reminders related to the Pearson conflict of interest policy, candidate ID, paper-based tests, CPD and internal assessment.
Conflict of Interest
Physical Intervention Approved Programme Delivery
The Pearson conflict of interest policy stipulates that you must only enter members of centre staff for qualifications with internally assessed components at your own centre as a last resort in cases where the member of centre staff is unable to find an alternative centre.
This applies to the Security qualifications, including the Level 3 Deliverers of Physical Intervention Training in the Private Security Industry, as well as the associated annual refresher training of the approved PI programme.
This means that if you hold a Level 3 licence to deliver an approved physical intervention programme (sometimes referred to as a Master Trainer licence), you should not deliver the initial or annual refresher PI training to colleagues from any centre with which you are affiliated with, as this represents a conflict of interest.
You can find more details about conflicts of interest and how they must be managed below.
Pearson Centre Declarations of Interest
JCQ General Regulations for Approved Centres
If you have any queries about whether a tutor has a conflict of interest, please contact us for advice before delivering any training.
Candidate ID: Tests
A reminder that candidates must present their Group A photo ID before the start of the external (multiple choice) test sessions. The invigilator must check the ID and be certain of the identity of every learner sitting the test.
Please ensure the ‘Proof of ID’ field on the answer sheet is completed. The list of codes to be used is available on p69 of the Security Centre Management Handbook.
Paper-based tests: Permanent ink
A reminder that learners sitting paper-based tests MUST use permanent ink to complete the tests. The use of pencils or erasable ink is not permitted.
Internal assessment
A reminder that the IQA training activity is mandatory and available to access on our website.
Security IQA training (1:04:02mins)
Once you have completed the training you must complete the confirmation exercise. Please save a copy of your responses and include within your CPD file.
Internal quality assurance confirmation exercise
The training activity gives details on the requirements for centre standardisation. The requirement to undertake standardisation is mandatory.
Standardisation is the process by which assessors develop a shared understanding of the assessment criteria and standards to ensure consistent and accurate assessment of learner work.
Standardisation typically involves:
- Assessor discussion of unit criteria and assessment requirements
- Joint marking or review of sample learner work
- Comparison of assessment decisions against benchmark evidence
- Agreement on how criteria should be applied before or during marking.
Please note that generic team meetings do not meet the requirements for standardisation. Centres must undertake specific standardisation activity and make this available to your SV to inspect.
CPD
A reminder that all trainers and assessors must be able to demonstrate evidence of a suitable level of professional development in the sector, which includes the equivalent of at least 40 hours every year spent in a combination of training, increasing professional knowledge through other means and working in the industry, and must include an annual update of the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) training.
A CPD Record Template is available within the Security Centre Management Handbook for you to use to help you demonstrate how you meet this CPD requirement.
Onscreen tests - system requirements
Did you know....you can use any Windows enabled laptop to run the onscreen tests, you don’t have to use a desktop computer.
For more information about the system requirements explore Pearson Onscreen Platform.
Paper based tests: Returning scripts to Hellaby
Pearson is now approaching our busy summer period, where we receive high volumes of packages daily with GCSE, A Level and BTEC candidate scripts for processing.
To help us easily identify the Security tests and speed up the turn-around time for marking them and getting results to you, our team at Hellaby would be grateful if you can clearly mark the envelope with ‘SIA’ or ‘BTEC Security’. Many thanks for your assistance with this.