Welcome to the February 2026 update from your Subject Advisor
This month, we’re highlighting our new BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice Facebook group, a friendly space to share ideas and spark creativity. You’ll also find guidance on entry deadlines, accessing secure components and external units, upcoming training opportunities, and practical teaching support.
To view the latest updates for your qualification, just click the section that matches what you teach.
Do you teach BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice?
Then check out our new Facebook group, 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.
Don't forget to make your May/June 2026 entries for Tech Awards, GCSE and A Level 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 GCSE (as well as international centres delivering GCSE and A Level) is 21 March 2026.
For BTEC Level 3 external units, the deadline for entries is 20 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. Please take a look and have your say.
The provisional exam timetables for 2027 will be available on our provisional timetables web page from Monday 2 February. The feedback window will run until Friday 20 March.
Please send any feedback to timetables@pearson.com
| Date | GCSE and A Level Art and Design |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2026 | Release of the GCSE Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) |
| 1 February 2026 | Release of the A Level Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) |
| 21 February 2026 | Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date (international centre entry deadline is 21 March) |
| 15 May 2026 | Start of moderator visits |
| 48 hours prior to moderation visit |
Marks submitted on Edexcel Online for visiting moderation |
| 31 May 2026 | International centres only: Marks submitted on Edexcel Online for digital moderation Sampled work submitted on Learner Work Transfer |
| 26 June 2026 | End of moderator visits |
| 13 August 2026 | A Level Results day |
| 20 August 2026 | GCSE Results day |
Do you teach GCSE, International GCSE or A level Art and Design?
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.
The Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA) is released on:
Hard copies of the paper will be sent to centres with previous entries / estimated entries and must be kept secure until this date.
Electronic versions of the paper are available via secure download on the course materials page under 'June 2026' from this date.
The Component 2 ESA download is a secure material which requires an Edexcel Online account to access. These are managed by the centre's Exams Officer and you should speak to them for support.
As an additional step for securing customer and learner data, we are now enhancing our systems by introducing the Pearson Authenticator app.
If these steps do not resolve any issues, please get in touch via the Pearson Support Portal.
We have a range of resources available to support your planning and delivery of the Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA).
Art UK created a resource that supports teachers and students by linking the Art & Design Component 2 themes to curated artworks from their free database for quick, focused inspiration.
And you can even create your own curations for free to support your students!
The 2026 Edexcel GCSE Art and Design exam themes resource is now on the Art UK website, providing inspiration and ideas for each of our sub-themes:
And a 2026 Edexcel A Level Art and Design exam themes resource will be published shortly after the 1 February release of Component 2, so watch this space!
To support centres with the JCQ requirement to inform candidates of their centre-assessed marks, we have created new guidance which explains the process and outlines resources you can use to support.
| Date | International GCSE Art and Design |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2026 | Online release of the Component 2 externally set assignment (ESA) |
| 21 March 2026 | Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date |
| 31 May 2026 | All work submitted digitally on Learner Work Transfer for external assessment |
| 20 August 2026 | International GCSE Results day |
Do you teach GCSE, International GCSE or A level Art and Design?
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.
We’re excited to launch this year’s updated training for International GCSE Art and Design. Alongside our popular Getting Ready to Teach Modules 1 and 2, we’re introducing three new sessions based on the areas teachers most often ask about:
These focused sessions are designed to give you clear, practical guidance you can apply straight away—supporting you and your learners throughout the course.
Check out our free online training for International GCSE Art and Design.
Choose from:
Upcoming live events include:
On demand training includes:
For help with assessment objectives and teaching ideas, check out our bitesize video playlist.
The Component 2 Externally Set Assignment is released on 2 January.
Electronic versions of the paper are available via secure download on the course materials page under 'June 2026' from this date.
The Component 2 ESA download is a secure material which requires an Edexcel Online account to access. These are managed by the centre's Exams Officer and you should speak to them for support.
As an additional step for securing customer and learner data, we are now enhancing our systems by introducing the Pearson Authenticator app.
If these steps do not resolve any issues, please get in touch via the Pearson Support Portal.
We have a range of resources available to support your planning and delivery of the Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA).
| Date | A Level History of Art |
|---|---|
| 21 February 2026 | Deadline for entries - late entry fees after this date |
| 18 May 2026 | Paper 1: Visual analysis and themes (PM) |
| 2 June 2026 | Paper 2: Periods (AM) |
| 13 August 2026 | A Level Results day |
On 25 February 2026, we will host live online Paper 2 training.
This free online event supports teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel A Level History of Art. The training focuses specifically on Paper 2 and meeting the Assessment Objectives under timed conditions.
You will:
For help with Paper 1, watch the 'Tackling Visual Analysis in Paper 1' recording.
For other support, check out the past training content and video resources on the course materials page.
This month we spotlight a weekly art quiz!
Art UK have joined forces with the University of St Andrews School of Art History to create a brilliant weekly art quiz – perfect for teachers, students, and anyone who loves a creative challenge.
Follow Art UK on your favourite social media platforms and keep an eye out every Friday for a fresh quiz to test your art knowledge.
Check out this Still Life quiz to get started:
If you’ve got something that’s working well in your classroom for future spotlights, we’d love to hear from you – drop us a line at TeachingArtandDesign@Pearson.com.
| May/June Series | BTEC Tech Award Art and Design Practice |
|---|---|
| 12 January 2026 | Release of Component 2 externally assessed task |
| 21 February 2026 | Deadline for Component 1 and 2 entries - late entry fees after this date |
| 13 April 2026 | Learner Work Transfer (LWT) available |
| 15 May 2026 | Deadline to upload Component 2 work on LWT for external assessment |
| 48 hours prior to moderation visit | Deadline to submit Component 1 marks on Edexcel Online for visiting moderation |
| 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 and L2 Skills |
|---|---|
| 20 March 2026 | Deadline for June 2026 entries of Units 1, 2, 6, and 7 for BTEC L3 Nationals in Art and Design (2016) - late entry 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
All externally assessed units and components will be available on the relevant qualification Secure Tests site on the dates outlined in the Key Dates section.
Please note that these materials are gold padlocked secure materials so can only be downloaded by Exams Officers.
To keep your students’ responses secure and compatible with our systems, we’ve updated the format of the Development Review template for Component 2: Responding to a Brief.
What’s new?
The content hasn’t changed, just the format: the template is now a Word document rather than a PDF. You can download it now from the course materials page, under ‘External assessments’ > 'Admin support guide'.
It'll also be available alongside the PSA brief on 12 January 2026. Please make sure you use this template going forward and delete any previous versions you may have saved.
Why the change?
This update helps make sure your students’ materials are secure and work smoothly with Learner Work Transfer.
Once your students have completed their Development Review using the Word template, make sure you save the file as a PDF so their responses stay fixed.
Stay up to date with the latest news for BTEC qualifications.
Check out our available training.
A new opportunity is opening up for teachers and curriculum leads delivering T Levels. Gatsby’s Technical Education Networks (TEN) programme is expanding — and in partnership with the Association of Colleges (AoC), it’s launching route-specific Communities of Practice for specialist T Level teachers across the country.
These new groups will connect educators teaching the same T Level routes, offering a space to share ideas, collaborate on resources, and shape the future of technical education.
Members of the Communities of Practice will:
Each Community of Practice will meet four times a year — three times online and once at a national in-person exchange event. Task and finish groups will also be formed to develop practical tools and resources, with input from teachers, employers, awarding bodies and professional organisations.
This initiative is part of Gatsby’s TEN programme, which supports teachers in delivering an enriched curriculum by bridging the gap between industry and the classroom.
Check out our guidance for the Occupational Specialisms to support your planning and delivery.
Check out the latest updates on T Levels and sign up for future updates.
‘How Artists Use Their Sketchbooks’ is a growing collection by Access Art designed to help you and your learners build understanding as to what a sketchbook is and can be, straight from the perspective of practising artists.
Free online resources for Art & Design and History through the world’s largest collection of portraits. It includes more than 150 specially produced learning resources and videos, all linked to the National Curriculum, and developed by teachers, artists, historians and education experts.
Do you know a young person who loves art and enjoys writing?
Take part in Write on Art, the national writing programme by Art UK and Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art for young people (14–19 years old).
Young people are invited to write 400–600 words about an artwork of their choice on Art UK’s website for one of three categories:
✍️ Creative writing – an imaginative and expressive response to an artwork
💬 Review – a critical commentary about an artwork or installation
📝 Essay – a critical analysis of an artwork supported by evidence
Twelve successful applicants will be invited to attend a day-long Young Art Writers Workshop at Royal College of Art in September and have their work published.
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.
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Welcome to the January 2026 update from your Subject Advisor
