History
November 2025 History subject update
This update contains useful information, news and advice for Edexcel History teachers including recordings of recent History training events and an important update on the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
Key Dates
Access to scripts deadline: 12 December 2025 - After this date you will no longer be able to view your students’ scripts using our free service.
Training for History teachers
The following training events are now available to book via our training page.
- GCSE History: Exploring the 'explain why' question, 20 January 2026 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
- GCSE History: Exploring the 'judgement essay' question, 17 March 2026 at 16:00 - 17:00 GMT
- A Level History: Accessing Level 5 Network, 12 February 2026 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
Recordings of Autumn term History events
This term we’ve run several events to support our GCSE, A level and International History qualifications and you can now find recordings of some of these events on our website:
Coming soon: Recording of A level History Summer 2025 exam insights event
You can find pre-recorded training videos and guidance to support the marking and delivery of A level History coursework on our website:
We have the following pre-recorded training events for teachers who are new to teaching our History specifications or are considering switching:
Resources and support materials
New Pearson Edexcel History Teacher Facebook Group
We’ve recently set up a new official Pearson Edexcel History Facebook group for teachers of our GCSE, A level and International History qualifications. This private group is for Edexcel teachers to share ideas and resources and to get support from colleagues as well as the Pearson History team.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review: our response
This week the government published the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report which includes the conclusions and recommendations of the independent review of the curriculum, assessment and qualifications system in England. They also published the Government response to the CAR report which contains a timeline for future reform.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review is an important milestone for education and skills in the UK – and it’s just the beginning.
We welcome the Review’s support for many of the recommendations we shared. All of these have been inspired by our work with schools and colleges across the country. And we’ll keep working to build an education system that empowers students, champions teachers, and drives the UK’s long-term success.
As we now move from ideas into further action, we’ll keep collaborating with educators, students, partners, sector experts to drive manageable and truly impactful change.
We’ve already started to do this and would love for you to join us in our next steps.
Coursework sample size change
From June 2026, we’ll be asking you to submit a slightly larger sample size for moderation in qualifications with coursework such as A level History. This change is designed to make moderation smoother and reduce the need for additional sample requests later in the year.
Italian History Teachers' Day
The HA and Association for the Study of Modern Italy are hosting an Italian History Teachers Day in London on Saturday 6 December, 10am–3.30pm. This one-day event will feature lectures from university academics on a variety of topics within Italian history from 1830–1946. It will provide up to date academic knowledge on key topics within this period of Italian history for both courses on the Risorgimento and Liberal and Fascist Italy and ways this information could be presented to students.
Subject advisor
Mark Battye
History
Subject updates
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October 2025 History subject update
This update contains useful information, news and advice for Edexcel History teachers including information about our new official Pearson Edexcel History Teacher Facebook group.