GCSE History mock papers based on Summer 2024 now available

We have created some new GCSE History mock papers by adapting the summer 2024 papers to reflect the amended assessment model that comes into effect in summer 2025. They have been padlocked so that teachers can use them as secure mocks in advance of the summer 2025 exam series. The papers are available to download now via our qualification page:

We will also be using these adapted Summer 2024 GCSE History papers for our Mocks Service this year.

Pearson Edexcel Mocks Service

The Pearson Edexcel Mocks Service provides schools and colleges with GCSE, International GCSE and A level exams for use in mocks. We also offer a Moderation Service that can support teacher CPD. Our Mocks Service can help your students gain vital insight into the examination process, while saving you valuable time. We provide the most up to date past papers throughout the year, so you can purchase your students’ mocks, submit your entries, then let our expert examiners do the rest. The papers are marked by Edexcel examiners and the results are uploaded to ResultsPlus for detailed question level analysis.

Because of the changes to Edexcel GCSE History assessment for first assessment Summer 2025, our Mocks Service will use adapted versions of the Summer 2024 question papers which will reflect the extra timing and new style questions that will be assessed in 2025. If you decide to use our Mocks Service for GCSE History this year, you can be confident that your students’ experience will be as close as possible to their final exam.

Pearson Edexcel GCSE History resources survey

Pearson publishers are carrying out some research into improving our Edexcel GCSE History textbooks and it would be great to hear from you! We'd love to hear your opinions on our current books and any improvements or adaptations you would like to see. Please click on the survey link below - it should only take 5-10 mins if your time to complete.

Recordings of Pearson Edexcel History training events

This term we’ve run several training events for History teachers including:

• New to Edexcel GCSE History
• New to Edexcel A level History
• Edexcel GCSE History Summer 2024 insights event
• Edexcel A level History Summer 2024 insights event

We are planning to release recordings of these events on the Pearson Professional Development Academy soon. I will provide links in future updates when they become available.

We are also planning to make available recordings of our International History training events and you can now view the Edexcel International GCSE History May/June 2024 exam insights event:

The materials from these events will also be made available shortly on our qualification pages.

New to Edexcel International History training events

This term we are running a number of training events for teachers who are new to our international History specifications:

• Getting Ready to Teach Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History (Module 1) - 17 October 2024 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT
• Getting Ready to Teach Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History (Module 2) - 31 October 2024 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT
• Getting Ready to Teach Pearson Edexcel International A Level History (Module 1) - 28 October 2024 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT
• Getting Ready to Teach Pearson Edexcel International A Level History (Module 2) - 30 October 2024 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

GCSE History marking training events

In the Autumn term we are running some marking training events for Edexcel GCSE History teachers:

• GCSE History: Paper 1 marking training - 27 November 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
• GCSE History: Paper 2 marking training - 03 December 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
• GCSE History: Paper 3 marking training - 11 December 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT

We recently increased the capacity on these events due to demand so you may still be able to book a place. We will be making available recordings of the events afterwards for people who can’t attend.

Assessment Services pre-exam and post-exam qualification support events

We’re delighted to share that we’re hosting two new webinars on our Professional Development Academy focusing specifically on pre-exam support and post-exam support.

Whether you’re a seasoned teacher, new to teaching, new to teaching Pearson Edexcel, or a recent switcher to one of our qualifications, these webinars are for you. We'll cover our full range of support, products, and services available to enhance your teaching journey and better support you and your students.

Just like our Spotlight on Assessment series for Senior Leaders, these sessions zoom in on the resources and guidance you need for effective teaching and continuous professional development (CPD). Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about all the support available to you, engage directly with us, and share your ideas on how we can better support you.

Book your place today:

• Assessment Services Pre-Exam Qualifications Support
  21 October 2024 at 16:00-17:00 GMT
• Assessment Services Post-Exam Qualifications Support
  23 October 2024 at 16:00-17:00 GMT

Our new Qualifications Support Portal - now live!

We’re excited to introduce our enhanced Qualifications Support Portal, designed to make getting help quicker and easier than ever.

A new contact-us journey enables you to connect quickly with our support teams in the way that suits you; via live-chat for real-time assistance, or webform, as well as traditional phone or email routes. You can use your Pearson Portal (Edexcel Online) credentials to access secure personalised support even faster, and view your existing cases.

Our comprehensive support article library has also been restructured with sections specific to teachers, as well as stronger search functions, to resolve your own queries quickly and easily.

War in the Air 1914-1918, A level History Study Day at RAF Museum London

Aligned with the Edexcel A-Level History paper 3 option, The British Experience of Warfare: c1790-1918, this Study Day examines the topic of War in the Air 1914-18. Students get up-close to the aircraft and equipment used in the air war and to analyse written source material, handle collection items and hear audio accounts. They end the day using their research to put their case in a group debate.

Migration Museum GCSE History workshops

If you want to inspire your students to learn more about migration, the Migration Museum in London are running new GCSE History workshops which explore the experience and impact of migration to and from Britain across history. These workshops are designed to support the migration units of all three major exam boards; OCR, AQA and Pearson/Edexcel, whether as an introduction to the topic or revision. For more information and to book please contact Learning Officer Tia Shah: tia@migrationmusuem.org

They are also running a new exhibition: All Our Stories – Migration and the Making of Britain.

Survey about the teaching of Indigenous histories in UK classrooms

The University of Sheffield, the Centre for Indigenous and Settler Colonial Studies at the University of Kent, and Schools History Project are collaborating with Indigenous partners and UK educators on a project aimed at empowering teachers to bring Indigenous histories and perspectives into the classroom.

As part of the project, they hope to provide free resources and education to teachers, and so are looking to discover what is already taught in schools, the challenges facing educators, and what they can best do to support you in increasing awareness of Indigenous American histories and contemporary perspectives. 

They need your help to find out about the teaching of Indigenous histories in UK classrooms and would really appreciate your support in completing and sharing a short survey:

The survey is fully anonymous, but if you would like to be added to their mailing list to hear more about the progress of the project and forthcoming resources then please send an email to Dr Caroline Pennock (c.pennock@sheffield.ac.uk) and she will be delighted to keep you in the loop.

A portrait of the teaching of the British Empire, migration and belonging in English secondary schools: teacher and student surveys

Earlier this year, the project launched their national survey of teachers, exploring how the British Empire is taught in English secondary schools. They’ve now created a shorter, more focused version, so if you haven’t yet completed it, we’d like to encourage teachers to contribute to this important work by taking part in this new survey. They survey is open until 8 November 2024.

Additionally, they will soon be running a student survey related to the themes of this project and would greatly appreciate the support of teachers in administering this short survey in their classrooms. If you can help with this please email portraitEMB@ucl.ac.uk.

Coming soon: updated support materials for GCSE History 2026 specification changes

We are currently working on updating the GCSE History classroom topic booklets and knowledge booster tests to reflect the changes to specification content for 2026 assessment. The updated documents will be available soon on our website. We are also planning to update the 2026 content changes FAQs over the next month.