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January BTEC assessment guidance for adverse weather

7 January 2026
Dear colleague,

With winter weather sometimes causing disruption, we want to make sure you have clear guidance for January BTEC external assessments and know where to find support if you need it.
What this means for your January assessments

You currently have entries for BTEC external assessments in January. Some assessments must take place at a set time on a set day and others can be completed within a scheduled assessment window.

You can check dates and windows at any time in the BTEC external assessment timetable on our website.

There are no plans to reschedule timetabled assessments. These should go ahead as planned, using your existing contingency arrangements if needed.

If an on-demand assessment is affected by the weather, you can reschedule it as normal.
Check your contingency plans 

Having clear contingency plans in place can help assessments run smoothly. The JCQ website has clear guidance to support you.

You might want to consider:
  • Having backup staff available to invigilate if needed
  • Adjusting exam start times, where JCQ guidance allows, so assessments can still take place.
During adverse weather, your head of centre decides whether it’s safe to open for assessments. This decision should be based on advice from local or national authorities.

If students can’t attend an exam for reasons beyond their control, they may be eligible for special consideration under the absence for acceptable reasons policy.
We’re here to help

If you have questions or want to talk through your options, contact us through the Pearson Support Portal.

Kind regards,

Chris Wood
Strategic Lead - VQ External Assessment
EL&S VQ: Assessment - T Levels

Pearson Customer Services

The Lighthouse, Manchester, M50 3BF

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