Improvements to assessment planning and quality assurance from September 2026
4 June 2026 |
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Dear colleague,
From September 2026, you’ll see some changes to assessment planning and quality assurance to make the process clearer, more consistent and easier to manage.
These updates are part of wider improvements we’re making to simplify how you work with us and to better support you. You’ll see fewer manual steps, greater consistency across qualifications, and clearer visibility earlier in the process, so you can plan with more confidence.
We’ve shaped these changes with centres, based on what you’ve told us works and where things can be simpler. We’ll keep working with you as the updates are introduced to make sure they continue to support your delivery. |
Standards are not changing
Nothing about what learners need to achieve or how student work is assessed is changing. These updates are about making the process clearer and easier to follow. |
What’s changing?
1 - Standardised digital assessment plans
Assessment plans will now be online and pre-populated with some of the key information you need. This means less manual work for you and a single, shared plan for both you and Pearson. It allows checks on rules of combination and other compliance points to happen earlier in the process.
For the qualifications listed below, all centres will use this online assessment plan as part of the assessment process.
- BTEC Level 3 Nationals (QCF, RQF and AAQs)
- BTEC Level 2 Firsts
- BTEC Level 2 Technicals
- Selected Level 2 Skills
(BTEC L3 Nationals 2018 & 2019 Creative qualifications (100% internally assessed), BTEC L3 Nationals in Early Years, BTEC L3 Nationals in UPS, and any level Licence to Practice qualifications will not be in scope.)
To help you get a feel for how the new assessment plan will work, you can explore our interactive demo. This shows how the plan is structured and how information will be presented. |
2 - More samples requested up front for standards verification
From 2026/27 we’ll ask for sample work from ten learners at the start of standards verification, rather than asking for more samples later. This aligns with other qualifications and removes the need for “standard” or “enhanced” categories. Providing samples upfront reduces delays, speeds up decisions, and strengthens the quality assurance process. |
3 - Updated list of acceptable file formats
We’re updating the file formats you can upload to our services including Learner Work Transfer, Pearson Progress and SharePoint. This will make sharing your learners’ work easier, more secure and more accessible for verifiers.
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What’s next?
We are ready to guide you through these changes. We’ll keep in touch over the next few months, and you can expect more information, training and resources to get you ready for September.
These changes will take effect from 2026/27. Until then, your current standards verification processes remain the same. |
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to your students. If you have any questions, you can reach us through the Pearson support portal, and we’ll be happy to help.
Kind regards,
Hayley White
Vice President, Assessment |
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Pearson Customer Services The Lighthouse, Manchester, M50 3BF Unsubscribe |
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