Navigating GCSE and A level reform

Student-centred qualifications. For every future.


Helping you navigate GCSE and A level reform with confidence

Curriculum reform is creating significant change across GCSEs and A levels. Following the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, schools need clarity on what’s changing, what it means for students and how to plan with confidence. We’re here to help you navigate that change.

Why partner with Pearson during GCSE and A level reform? 

As reform evolves, we’re committed to giving you more than reassurance. We’ll provide clear, practical support you can act on—and qualifications designed to help students progress with confidence. You can expect to have:

  • Confidence – trusted qualifications and assessment that support student progression. 
  • Clarity – straightforward guidance and practical support to help schools plan ahead.
  • Coherence – a joined-up approach from Key Stage 3 through to post-16. 
  • Relevance – qualifications designed around the knowledge, skills and experiences students need for the future.

So you can move forward with confidence, and support every student to succeed, progress and prepare for their future.

Our approach: Student-centred qualifications

At Pearson, we see reform as an opportunity to develop qualifications that are relevant, empowering and fair, helping every student build confidence, make progress and prepare for what comes next. Alongside teachers, we’ve developed these guiding principles to underpin our new, reformed qualifications. 

 

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Relevant

Qualifications that connect learning to the real world and reflect the students in your classroom, with inclusive content, meaningful contexts and the right balance of knowledge and skills.

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Empowering

Qualifications that build confidence, deepen understanding and support every student’s potential—helping them grow in capability as well as achievement. 

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Fair

Qualifications that work for all students—and for you—with clear assessment, accessible design and support that helps reduce unnecessary workload. 

What reform means for your subject 

Reform will look different across subject areas. Explore how student-centred design comes to life in each subject: 

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The future of post-16 vocational qualifications at Levels 2 and 3

Qualification reform is also reshaping the post-16 landscape in England. Discover our guide to understand what is changing, when it is happening and what it means for your organisation.

Learn more

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Coming soon

Join our autumn-term webinar series for practical guidance on qualification reform, with Pearson experts sharing sector insight and support to help you plan with confidence.

Topics, dates and registration links will be shared soon.

Latest news

  • English matters - the MAT perspective

    We were delighted to welcome English leads from Multi Academy Trusts across the country last month to discuss the future of GCSE English.

    Whilst the hottest day of the year meant a quick change from in-person to online, the session was packed full of insightful conversations around the challenges and opportunities facing GCSE English in the months and years ahead. 

  • A new chapter for GCSE English

    What happens when a teenager finishes a great book? If they’re lucky, they find another. But for too many, that’s where the story ends. They hit a wall. In fact, when we surveyed more than 1,000 students aged 13–16* about their reading habits, "I can’t find a book I like" was one of the biggest barriers to reading.

    It’s not a capability issue. Students are confident readers (scoring themselves an average of 3.5 out of 5). It’s a connection issue.

    Earlier this year, we launched This is Lit, a new book club designed to celebrate the best of 21st-century literature during The National Year of Reading 2026. Alongside the launch, we explored what makes today's teenagers tick when it comes to books. What we found provides a different perspective on how we think about student disengagement.

  • AI Awareness Day: supporting AI literacy in schools

    Reading time: 3 minute

    Schools across the country are helping students think critically, connect ideas and apply what they know. In an AI-driven world, these skills matter more than ever. With this in mind, AI Awareness Day gives schools a way to build AI literacy: “to know AI, question it, and use it wisely”.  

Next steps

Stay informed as reform progresses. Sign up for updates to receive the latest guidance, key milestones and subject-specific information. If you'd like to discuss what curriculum and assessment reform could mean for your school or college, our team is here to help.

Sign up for updates or talk to us

Pearson. For every future.